Came Back Haunted (Experiment in Terror #10) - Karina Halle Page 0,41

trust Jay.”

Dex blinks at me, then nods. “Right. Of course. Slipped my mind.” He grabs my hand. “Let’s go inside, it’s freezing.”

Once inside, we get the champagne flowing. Though my dad does seem more with it and relaxed, now that I know the cause of Ada’s mood, I can’t help but feel heartbroken for her.

We settle down in the living room to watch a movie on Netflix, though it takes fucking ages to try and decide what to watch (that’s no surprise, my father and Ada have very different cinematic tastes from Dex and I).

Then Ada heads upstairs and I take the opportunity to follow her.

I find her in her bedroom, shrugging off a sweater until she’s just in a thermal top. Jesus, she’s gotten skinny.

“What are you doing?” I ask her.

“I’m getting too hot,” she says, going to her dresser and pulling open a drawer, rifling through an excessive number of cardigans.

I close the door behind me, and she looks up at me, alert and on edge.

“I know about you and Jay,” I say quietly.

She flinches, then slams the drawer shut before opening another. “Figures he would tell you. No fucking secrets in this place.”

“Ada I am so, so sorry.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I know how hard this must be,” I say, going over to her.

I put my arms out in an attempt to hug her, but she steps back, her hand blocking me, her eyes looking wild. “Just stop, okay?”

I shake my head, feeling extra rejected. “I don’t understand. You can talk to me about this.”

“I don’t want to talk to you, okay? I don’t want to talk to anyone. Just…leave me alone.”

That fucking hurts. But I have to remind myself it’s not about me and my feelings right now. I have to give her the space she needs.

“Okay,” I manage to say, my voice shaking a little. “I get it. We don’t have to talk now. Or ever. But I want you to know I’ll listen if and when you’re ready. And I’m here for you. And I love you.”

She just grumbles something in return and pulls out a cardigan, slipping it on. “I knew you’d start to pry.”

“He brought it up,” I protest. “And even if he didn’t, why shouldn’t I? I’m your sister.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to tell you anything,” she says, going to her bedside table and pulling something out. She turns her back to me before I can see what it is, but from the sound of the cap being popped off and the following rattle, I know it’s a bottle of prescription pills.

“What are you doing?” I quickly walk over there, trying to see.

“Nothing,” she says, putting the bottle back in the drawer.

I watch her swallow it down, no water, then I open the drawer and fish it out, holding the bottle in my hand. It’s a prescription for Xanax.

“Since when do you take Xanax?” I ask.

“It’s been awhile. It’s not a big deal.”

“Then why are you trying to hide it?”

“Because I knew you’d get weird,” she says, walking over to her mirror.

I put the bottle down on the table. “I’m not getting weird. I’m just wondering. Dex is on those too.”

“So then, you know.”

“But what made you start? Does dad know? Aren’t you a little young?”

“I’m fucking nineteen, Perry,” she snaps at me, eyeing me in the mirror. “You were snorting fucking coke at fifteen, so lay off.”

Whoa. I thought we were past this. It’s been awhile since she’s thrown my drug addiction in my face.

“Okay,” I say slowly, trying to calm my beating heart. “Maybe that alone should make you pause. Have you told Dad?”

“He made the appointment. He’s on shit, too. You’ve moved on with your life with Dex, with your perfect marriage, new life, and new career, but you’ve forgotten about us here in this house, trying to get through all this shit after Mom died.”

It’s like she’s gone and punched me right in the gut. My lips press together, trying to compose myself. How on earth can she think I’ve moved on and forgotten about her?

“That’s not fair,” I say quietly. “Just because…just because I don’t live here doesn’t mean I’m not going through the same things.”

I see a wash of remorse in her eyes, but then she looks away and shrugs. “You wanted to talk, I’m talking.”

I don’t even know what to say now.

I try to swallow the brick in my throat, then head to the door. I expect her to say something to