Page 113 of Steamy Ever After

Her clothes clung to her glazed skin and she shivered. “May I be excused?”

He glared at her. “Get.”

She left the table and returned to the bathroom. All night, she tossed and turned with sharp cramps until she was so weak and sick she dared to wake her father where he slept on the chair in the den.

“What is it?”

“Daddy,” she held her stomach. “I think I need a doctor. I’m really sick.”

“Get a glass of water and get back to bed.”

As soon as she drank the water she threw it up. The next morning, she barely made it to school. When her social studies teacher asked for her project, she stood, prepared to make up an excuse, but as soon as she tried to speak, she collapsed and the world went black.

Several hours later, she awoke in a hospital bed with no appendix. Harrison was there. He told her their dad had come and gone.

The pain in her stomach had stopped, but her body was sore. The doctor said she could have died. He also asked about a bruise on her arm, his close attention filling her with worry that felt like worms swimming through her belly.

Such questions might upset her dad and make things worse at home. Ignoring the guilty sensation, she lied and said she must have bumped her arm on a desk when she fell at school.

She stayed in the hospital alone that night and slept more peacefully than she had in months. In the morning, the nurses gave her Jell-O.

When she returned home, Finnegan’s mom dropped off a container of homemade chicken noodle soup. Finn had made her a card with a crayon picture of them climbing a tree and a pressed daisy inside.

GET WELL SOON! LOVE, FINNEGAN

She smiled at the messy block letters and tucked the daisy carefully in her jewelry box the moment she returned home. Finnegan McCullough was one of the nicest boys she knew. If anyone would make a nice husband, he would. And for one tiny moment, she actually considered marrying her best friend.

Erin removed the crumb cake from the oven and the front door slammed.

“Fucking asshole!” Harrison stormed into the house and threw something heavy in the den.

Leaving the cake to cool, she rushed after him. “What happened?”

“What do you think happened? He’s fucking impossible and I’m done.” He plowed into his closet and yanked out an armful of clothes, throwing them onto his bed.

“What? What do you mean, done?”

“I mean I’m leaving. I’m out. I can’t live under this roof anymore.”

“You’re leaving?” True panic gripped her. “What about college?”

He laughed without humor. “What college?”

“Harrison, you’re going to college. You’ve played football for years, and always talked about one day playing for a college team.”

“Well, Luke McCullough got the scholarship, and I got the scraps. Dad said it’s my fault for not pushing myself harder and he’s not giving me a dime when he already gave me all the opportunities I needed.”

Her heart sank. Luke got the scholarship? She briefly imagined the happy celebration that would take place at Finn’s house that night and a pang of envy carved a hole in her belly.

Harrison slammed a drawer shut. “He’s a fucking junior! That scholarship was supposed to go to a senior!”

“C-calm down. You can still get into a good school?—”

“Are you thick, Erin? College costs money and we don’t got any.”

“If you talk to Dad?—”

“No. It’s not worth it. I don’t need to feel more degraded than I already do. I’m done.” He flung open a suitcase and began tossing clothes inside.

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