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“You’re home early.”
Joliet’s lip twitched in disgust as she looked at the television, then at her sister. “You’re a freak, you know that?”
Tully’s hand gripped the fabric of her pants. “Good to see you too.”
“Good?” Joliet’s laugh was dry. “Seeing you ruins my night. Do us all a favor and just stay in your room or something. God, I can’t wait for you to leave.” There was no way she was saying it for a reaction because she walked out without waiting for one. She was just saying it to be cruel, and probably because she meant it. She’d been saying it since before their parents deemed Tully too much trouble to fix. “Can’t you be normal for once in your life?”
These insults were just stale frosting on an old cake, but it became moldy when Nathan was behind her to hear it all.
Her interest in the movie and her heated heart grew cold. She didn’t move from her spot, and stared at the spot Joliet left behind. Nathan wasn’t oblivious to how Joliet treated her, but he wasn’t exactly front row to every interaction, especially those that were so common when Joliet thought no one was listening.
Unfortunately for both of them, Nathan was.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nathan stand slowly up from his hiding spot. What else could he do? Sit there and wait for her to forget he existed? That would never happen. But she couldn’t sit there and finish this movie while pretending she was okay.
“I think you should go,” she said, steadying her voice. Nathan took a step towards her.
“Angel—”
“It would be better if she didn’t see you here,” she cut him off. She didn’t want him to say anything. She would rather he left out that door and walked away and forgot all about this.
He didn’t say anything else, thankfully, but she registered a brief nod, and then his silhouette passed in front of the television darkening the screen for a split second. He was about out of the living room when she felt the need to call out to him, to say something.
“Nathan.” He stopped walking and turned around. She looked at him now. She was scared he would look at her with pity in his eyes, but all she saw was concern. Like he was really worried about her. He was too good. “Can we just forget this?”
She didn’t clarify which part he should forget, but she thought he got the hint.
She had difficulty gauging his expression, but he wasn’t smiling. “Sure.”
He left and Tully turned off the TV to retreat into her bedroom and hide her face from Joliet, taking to studying some more to calm her.
This couldneverhappen again. A simple mistake that taught her that she’d found herself in a much more vulnerable position than she would have liked.
Liking Nathan was setting herself up for failure. Liking him as much as she feared she eventually would at this rate was setting herself up for spectacular heartbreak.
It was still a simple crush, and as long as she stayed smart and limited their interactions, it would remain as such before eventually fading away. She’d managed this long. No more losing control of the situation, no more unnecessary meetings, and absolutely no more kisses.
forty-nine
nathan
Nathan didn’t want to leave her.
He wanted to stay with her and comfort her. The past few weeks had been an eye-opening experience on how Joliet really was, but what she had said to Tully . . . his heart sank.
How could someone, a sibling, family, who is meant to love unconditionally, talk to her that way? No one should be made to feel so unloved by anyone.
The fact that it was Tully though . . . he wasthisclose to hopping out from his spot and telling Joliet exactly what he thought of her. It would hurt her the most coming from him.
But he didn’t do that, because Tully would face the backlash of it.
He should have asked her to come with him, let him drive her around, shower her with all the great things he’s noticed about her: She is intelligent. She is strong. She is driven. She is beautiful. She is passionate. She is someone that anyone would be lucky to have.Heis lucky to have her . . . even if it’s not real.
She is someone who deserves anything and everything she wants, and is so much bigger than what her family would have her believe.
Surrounded by hundreds of people, she was the only person he wanted to be around tonight. He wanted to see her smile, to have her glare at him and roll her eyes when he teased her. He wanted to hold her hand and make her forget the harsh things anyone had ever said to her.
His heart ached when he sat in his car, parked a few houses down so no one would see it. He didn’t leave for a long time. Hewantedto be there for her, but he could tell from the look on her face she needed to be alone. This wasn’t about what he wanted; it was about what she needed.
