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“What?” I asked.
“You heard me. I’m going to continue to make your life a living hell if you don’t tell Dad you don’t want a fucking thing to do with him, his money, or anything else. I want you to leave Crestview. Leave Damian behind. Leavemydad behind. Leave everything and just go.”
I shook my head with purpose. “Fuck that. You’re literally theonlyfamily I have left. I have nothing and no one else. Rick is the only father I have left. I don’t want your fucking money. I’ll tell him to redo the will and sign it all over to you again. Hell, my phone is right here.” I handed it to her. “Tell him right now. Text him like you’re me and tell him to redo the will so it’s only you in it. I won’t argue it. You’re my family, Harper, and I won’t abandon you or anyone else. Family sticks together. Even if it’s new, and confusing, and complicated.”
“That’s not good enough!” Harper yelled, throwing my phone in the floorboard. I hoped it didn’t break.
“Then what the fuck is it!” I shouted back. I knew we’d have a fight. The car ride was definitely a better idea. “What the fuck do you want from me? If it’s not the money, then what the hell is it?”
“Dad! I want you to stay away from him! He’smyfucking father. You’re some trailer trash no one from bumfucked cornbread Indiana, and you don’t deserve to swoop in here and ruin everything he’s worked so hard for.”
My eyes narrowed as I realized that for the first time in her life, Harper didn’t care about money at all. She was worried I’d take her father away from her. I had my suspicions, but she’d just confirmed them. She was terrified of sharing any time with him because she barely saw him. He’d been the only man in her life that hasn’t treated her like shit—judging from her choices in guys—so he was her everything.
“I don’t want to take himfromyou Harper. If anything, it’syouI’m after. I want a relationship withyou. Because even after Rick is dead and gone, you and I will still be around. I want us to be there for each other. I want to be at the hospital when you have your first kid. I want to be at your wedding. I want to play with my nieces and nephews. Hell, I’d even want us to go to college together. Travel the world together. What you fail to realize, Harper, is that I would quite literally take a bullet for you. Even though I know you wouldn’t do the same.”
“Why thehellwould you even think to say that? You damn well know you don’t mean it. That’s just some stupid shit people say to try to manipulate the other person into believing their lies.”
I shrugged. “You’re welcome to think so, but it doesn’t make it any less true. You’re my sister, and I’m confident all this high school bullshit will pass one day. Even if we still don’t get along, I’m confident you’ll realize how ridiculous all this is and stop. Maybe then we can be friends. Until then, you’re my baby sister. I’ll deal with whatever bullshit you throw my way, but don’t think for an instant I won’t give it right back. I’m not taking this shit anymore. Dish it out all you want. Do your worst, but I’m not taking it anymore.”
“Fuck you, Temperance Wilder,” Harper said, crossing her arms and turning to look out the window, signaling the conversation was over.
“Yeah, yeah. Fuck you, too, Harper. Fuck you, too.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
TEMPERANCE
When we arrived back at the school, I parked in the employee parking lot again and watched Harper Mission Impossible her way back to the dorms. A small part of me wanted to laugh, but the vast majority of me was too pissed and brokenhearted to find it even remotely funny.
I’d given her the “I’ve wanted a sister my whole life” speech before, but I hoped it would be one of those things where the more you hear it, the more you come to believe it because you understand it better.
Clearly, I was wrong.
I relaxed out in the car for ten minutes, enjoying the late afternoon sun before grabbing my—thankfully unbroken—phone from the passenger floorboard and heading up. I gave Harper twice as long to go to her dorm as I gave her to get out to the car in the first place, so if she farted around, that was her fault. I didn’t give a damn.
When I got back to my apartment, I shut the door without locking it and made my way to my bed. I collapsed diagonally on it, face down with my arms spread wide. I wanted to scream into the mattress and beat the shit out of it to relieve some of my rage from the day, but I managed to keep myself under control. Instead, I retrieved my phone from my skirt pocket and texted Luna.
__________________________________________
Me:
I’m available. It’s been a bad fucking day. I’m so glad you’re coming over. Bring booze. Weed, too, if you have it. Never smoked before, but I think it’s time.
Luna:
Oh, no. I’m sorry, girl. I’ll bring the liquor. Justin will bring the other. Sugar, too. He’s a sugar fiend, and that always helps a shitty day.
Me:
You’re the best. Door is unlocked. Just come in.
__________________________________________
I didn’t wait for a response. I just locked my phone and chucked it on my pillow. It immediately bounced onto the floor, and I groaned.What-the-fuck-ever. It’s par for the course today.
Feeling defeated, I slid off my bed, landing on the off-white carpet on my knees. I couldn’t even spare enough energy to stand. The day had officially destroyed me, and I was over it. Damian and Harper were vampires. The type that drained energy, happiness, or life essence. I didn’t know much about that type of vampire, but whatever they drained you of, that’s what it felt like.
I flopped over on my ass and pulled my knees up, taking off my boots before chucking them across the room. Next, I stripped off the basic annoying uniform I assumed I’d find charged to the card Rick gave me and tossed it in the corner.
