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Amber twists in the chair so she isn’t facing me. “Her mother has guardianship. Or conservatorship. Two of them, I think. I don’t know the full details because Paige hates talking about it. Her mother got it when Paige turned eighteen. It essentially means Paige is legally like a child with few rights. Her mother manages her bank account and finances, and she even has a say over who Paige can interact with and who she can marry. If her mom says no, Paige can’t legally do it. It’s ridiculous, I know. So when I found out she was in the hospital, I convinced her to sneak out. Then, of course, I went off the deep end and fucked around and now this happens.”
Guardianship. With that one word, everything clicks. Everything in her letter finally makes sense.
I can’t give you what you deserve.
I can’t give you marriage or an actual relationship.
We just can’t have a relationship, and you have to believe me when I tell you it’s impossible.
Dammit, why didn’t she tell me? I wouldn’t look down on her for that. Jesus, she’s a smart, funny, ambitious woman, and the fact that her mom put her in this situation makes me sick. Maybe her mom was concerned at first. Good intentions. But now? Why not get rid of the guardianship once she saw Paige didn’t need it?
I drag a hand through my hair. “I wish you had told me sooner. Can we finally stop with these secrets? We could’ve had authorities involved by now, or a lawyer, and Paige could still be here. Or at least not with her stepdad.” I stand and crush the energy drink can in my fist. I toss it in the recycle bin. “For the love of God, no more secrets.”
“I’m sorry. Paige didn’t want you to know. I think she’s embarrassed. And I was trying to handle everything on my own. I thought if I got arrested, then they wouldn’t take you in, since you didn’t know. Thanks to therapy, I see that opening up is something I need to work on. I need to reach out for more support and ask for help. But you’re not one to talk about hiding the truth. Were you fooling around with Paige before or after I left?”
I tighten my lips and glance away.
“God, you’re the worst.” She rolls her eyes. “I don’t need details. Paige kept this fling from me, too. What the hell is wrong with the three of us? Three people living in the same house hiding shit from each other.”
“Let’s stop, then. Anything else you’ve been hiding? My slate is now clean.”
“I’ve been a cam girl for three years.”
I close my eyes and make fists. That is not what I want to think of my little sister doing. I bite out the words, “Okay. Anything else?”
“Um, I was the one who wrecked your car when I was sixteen. I drove it into the garage by accident and then I sweet-talked your friend into telling you it was his fault.”
“Teddy? I stopped being friends with him because of that.”
“Also, that old camper you used to have—”
“Stop. You are absolved from everything. As long as it doesn’t involve recent events, I don’t want to know.”
“Works for me.”
I pull Paige’s phone from my pocket and set it on the table. “Great. Now help me find Paige. Please.”
Amber’s mood drops to the same somber one she had in the car. “I bought this for her. Why did she leave it?”
“Probably so we couldn’t track her. If it’s registered to your account, you’d be able to locate it.”
“Right. I’ll text her old number and see if she responds. We could also try online. Where’s your laptop?”
I retrieve it from my office and return to the kitchen. Amber flips it open and logs in.
With a sigh, I say, “Should I ask how you know my computer login?”
“Nope.”
There’s so much about this conversation that would normally piss me off, but I can’t focus on anything except Paige. Sitting at the table, I hold my head in my hands. I just need to find her. She needs to be safe.
Amber touches my shoulder. “Hey, I’ll be the strong one this time. If you need to cry, you get a free pass.”
“I’m not going to cry in front of you, even if I feel like it. Aren’t you normally the one breaking down in tears?”
She sits back with a slight smile. “Yeah. I guess I’m handling my emotions better. That’s progress.” She turns her attention to the computer screen, all pride on her face crushed by worry lines. “I’m scared, but we’ll figure this out. We’ll find her. I was worried about facing jail before, but fuck it. I’ll go to jail for Paige. And if I know my friend at all—” She types on the keyboard and clicks around. After a few minutes, she smiles. “Yup. I know my bestie.”
I lift my head to look. Several sidebar ads of women getting rammed from behind play on the screen. “You’re showing me porn?”
