AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Any sympathy or understanding drains away like liquid down an open drain. If he wanted either, he shouldn’t have brought her into it. “You’re right, Dad. Momwouldbe disappointed in you.”
He doesn’t so much as flinch. “We need to talk more tomorrow, Crew.”
“Fine.” I walk out of the study and slam the door behind me.
When I enter the room I’m sharing with Scarlett, she’s a lump under the covers. Teddy is curled up in his crate in the corner. He sits up when I close the door behind me. I kneel beside his crate to scratch his ears through the bars. Scarlett is still in the same position when I stand. I walk into the bathroom to get ready for bed before sliding under the covers next to her.
I lie there and stare up at the ceiling I can’t see in the dark, trying to pinpoint exactly when my family became so screwed up. Whoever said money can’t buy happiness was clearly onto something. Most of the rich people I know are perpetually unhappy. Wealth provides security. Too much money makes you feel untouchable. And that can easily become dangerous. Higher highs and lower lows.
“What time is it?” Scarlett’s groggy voice comes from my left.
“Little past eleven.”
She groans. “I went to bed a half hour ago.”
“I’m sorry. I tried to be quiet.”
“It’s not you. I never sleep well the first night in a new place.”
We lie in silence, side by side. This is my favorite part of every day: falling asleep beside her.
“Crazy about Candace, huh?”
I can’t muffle the snort that escaped.You have no idea.
“What?” she demands.
“My dad isn’t the father. But…Oliver might be.”
Silence. I wonder if she managed to fall back asleep in the thirty seconds it took me to answer her question. Then, I hear it. Muffled at first, until it becomes unmistakable.
Laughter. She’s laughing. Harder and less reserved than I’ve heard her. And maybe people are right about it being contagious—because I start laughing too.
A few minutes ago, when I climbed into bed, I was tense and uncertain and sad. Cynical about how little of privilege feelsreal. It’s zeroes in a bank account—nothing tangible. Complimenting people you can’t stand. Pretending you’re happy when you’re not.
Nothing about laughing with Scarlett feels fake. Not the sound of our amusement or the way I suddenly feel loose and light.
My father married Candace. Oliver slept with Candace. Candace made morally gray decisions. The only one I pity is the innocent child who will be affected by those choices.
“Remember when you told me your family wasn’t messy?”
I smile in the dark. “I didn’t see this coming.”
“How do you know your dad isn’t the father?”
“According to him, he got a vasectomy. Years ago, after my mom died.”
“You believe him?”
“I don’t see why he would lie.”
“And he never told Candace?”
“Doesn’t sound like it. I didn’t ask. I think he assumed it would only become an issue…”
“If she cheated,” Scarlett finishes.
“Right.”
