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“Damn it, Chelsea!”
Oh no! I flinch from Titan’s enraged voice. He strides to us from the kitchen doorway, and I step back ready to grab Pete and get the hell out of here. She just rolls her eyes and huffs from Titan yelling at her.
“What now?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Duh. I live here, dummy.”
His teeth clench, and he presses his fingertips to his forehead. I guess she aggravates him a lot. “I mean right now. You’re supposed to be at dance class.”
She glances at me over her shoulder, rolling her eyes and giving me a look ofcan you believe this guybefore twisting back to face him. “Do you really think ballet is more important than meeting your girlfriend?”
What the hell? “I’mnothis girlfriend.”
Neither of them looks my way, despite my firm tone. They just continue to stare each other down. No one listens to me as always.
“She doesn’t need you bothering her.”
For a reason I can’t quite explain, I feel the need to defend my new friend. “She’s not bothering me. I like her.”
My comment pleases Chelsea, and she sticks her tongue out at him. Now I like her even more.
Except for her thinking I’m his girlfriend. That’s nuts. But, ganging up against him with her is fun. Maybe she’ll even help me escape.
“See? I like her too, and I’m going to be the best sister-in-law ever. Right, Addie?”
Chelsea sidles up to me and curls her arm through mine, full of satisfaction from me taking her side. While I still try to wrap my head around the fact that she’s his sister. I don’t think I’ve met siblings more different than these two. “We’re not getting married.”
“Of course, you are. You’re the only girl he’s ever liked enough to bring home.”
“He. Kidnapped. Me.” I point to the armed guards patrolling the grounds. “Remember, me being a prisoner and all that?”
She sighs and tilts her head. “I know. It’s so romantic.”
Before I can open my mouth to argue, despite knowing how futile my logic will be to her, Titan grabs her arm and drags her out of the death grip she has on me and toward the house.
“Come on. I’m going to make you watch me kill Miquel for letting you talk him into bringing you home.”
He’s not serious.
He’s serious.
Oh shit.
She doesn’t make his intentions easy, fighting his grasp and complaining. “You’re not the boss of me. If I want to quit Madame Blanchet I will. I love Miquel and if you hurt him, I will hurt you. I mean it, Titan! I love him! You’re going to be sorry. Really sorry when-”
The tirade ends when he slams the patio door behind them. I’m left blinking in the odd silence like the eerie calm after a tornado. Pete plops down beside me. Unbothered by Titan’s death threats and Chelsea’s meltdown, he puts his head on my dirty, ripped sneaker.
Is that irony? I’m wearing the gorgeous clothes Titan bought for me—that Chelsea probably picked out—and I’m ruining the effect with my old tennis shoes. Proof I don’t belong here. With them and their wealth and their insanity.
I clutch the bag of Pete’s poop. This is certainly a paradox. His droppings allow my escape.
Guilt swirls in my stomach. I wish I could’ve eaten one more meal and grabbed his bag of food. But I can’t risk going back inside the house. Their argument may be my only chance to run with Titan distracted.
I take a deep breath and pretend to be relaxed and unconcerned with anything but finding the garbage. Pete whines when I take a step. He’s smart enough to realize he’s not just losing his makeshift pillow. He tags beside me like the loyal friend he is, even though I can see in his eyes he disagrees with my decision.
Luckily, we can’t debate about my choice, so I don’t have to defend myself to him. We make it to the garage door and the knob turns easily. So far, so good.
