and Jason decides it’s time to pack up.
“Sorry it wasn’t more exciting,” he apologizes, driving us out of the park.
“I’ve had a lot of other excitement lately. Peaceful was what I needed.”
“But you didn’t catch anything.”
“Neither did you.”
“Don’t rub it in.” He gives me puppy dog eyes for a brief moment at a stoplight. “Are you up for something tonight? I was thinking we could go to the Fair.”
“Sounds fun. I need a nap though. That early morning wake-up call wasn’t fun.”
“I guess I can suffer through you taking a nap,” he jokes, “since I got to fish today for the first time in a long time.”
Jason drops me off at home and I find Rose in the TV room with Arissa and Damian watching a movie. “Is it okay if I go to the Fair with Jason tonight?”
“Sure.”
“Mind if we tag along?” Damian asks.
I roll my eyes and set a hand on my hip. “I don’t know, Damian. We can’t take you anywhere, you know.”
“Har har.”
I head up to my room and Arissa follows. I collapse on my bed, weary from the day, while she sits on the edge.
“I was totally wrong. I’m sorry, Sara. I shouldn’t have accused you the way I did. Best friends don’t do that to each other, but I did it to you. You deserve better than that from me.”
I roll on my side. Knowing her, she’ll never say what I suspect. It’s not in her nature to admit her faults, even if she’s apologizing again. “Are you jealous of Hunter? That I have a friend outside of you, Jason, and Damian?”
She looks away for a moment before turning back. “Yes. But because he got to be with you when we weren’t allowed to see or talk to you. It’s like he has a piece of you that we don’t.”
I curl my hand around hers. “We’re going to be sisters soon. You’re going to get a piece of me no one else gets. I have so few friends, there is more than enough of me to share.”
She throws herself on me. “I love you, Sara.”
I wrap my arms around her. “I love you too, Riss.”
We get fresh lemonade as soon as we enter the fairgrounds and walk around the exhibits. The boys get bored and decide they need to play carnival games. They spend some time dragging me and Arissa through the game section, winning us some small stuffed animals. We head for the rides next.
“Sara,” a female voice calls out from behind.
I turn around, letting go of Jason’s hand. “Becky.”
She stands with her arms folded, weight on one leg. Four friends are with her. “I heard about your parents. And foster homes. It’s too bad,” she says, her tone mocking.
Heat rushes through my body like churning whitewater rapids. I ball my fists and my jaw tightens. “You want to walk away right now, Becky. Especially if you want to avoid what your sister didn’t,” I say, calm and even to suppress the rage building within.
Jason moves forward and I flatten my hand on his chest while keeping my eyes on Becky. He stops. Damian moves next, but Jason stops him in the same manner. I know how to fight back now and Jason understands that.
“What are you going to do, Sara? Take me to the ground like Nicole did? Hit me like your dad did? Pin me against a table?”
I tilt my head at her last question. The pieces finally snap into place and the raging river quells. Answers are more important. “Who is Blake to you?”
“My half-brother.”
“I hope he’s ready for trouble.”
She drops her arms to her side. “What are you talking about?”
“I wondered for months why he brought your name up, but now I get it. I find it sad that you and your sister can’t let go. I can’t help that Jason loves me more than you. I can’t help that you can’t keep a boyfriend because you smother them.”
“You fucking cunt!” She lunges at me but her friends pull her back.
“I told Blake this. You should hear it too. There is nothing you can say or do to me worse than what my parents did. Nicole tried and failed.”
She glowers at me.
I twine my fingers with Jason’s. “Let’s go.” The four of us turn towards the rides and head for the Ferris Wheel.
“I can’t believe she’s still mad about that,” Jason says.
“Seriously? After what Nicole did at Hunter’s party?” I ask.
“I blocked that out.”
“Did you know they had a