Page 70 of Lilly

I can't believe this thought is even entering my head but she's my sister and I'll do anything to protect her. "Then maybe I should—"

"No!" My dad yells it so loud my mom and I both startle. "You are NOT going back to them! Not now, not ever! You understand me?"

"Yes," I say, feeling guilty for even suggesting it. I desperately want to help Lilly, but after all we went through to get me out, I can't go back.

A few minutes later, the front door opens and Abi and Hannah run in, holding pieces of construction paper. They stop in front of my parents.

"Grandma, look what I made you!" Hannah holds up the picture she made using crayons and markers and cotton balls for clouds.

It's a drawing of my parents sitting on a bench in the back yard. The bench is surrounded by flowers so it's one of their favorite places to sit.

My mom takes the picture and looks at it. "Thank you, sweetie. It's a pretty picture. I love all the flowers."

"I made one too." Abi hands hers to my dad. "It's you and me, Grandpa. You're reading me a book."

He smiles. "It's very nice. Thank you."

"You're welcome." She hugs him.

"Garret, can you help with the boys?" Jade asks.

I turn around and see her holding Ethan, who's asleep on her shoulder. Lilly is behind her, holding Miles, who is also asleep. Lilly struggles to hold him as she messes with her phone, her eyes glued to the screen.

I take Miles from her. He stirs a little but remains asleep.

"Girls, you need to get to bed," Jade says to Abi and Hannah.

"Will you read us a story?" Abi asks my dad.

"Not tonight," he says. "Some other time."

They say their goodnights then go to their room. We're staying here since it's too late to drive home.

"I'm gonna call Reed," Lilly says.

We all watch as she goes to her room. Then we look at each other, not saying anything.

None of us know what to do. There's no good answer. No good solution. The only thing that's certain is that this isn't going to end well.

Chapter Sixteen

Lilly

As soon as I'm in my room, I shut the door and call Reed. I haven't been able to talk to him all day and I miss him.

"Hey," he says picking up on the first ring. "You finally called."

"I know. Sorry it took me so long. We just got home."

"What'd you guys do over there?"

"We were mostly in the pool during the day. Then after dinner, Harper set up some craft projects for the kids and I ended up supervising while Jade and Harper talked. But it was fun." I laugh. "I made you a present."

"Oh, yeah? What is it?"

"I'm not telling you. It's a surprise." I take it out of my purse and set it on my desk. It's a cardboard picture frame covered in stickers. I made it as a joke. It has teddy bear stickers and hearts on it. Abi made one too but she kept reaching over to mine and adding red lip stickers to it, giggling each time she did it. She's seen Reed kiss me, so when I told her the frame was for him, she just had to add the lip stickers.

"When do I get this present?" he asks.

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