The morning air is cool on my flushed skin. I sit on the steps and Carter drops down next to me, his long legs stretched out, elbows on his knees. He waits. Carter is good at waiting.
“I got more harassing texts,” I say. “The person sent pictures of my diary. They stole it.”
His eyebrows climb. “What the hell?”
“They threatened to send stuff to Aeron. Out-of-context things from my diary entries that would… that would really hurt him if he read them without the full picture.”
Carter runs a hand through his hair. “Shit. Should we take this to the police now or something?”
“I know who it is.” I look down at my hands. There’s a viridian stain on my index finger from yesterday and a smear of titanium white on my thumb. Battle scars from the studio. “If they don’t stop, I’ll see about getting a restraining order.”
His eyes go wide and he angles toward me, fully locked in. “Who is it?”
“I don’t want to say yet. I want to handle this myself.” I gaze at the neighbor’s house across the street. Ineedto look Aubrey in the face and make it absolutely clear that she crossed a line she cannot come back from. “Can you… I don’t know. Keep an eye on Aeron? Maybe go hang out somewhere with him? He seems like he’s in a good mood and I want that to continue.”
“There’s a party Friday night. Another Hargrove frat thing. I could take him.”
My first instinct is to say no. Parties mean drinking, drinking means bad decisions, bad decisions mean my brother can get himself in trouble. But I catch the instinct before acting on it. I hold it up to the light the way I’d examine a painting I’ve been fussing over too long.Overworked. Every new layer of control I add drains more life from the person I’m trying to protect. Aeron is an adult. Also, I’m a hypocrite, because I tried weed in high school, drank at parties, did all the things I’m so terrified of him doing. I want so much happiness for my brother. I want him to be safe and smart and to skip every stupid mistake I made. But that’s my fear talking. Not love.
“Sure.” The word feels unfamiliar leaving my mouth. “But if he drinks or smokes, can you make sure it’s not excessive?”
Carter leans back and looks at me sideways. “Shit, what’s gotten into you? You’re just cool with whatever he does now?”
My face heats. “I… I know I’m a bit controlling.”
He laughs. “A bit?”
“Shut up.” I’m smiling. “I want him to have fun and be an adult. Just with caution.”
“Got it. We’ll have fun and I’ll make sure he’s safe. Promise.”
I lean into him, and he puts his arm around my shoulders. Carter gives solid, uncomplicated hugs. He smells like orange juice, which makes me laugh against his shoulder.
“Thanks,” I say. I pull back and stand, wiping my palms on my jeans. “Now I have to go deal with something.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
JUNE
Itext Cinna while speed-walking back across campus:Need you. SOS. Bean There.
Her reply comes in three seconds:On my way.
The bench outside Bean There is empty so I take it, pressing my back against the cold iron slats. My knee bounces, and I’m clenching my phone.
Cinna rounds the corner at a full sprint, honey-blonde hair streaming behind her. Her cheeks are pink and she nearly takes out a guy carrying a coffee before dodging. She stops in front of me and doubles over with her hands on her knees, chest heaving.
“So… what’s the… emergency?” she pants out.
I hand her my phone.
She starts scrolling. I watch her face because I need someone else to see what I saw and react the way I need them to react. Her champagne-brown eyes go wide. Wider. Her mouth falls open as she swipes through image after image.
“Oh, she’s dead.”
“I know.” My voice shakes. “All of that is completely out of context. Big sections were left out. I love Aeron but these fucking images make it seem like I don’t.”
Cinna hands my phone back. “I know exactly where she is.”
