Rule Breakers (Off Limits #2) - Nicky James Page 0,74

close connection was normal. It was unlikely it would be perceived as anything different, but I couldn’t shake the worry.

Vanya knew something was up. My sister had an uncanny sense of perception when it came to me. It was like she could root around inside my brain and pick out all the things I wasn’t saying, no matter how hard I tried to hide them. She’d done it all our lives. She’d known the day I’d lost my virginity. Why I’d been suspended from school in the tenth grade. She could read trouble on my face from a mile away. Vanya had known Shianne was pregnant before I’d found the words to tell her. She knew when I lied. She knew when I was upset or angry or uncomfortable or scared. All she had to do was look at me and she saw the truth. I loved her to death, but I fucking hated that she could see through me so easily.

This dinner was going to expose us. I’d avoided my sister for months. We’d chatted on the phone, but I’d made excuse after excuse why we couldn’t get together. I just hoped if she suspected anything that she’d question me about it alone and not in front of everyone.

Denver pulled into the driveway behind Mom and Dad’s car. He killed the engine, and no one moved.

Vanya lived in a two-story brick house with a large backyard and attached garage. She and Dan made good money, and they had done well for themselves. Their kids wanted for nothing and were enrolled in everything from hockey to swimming to soccer to piano lessons. They rarely had a night off.

Edison hadn’t had any of that. It was just another example of my failures according to my parents.

“It’s just a regular old family dinner,” Denver said into the quiet car. He thought he was being reassuring. He wasn’t.

Edison sighed and got out of the car, mumbling, “Let’s just do it” before slamming the door. I followed, burying my hands in my coat pockets so I wouldn’t fidget. Denver took up the rear.

Edison gave the customary, polite knock to announce our arrival before letting himself inside. Chase, his ten-year-old cousin, came bounding down the stairs a moment later, a wide smile glowing on his face. He loved hanging out with Edison despite their vast age difference.

Chase was deep into his LEGO phase and carried his newest masterpiece, exclaiming, “Eddy, check it out. It’s a Coast Guard patrol ship. Daddy had to order it online, but it finally came. It has all kinds of cool stuff that goes with it. Wanna see? I built it all by myself.”

Edison looked over his shoulder, glancing between Denver and me.

“Go ahead,” I told him. It was better he stay busy elsewhere anyhow. My fucking dad had no goddamn filter, and I was sick and tired of him degrading Edison when Edison could hear it.

Edison’s smile didn’t reach his eyes when he turned back to Chase. “Sure, man. Let me see.”

He hadn’t wanted to come. I didn’t blame him.

Denver and I followed the tinkling of piano music into the sitting room, finding our parents, Vanya, and her husband, Dan, all sitting around, watching the birthday girl give them a show. Reagan was wearing a party dress and shiny pink shoes. Her hair was expertly braided and held together with shimmering elastics. Reagan was a tomboy through and through, so I was certain she’d been forced to dress up for the sake of an image and had probably grumbled about it the whole time.

Balloons and streamers hung from the ceiling, and a table was set up with presents and a fancy cake my sister had no doubt spent a fortune on. It had flowers all around its base, and a wax candle in the shape of the number twelve sat on the top. This was Reagan’s family celebration. Dan was taking her and a bunch of her friends from school to the movies on another day.

Denver touched my elbow and gestured at a vacant chair. I sat, and he perched on the arm, sticking close as we listened to the end of the song. His hand brushed my shoulder and squeezed once before he placed it on his lap. The music was clunky and not that great. Reagan fumbled over the keys numerous times, muttering as she stopped and started, but when she finished, everyone clapped and cheered.

Reagan swung around on the bench and beamed. When she noticed us, she