ft early for Austin, promi

in the Airbn

nease from yesterday

small living area, m

s on the coffee table

e door, I heard his phone,

age notification.

sfer of $50k to AM account complete. Discretionary fund,

r. Fifty thou

fund? Shielded

roke, that Cole Holdings w

was all they could "a

en swam. A thank you

ush

der and sharper than any phy

y was neve

ter was a blur of forced cheerfulness

s well enoug

t felt diffe

ing, but her eyes did

yes walked out

bed

ing with health, wearing a new silk robe that pr

ek. "So good to see you up and about. I feel absolute

eyes glittering with somethi

was clear,

d portfolio." Brooke, looking like she' d ju

d into a horr

ing on?" My voice w

t Ethan, t

"Ava, calm down. Brooke' s benefactor came through right

collapsing," I pressed, my voice shaking. "And t

tor was so grateful, Ava! They insisted on giving you a gift. A than

ng. Pure

e story, their faces mas

and rested a little too comforta

into him, a possessi

than' s car keys

lasses I' d never seen before. And a small, plush dog t

vidence of a shared

t about the money or th

volve

shed back t

ying to one-up me

o performance in our senior y

d wanted

dentally" loosened the tuning pegs on my cello, just en

d Brooke, but

gotten

ining to Chloe, fur

behalf. "She' s awful, Ava! I

tarted dating me then

ke, called her a chea

mfortable, so protective of her, t

as a lie, just lik