others downstairs a few hours later. Dad looks small and pale in his blue shirt and suit. But I'm more carefree than I've ever been. I clap my brother on the back and hug my little sis, and I wink at my father. He winces. He knows he can't do anything to stop me now, and I'm reveling in that feeling.
"Thank you so much all for coming!" Rachel speaks up, clinking a fork against her glass. "Our wedding anniversary has been beautiful because of every single person here."
"Hear, hear!" I nod jovially, raising a glass to my father who watches me with a crestfallen expression. The old man's world is crumbling now, and I'm loving it. I can't wait to see that pained expression on his face every fucking day. To know I've bested him. That things are going to go my goddamn way from now on. "To the Wildfox-Millers."
"To us," Rachel nods, and the five of us clink glasses.
"I have a special present for the two of you," I add with a grin. "And I just can't fucking wait to show you..."
18
June
Life goes on. Slowly and painfully, it moves forward, without a single call from Kade.
I spend a lot of time with Parker, to the point where he’s practically living with me. He’s so sweet, so worried, always next to me, holding me when I cry, consoling me when I feel like I might break in half. Today we’re in my living room because I’m refusing to leave the house. It just feels safe here, even though some might think I’m a little bit morbid for staying in the place that housed too much pain, so many people who aren’t here anymore. Parker’s stretched out on the couch, playing some violent video game, and I’m pretending to be engrossed in my book.
“Parker,” I ask softly, closing the finished book with a thud. I don't remember a word of what I've just read.
“Yep,” he responds, his eyebrows knitted together in concentration. He can see I’m hesitating, and I’m surprised when he puts down his controller and focuses his attention on me. When did he start caring about me more than his video games? I wonder. Sure, we were always close, but Parker's priority has always been himself, and now it seems as if I've taken up that top spot.
“Tell me,” he says and offers a nice, albeit a little impatient smile, his eyes flickering back to the TV screen where his game is paused.
“Well,” I begin. What I’m about to suggest would send Kade in a rage a few weeks ago, and while I’ve offered before, I’m not sure how Parker will accept my preposition. “You’ve been staying with friends now for how long?”
“A few weeks,” Parker answers, eyes dashing between the screen and me. “You know I can’t go back there. Not now that I know what he wanted to do with you.”
I nod slowly. He refuses to talk to Kade, and while I understand, I feel awful for breaking their bond. They used to be thick as thieves, and now it’s all gone to hell because of me. And I can’t help it, but I don’t share Parker’s sentiment. Every time the phone rings, I still wish it were Kade on the other side.
“You know I appreciate it,” I say sincerely, and we share a secretive smile. It’s always been like this between Parker and me—like we were actual siblings, not just related by marriage. We just click. “Well, I was thinking,” I finally add, offering a shy smile. “You’ve been here a lot, right? I thought … maybe you’d be more comfortable if you stayed here for a while?”
This is the moment of truth, and my eyes are glued to my stepbrother’s face, searching for answers. I’ve wanted them both in this house since everything with the inheritance went down, but Kade outright refused to discuss it. He was bitter about losing all the money and too proud to let me help him. He never accepted a single dollar from me.
But Parker…
His forehead is creased, but I can tell he’s considering the possibility of what I’m offering him.
“No pressure,” I say softly. “It’s just that I’d like some company. And family needs to stick together.” What’s left of it, anyway, a painful thought reminds me.
He looks up at me, and I can see him considering his options. I know he’s been sleeping on couches and skipping classes just so he could spend time with me. And I