he looks up at my face. I don't

ing her back into the scarce coverage of the bush. Her shirt is gone an

anuary, but it'

r the girl's chest from my line

guy who actually cared about her would not have her half-naked in

the rest of the Golden Boys ar

nother while Viktor tries to get the

Caleb and hi

"He's a quarterback," she'd said to me, raising her perfectly manicure

my mom that I had

red to her that she had n

were what mattered. That's the on

he air, flagging me down. "Where

e to feel her up in the trees when I le

air and eager hands. Jordan or George or s

wrapped awkwardly around Anika li

I think I

Why? We haven't even lit

they always do. One of her favorites: Stay in the

me one time when I came home from a party early with a s

she apol

make tha

nt me right back to the party. I'm not raising a

esson

waltz away from

lso can

h, I can't stomach a few

ing I'm

I have it a

the broken daughter

etend it's beneath you.

harp laugh. "Cavemen invented fire, like, thousands of years ago. I dou

ally after how hard I rode her for paying m

ng with me, anyway. Her bar

t a separate party

ead. "I don'

own. "We can round up the best guests. Meet back at your house? Your mom is al

confide in, the people you tell everything to.

he social currency I provide to give

eally like to live with Momma is long

on m

never for

t list," I snap. "You couldn't eve

s across An

ch. I hate hurting her. Why am I

as kind of... scattered today, but let me make it up

ka,

d Jennifer has those Bluetooth speakers in her trun

tience. "I'm just

's reminded that the status quo is still the status quo, remember? That's what you said today. If you leave, pe

ll going in my head,

stand up t

blush, you

sed to be toned. What's this han

e eaten enoug

have

have

have

to stay here a

hout, grabbing the attent

d dismiss Anika wit

anymore, and I don't want you following me home like a lost puppy. S

, but I turn and stomp away

because I feel my chest constricting in the famili

ter under my breath as I tr

ways says, looming over me like the Grim R

scratch and claw at my throat,

ving room in my leotard and tights while Mo

I fall sideways and clutch

the edges. I still can't breathe.

mories kee

gown is pale pink and gorgeous, flowing in layers of tull

the seamstress to tak

the time of the p

s ri

lls, and starvation, my wais

e blames the weight loss. "You're too skin

mples, tempted to yank fistfuls of hair out of my

isn't

g me to throw a par

or chase me through the house, screamin

ar footsteps mo