lle'

, not your sister?" Hannah whispered, her eyes

I popped a piece of popcorn into my mou

d my formal engagement was set to be announced tomorrow. I'd invited Hannah and Zaya over for popcorn, drinks, and gossip earlier that afternoon while my parents were out and Caitlyn

o my future bride' line?" Zaya squealed, rolling onto her back on my bed and kicking her

was the anchor who kept us from doing anything completely reckless, Zaya was the wind i

s are? I looked them up once when I had an interview at one of their corporate branches. They are old-money, sophisticated, and ruthless. God only knows w

rn kernel into the air and catching it in her mouth. "That should cushion the b

oaned eve

er even thought the word 'divorce' around Malakai

now, are we?" Zaya teased, p

y went up in fla

. Montgomery in bed, can you?" Hannah

etter," Zaya added with a w

ight here on my floral duve

ille is walking into a complete unknown. What happens when she gets an impulse control urge? Even if her parents claim they told the Montgomerys about it, do wealth

of me, leaving me cold. I stared down at

ed, her voice losing its edge of playful chaos as she sat up. "And Malakai's a grown man. It's his

owly shook my head, pressing my botto

?" they sai

st knows, right?" Hannah pressed, reaching

eyelids, the scene from earlier that week in my father's d

hair and pacing the Persian rug. He jabbed an accusing finger toward me. "Your sister is the polished one, the public face

t the polished toes of my shoes

roared, a

ou said," I whispered. "Have you tried co

"Malakai wouldn't hear a word of it. He wants you, and nobody

en in a cold, calculated transaction like an arranged marriage, the idea that som

tening hum as he resumed his pacing. "I couldn't bring myself to warn them about your... condition.

ctioning. At first, therapy was too expensive for the tight budgets; later, when his business exploded and money was endless, our societal reputation became the wall that kept me locked i

er snapped, making me flinch. "Fix your

." I answer

his family rests on your shoulders now;

ght in front of my face, breaking the suffocating

how lucky I am to have you guys,"

ir gazes unconvinced, but m

ted her head. "So... have you and Malakai actually talk

pletely thrown by the dir

d suddenly sprouted a second

nner. We haven't texted, called, or exchanged emails. I d

ded, "Do you guys really think we should ju

ds together in sheer disbelief. "Christ, you are getting marrie

e popcorn bowl right out of my hands, "we are skipping the gossip sess