“You’re so lucky,” Honor said. “I finally have a good dad, but my real one was the cult leader. A total wacko.” Honor shivered.
“Are you cold?” Brit asked. “Do you want a bathrobe?”
“I always shiver when I think about my childhood,” Honor said. “Not the most fun times.” She stood tall. “But that’s all behind me now.”
Brit suggested a quick house tour, then a drink. She brought them into Rebel’s bedroom and showed them his bathroom. Though it was obvious she was using it too, neither of them commented.
On the way back toward the kitchen, Brit bypassed the closed office door. She didn’t want Honor to see the white board. Brit entered the spacious kitchen, pulled out three plates and several serving spoons. While they reheated their food, Brit asked what they wanted to drink.
A bottle of merlot sat corked on the counter. Addison lifted the bottle. “Who wants wine?”
“I’ll have a glass,” Brit replied.
“Water for me,” Honor replied.
“Sparkling or regular?” Brit asked.
“Sparkling.”
While Addison poured their wine, Brit filled a glass with sparkling water. She didn’t want to push, but she needed to start questioning her sister.
“Honor, we also have white wine or beer,” Brit said.
“I had a bad experience with alcohol,” Honor explained, “so I don’t drink it.”
“Drink too much and throw up for hours?” Brit asked.
Addison laughed.
“I was at a party, didn’t know the punch was spiked, got drunk, got sick,” Honor said. “Not fun.”
“We’ve all been there,” Brit said.
They each filled their plates and sat at the dining room table. Addison lifted her wine glass. “Cheers to you, Honor. You’re the one good thing that’s come out of meeting Liliana.”
“That is so nice,” Honor said with a sweet smile. “I feel the same way.”
They dug into the delicious entrees.
“You’ve had an interesting life,” Brit said. “A cult and a boarding school. I totally get why you’re writing a book.”
Honor forked the roasted chicken into her mouth. “The cult was just weird. My biological dad believed the end of the worldwas coming, so everything centered around that. I’m so grateful to Jordan for getting us out.”
“He seems really nice,” Brit said slicing off an asparagus tip. “Was he at the cult too?”
“When I went back to the ranch for the summer—it was after seventh grade—he was there. I could already see little changes in my mom, and I was so relieved. The school year was super intense, the cult was about preparation, oh, and hallucinogenic drugs to open our minds to receive the messages from the doomsday aliens who were coming to rescue us.”
“Wow, that’s a lot,” Brit said.
“How did you manage through that?” Addison asked.
“Oh, the cult was easy compared to my school.”
“Were the classes difficult?” Brit asked.
“I loved learning and I got straight A’s,” Honor explained. “Some of the girls there were total witches.”
“That sucks,” Brit said. “Did they bully you?”
