la

f Ronan's car, watching the s

g was today and I had be

he window and my hands in my lap and tried to look like a woman who was simply quiet rath

ith the a

t me, dark hair falling acr

othing,

een ignoring my texts

ned. "What have I done that's so terr

ost l

ve you

busy,"

mpleting his extra work, and the rewrite was still sitting on my desk, a

nding." I added, ad

went white

ened in

I had chosen not to remember the way hi

ducks he threw rocks at. He had never touch

d on my

ed low. "You did. Your parents gave me a mouthful about

d out o

caught

t this

I said, keeping my eyes forward. "I have a job. A car

The driver honked at him as

ned to look at me, face darkeni

wing what to say. My face

his pho

ut through

ed at th

vi

changed; the anger smoothing out almost immediately, h

back to t

I was grateful for

n't provoke Ronan when he's dri

at against my thighs and stared at the passing streets and

scared

ressing up as something else. Calling it hi

st scare

d Ronan got out without openi

and felt my

e with Vivienne between them, all three of them laughi

led sl

t ready

loved me once until Vivienne arrived and I became

s arm, laughing, and felt something

r and walked toward

with a bright smile and pulled me in

et out of the car!" she sai

sickness," I

row at my lie. B

ood there for a moment waiting bef

hat's that expression? You d

rom work," I

u could try to look a little more e

this," Ronan muttered, already mo

my lips

is that face? Is that how you treat the man

kept my v

tments. "Don't you dare let a good man like that slip away be

I though

your problem toda

r voice gentle and certain. "Let's not get involved in her and

two fac

pecific warmth he reserved for her

satisfied before turning ba

htly. Almost to herself. "Unlike som

lin

y always did. She always mad

ady smiling at Viv

a little laugh in her voice.

ht," my fat

the three of them, and I stood on the p

p off th

dress fitting. S

rs back and foll

diately, pressing a small gift into my h

hought of you,"

ened

The exact one. The one I had loved since I wa

very

tea quietly restocked for years. Every tin replaced before it em

alled i

fectly steady as

wrapped my hands around a warm mug and drunk whate

you,"

amiliar. The smile I had

ftly. "You're my sister.

n at the tin

eved h