Page 8 of Drown in You

A dull buzz drones in my ears while I replay her words, trying to make sense of them.

Married. Friday.

Married.

What the fuck.

Ma’s radiant smile and Mike’s bright eyes tell me they expect me to be happy for them, but they just got back together a few months ago and they already have one failed relationship under their belt.

Her face starts to fall when I don’t match her excitement.

I drop my fork. “Who gets married in the winter?”

“A winter ceremony will be lovely! Winter is a magical time of year. It’ll be a small ceremony, just you and Sienna and our close families. You remember Sienna—Mike’s daughter. She’s right around your age. I’m sure you two will get along great!” She bounces in her seat with sheer joy and the news has me grinding my teeth. “You’ll have a sister, Luke! Isn’t this so exciting?”

Sienna. Sister.

No. No fucking way. Am I supposed to pretend like I’m not the masked man who’s been catfishing her for years at every family reunion? Suppress a laugh during the holidays when she texts Ten a funny meme under the table?

I won’t be able to keep up the lie anymore if we’re fucking related. I’ll lose her.

Mike hasn’t been a father to Sienna in years, and he’ll never be one to me. We won’t be a family, even if Ma decides to marry him. And I’ll never think of Sienna as my fucking sister.

“We hope she’ll be there,” Mike adds.

If Sienna refuses to respond to his texts, she’s sure as hell not showing up to his wedding. “You two have only been together for a few months.”

Ma’s bright smile wanes. “When you know, you know.”

Like that isn’t the most generic, recycled Hallmark line. My chair screeches when I stand, Bud jumping to his feet and skittering out of the room before I can follow him. “You want to marry a guy you barely know, who moved in two weeks ago and has a daughter you’ve never met, go ahead. Just don’t ask me to be at the wedding.”

I ignore Ma’s protests at my back and Mike’s murmured reassurances. This wedding is a really fucking bad idea, and I’m not going to sit there and watch as she strikes the match and sends her whole life up in flames. Mine with it.

Chapter 3

Sienna

In my bedroom, Juliet attempts to conceal the purple bruise blooming around my eye. Her own makeup is dark and thick, lashes long and devastating. Even without makeup, Juliet has the kind of beauty that’s hard to look away from.

She huffs, dropping her ring-adorned hands hopelessly into her lap. Her bracelets clatter with the movement. “I have a feeling it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

I flash a bright smile. “Hey, at least they didn’t kill me, right?”

My best friend scowls. “What did your mom say?”

“Oh, she’s planning on shipping me off to a university in another country.”

Mom absolutely lost it when Juliet brought me home, and she drove me straight to the ER. I listened while the nurses and doctor examined me, taking mental notes like I will when I finally complete my Gen Ed courses and start clinicals.

My prognosis is good. Lots of visible contusions and bruised ribs, but no breaks, fractures, or concussion. A miracle.

But you only get one miracle, and if Marcus and his henchmen get their hands on me a second time, I’m not sure I’ll walk away again.

“Honestly, that might not be a bad idea. At least until the drama cools down.” Juliet returns my makeup to the top of my dresser.

I snort. “If those are the conditions, I might as well plan on never coming back. This town is going to hate me forever.” I reach for her hand and squeeze. “I’m sorry I screwed things up between you and Marcus.”

Juliet yanks her hand from my grasp and punches me in the arm. “For the last time, stop apologizing. He was a fling, and you did what you had to do. You were being a good friend. So if your mom ships you off to a university in London, I’ll come with you.”

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