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“Ellie…”
“Look…” I reach for his hand and prompt him to look my way. “I think we both know I have a long string of issues with Mom and Dad. They’recomplicatedpeople, if we want to put it generously. But they really do love you—that’s one thing they actually did right.”
Nate scoffs. “Yeah, sure.”
I stare at him in bewilderment at the uncharacteristic response. “Nate…?”
He shakes his head. “El, if they really loved me as much as they’re supposed to, they wouldn’t have forced me to choose between them and you.”
“They…did?” I’m not sure why I’m surprised. Mom made it clear she didn’t want me having anything more to do with Nate, but still… He’s their pride and joy—how could they risk losing him?
“Yeah. And when I told them I was on your side, Mom said I was an idiot because you wouldn’t even want me around so I’d be giving up everything for nothing. And considering I hadn’t heard from you for a while, I thought maybe…”
Fucking hell. I don’t think I’ve ever hated my mother more than I do right now, seeing the look of dejection on my brother’s face. “But you came anyway,” I murmur, kind of in awe at the way he defied my parents despite not knowing what would be waiting for him.
He nods. “Yeah. I thought about calling first but I was worried you’d ignore the call or tell me not to come. I figured if I was here in person it’d be harder for you to send me away.”
“Oh my god.Nate.”I wrap my arms around him and hug him so fiercely that if he wasn’t all padded with muscle I’m sure there’d be some bone damage happening. But I don’t care. And he doesn’t seem to either. “I willneversend you away. Not ever. And I’ll never not want you around, okay? Never think that. Trust me, kiddo, you’re going to getsosick of me.”
He lets out a soft chuckle. “Will you stop calling me ‘kiddo’ at least? I’m, like, twice your size now.”
“Never going to happen, kiddo.”
18
FINN
I’m smiling like an idiot when I finally leave work on Friday night, listening to Ellie chatter away about her brother as I make my way to the athletic center parking lot.
“He just showed up, Finn,” she gushes for about the fourth time. “I can’t believe it! I thought he didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.”
My jaw tenses in anger on her behalf; Ellie had been devastated when she’d thought Nate had turned his back on her, but it turned out to just be a manipulation by their bitch of a mother. I mean, who does that?
“I just…I can’t believe he chose me,” she continues, her voice softer now.
“Of course he did. You’re his sister, and you’re amazing.”
“But they’re hisparents.And he’s given them up. He’s given up his home…his friends…”
“Hedidn’t give them up, angel. They’re the ones who forced him to make a choice.”
“Yeah, I guess…”
“You still coming to the game next week?” I ask her, deciding a subject change might be in order.
“Absolutely. Although I’m mainly coming because I fucking miss you. I really don’t care about the game, if we’re being honest.”
I toss my head back, letting out a loud bark of laughter. “Well, if we’re being honest, I fucking miss you too, and I can’t wait to get—” My words trail off and the smile slips from my face as I catch sight of my black SUV in the coach’s parking space.
It’s hardly unusual for childish pranks to be pulled in the lead up to big rivalry games like the one we have against Westbourne next week. But this isn’t exactly what I’d call a run of the mill prank. As well as your classic eggs and toilet paper covering the car, there are also ripped out magazine pages with cosmetics ads stuck to the bonnet, [?], and a cheap, hot pink thong hanging over one side mirror.
And across the driver’s side of the car, in bright yellow spray paint screams the wordTRANNY.
“Finn?” I hear Ellie’s concerned voice as though from far away. “Finn? Are you still there.”
“Yeah, I’m here. I have to go, though.”
“What? Why? What’s going on?”
