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There's something to her tone.
She's testing me.
It shouldn't be obvious I'm uncomfortable.
I do love Ethan and Piper more than anything.
I should be fucking ecstatic.
This is best fucking news in forever.
But my chest is still tight. My legs are heavy. My thoughts are spinning out of control.
I want to shut them out.
I want to drown them in champagne and sweat.
But I can't.
The same thought keeps running through my head as I hand out champagne.
As I hold up my glass to toast.
As I issue words of congratulations. You two are gonna be so fucking happy.
As I swallow my glass of champagne.
As I try to get into the banter and the smiles.
The thought fucking screams at me.
Now, you're really alone.
Nobody needs you to take care of them.
Nobody needs you anymore.
16
Mal
It's well past midnight when we leave the party. My champagne buzz is long gone. I'm antsy from the hours of talk of weddings and honeymoons and forever.
I want the world for my little brother. And for Violet. I want them to live a long happy life together.
But that dread is still plaguing my gut. It's always quiet at the house. Too quiet. And it's not going to change.
They're forever.
That's a good thing.
I pull Lacey's body into mine as I lead her to the parking garage. I'm more forceful than I mean to be.
Instead of shrinking back, she purrs, leaning into the gesture.
"Mal…" She looks up at me with hazy eyes. She's tipsy. Maybe even drunk. She's a happy drunk. She's smiling, her expression the picture of affection. "You were gentle before."
My voice drops to something low and demanding. "When I fucked you on the couch? Or when I fucked you in my bed?"
