My brows draw together as Donovan sits teary-eyed between Liam and me. “I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe they’re making me leave…and to Spain. I might never see you guys again. Why can’t my parents get a divorce without ruining my life? It’s already bad enough that they’re splitting up.”
Her sadness chokes her voice, and even though I want to make her feel better, all I seem to be able to do is nod as she speaks. All the words are stuck in the back of my throat, making the lump grow bigger. A lump that’s becoming impossible to swallow down each time she looks at me with those sad eyes.
I open my mouth to force out some reassurance when Liam voices what I wish I could but can’t. Because it’s a considerate lie. And I don’t lie to Donovan. Ever.
“We’re here for you, Van. We’ll figure shit out. Everything will be fine. Who cares if your parents want to get a divorce? They should let you live with who you want. It’s so messed up.”
I stupidly nod again, unable to speak, for fear I’d scream until I passed out. This is so unfair. Screw her parents. They can’t make her go. I won’t let them. I have to figure out a plan. Maybe hide her here…nobody gives a shit about what I’m doing. She could probably go unnoticed for months.
I close my eyes as I stare down at my lap because no matter how much I repeat those words in my head, I know it’s bullshit. They can make her go, and they will. We’re just kids, and they’re asshole adults.
They’ll take her away from us. From me.
When she goes, nothing will be the same. Our friendship is forged from status and birthright, but it’s held together by so much more.
I’ll never endure Liam’s stupid jokes—she’s the only one who laughs at them and forces me to laugh too. And there’s no way I’ll make it through middle school without being kicked out a dozen more times. Donovan’s the only person who can help me find a calm place inside myself. Without her, I’ll set it all ablaze.
But they’ll all deserve it for what they’re doing to her. To us. I’ll make sure they pay royally.
“Grey—”
Her teary eyes fix on my face as she reaches to hold my hand, doing the same to Liam. We’ve had her sandwiched between us since she got here, like the glue that binds the three of us together as best friends. Our fingers weave together as I go to work gnawing on my bottom lip, trying to ignore my real worry—who will love me?
Nobody. That’s who.
Liam’s like my brother, but we both carry the burden of our family’s names, already at twelve. He and I… We’ll survive together, but Donovan makes us daydream about living. She’ll wear off like the sweet fragrance of that perfume she just started wearing, and I’ll go back to believing I’m as unlovable as I’m told. I can’t help but drop my eyes to look at our hands when Donovan squeezes mine. It’s like she can read my mind.
Knocking her shoulder into mine, she smiles weakly. “Hey. Maybe you guys can steal your dad’s jet and run operation ‘rescue me.’”
Her joke makes Liam laugh, but all I feel is more anger. This feels like the worst day of my life. Because it is. I don’t want jokes; I want to hug her until she’s invisible to everyone but me and hide her away until we can both escape this version of our lives.
I pull my hand from hers and rub my palms down the rough fabric of my jeans.
“I swear I’ll find a way, Donovan. I promise. They can’t keep you away from us. First. Last. And only.”
She knows exactly what I mean by that. It’s something she came up with when we were ten. The “first” stands for being each other’s first friends. The “last” came when she’d sworn off loving boys forever because Tommy Parker told her she was skinny. We made a pact that Liam and I would be the last boys she’d ever love. And the “only” stands for our only family. In our world, you learn who you can count on at an early age, and servants aside, we’re all we have.
Liam blows out a long breath, falling back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
“I’ll torture my parents until they tell me where you are, and then