Page 212

“Yes. No one this beautiful is ever allowed to be sad.”

“I’m not sad,” I said.

“Your frown says otherwise,” Justin said. “Spill it, bitch. You know there’s no secrets between the three of us.”

“Um...there aren’t?”

Justin laughed. “No. Well, maybe one. I hated your mother at first. I called her a barbarian. Phew, glad that’s off my chest.”

“Why?” I asked with a laugh.

“Because that barbarian only gave me two weeks to plan her shotgun wedding! I’ll never forgive her!” He shook his head. “Sorry.” He touched his chest. “I don’t know where that came from. I have forgiven Daphne. My apologies.”

I laughed. I knew my mom was pregnant with me when they got married. And I’d heard about the quick turnaround wedding. I just hadn’t heard about Justin hating her.

“So what’s going on with your face?” Justin asked. “Tell Uncle Justin everything.”

I glanced at Scarlett.

“Seriously, what’s going on, Soph?” she asked. “Tell us.”

“Promise you won’t be mad?” I asked.

“I promise.”

“Double promise,” Justin said, even though I wasn’t worried about him being upset.

“I gave up my spot,” I said. “At the University of New Castle.”

Scarlett just sat there, completely frozen.

“I’m taking Adonis up on his offer. I’m going to travel the world with him.”

“Good Lord, that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard in my life!” Justin shrieked.

And then Scarlett burst into tears.

Justin shrieked again. “Stop it, you beautiful specimen! You’re ruining your makeup!”

“Soph,” Scarlett said through her tears.

Which just made me want to cry. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I know this wasn’t the plan, but...”

“Don’t,” she said. “Don’t apologize. If this is what you want, then I want it for you. I’m sorry about how I reacted when Adonis first brought it up. I just...”

“Stop crying!” Justin blotted under her eyes with tissues and started cursing up a storm. “Glitter runs!”

“I just...” Scarlett said again.

“What?” I asked and grabbed her hand.

“I’m going to miss you so damn much.”

I nodded and started crying too.

Justin screamed.

“I’m going to miss you too,” I said. “So damn much,” I repeated back to her. Because I would. I was used to seeing her almost every day of my whole life.