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I exhale, eyes sliding closed, then nod before opening them back up again.
“I sacrificed a lot for you,” I tell Ashley. “Forbothof you,” I add, flicking my gaze to George. “But what you did is unforgivable.” I look back to my sister. “I love you, and some part of me always will, but I can’t forgive you for deliberately trying to hurt me.”
“Don’t try to pretend to be all stoic and unaffected,” she snaps. “You hate that I finally got something you want.”
My lungs tighten, and I hold my breath for one long moment. Then I release it slowly, the truth dawning on me. “You’ve already spent the money you got from the jewelry.”
Her eyes narrow. “That’s none of your business.”
But it’s confirmation enough.
“Well, I’m not giving you anymore,” I say. “I’m done.”
Her eyes go to Lake and I can practically see the dollar signs flash to life.
That’swhy they’re here.
To hit up my boyfriend because he has that big house, the sponsorships. I’m here and an in…to his wallet.
I inhale sharply, but Lake has clearly read the situation too. “Don’t even try it,” he says. “I don’t give money to users, and especially not ones who’ve hurt my woman.”
My sister gasps. “That’s—”
“Let’s go,” I murmur and start to turn away, shaking my head, determined to let this just roll off my back. I thought…well, it doesn’t matter what I thought.
The proof is right in front of me.
My sister only cares about herself.
My sister only wants to use me.
To hurt me.
I don’t want to do the same, don’t have the resentment she clearly does, and I don’t know that I’ll get an explanation from her tonight—orever—that will make this all make sense.
So…I just turn away.
Ella is there, buzz clearly fading—or maybe altogether lost—from the drama. She grabs my shoulders, pulls me into a hug.
I whisper, eyes stinging, “I just…I don’t understand how she can do this.”
“I don’t know, Novs.”
I drop my forehead to her shoulder. “I don’t know if I want to stick around to find out.”
She stiffens.
“I’m not leaving,” I say softly, pulling back enough to meet her eyes. “I like it here. I like that I’m going to see you more now that we both have an excuse to be here. I like…” I bite my lip then lean even closer, drop my voice even lower. “No. IloveLake.”
Her face softens. “I know.”
“A lot.”
Now her lips curve. “I know.”
“So, I’m not going to run,” I tell her. “I just…I just don’t want to be part of this conversation anymore.”
She’s still for a beat then her face softens, her lips turn up. “I couldn’t agree more,” she says, looping her arm through mine. “And I thinkthat”—a sniff toward George and Ashley—“calls for more alcohol.”
