Page 59 of Cashmere Cruelty

With a background like that, the Evans siblings should have hated each other. Their parents certainly never lost a chance to pit them against each other, like living pawns in a sick game of chess. That was therealmiracle: that, instead, they grew up inseparable. The second choice and the glue baby of dubious parentage, together against the world. A family of two.

Then I came along and made three.

“I’m thinking Buddha bowl,” June muses, looking up at the waiter who’s since come back. “It’s cheap enough, and?—”

“We’re putting everything on Matvey’s tab,” I announce.

“Lobster hash, please,” June rectifies. “And a glass of your finest white.”

“Hanger steak and eggs for me,” Corey pipes up. “Heavy on the eggs. And an Old Fashioned.”

“Waffles and fried chicken,” I decide, earning two pairs of disbelieving eyes on me. “And a sparkling water, please.”

The waiter bows to us and leaves.

“What?” I ask the two Evanses. “Nugget’s got cravings.”

“Nugget needs to watchEloise at the Plaza,” June remarks. “And step up that palate.”

“Bold of you to assume it has a palate,” Corey comments. “Need I remind you what its mother eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?”

“Hey!” I counter. “There’s nothing wrong with mac and cheese.”

“Sure thing, Drew Barrymore.”

I pout. “I don’t remember hearing you complain about my lunch boxes when you were twelve.”

“Yeah, because I wastwelve.”

I blow him a raspberry. June—my cheesy partner in crime—joins in. “Boo.You’re missing out on the finest thing in life.”

“I’m missing out on a coronary attack and an endless case of diarrhea.”

Listening to them bicker like this, my heart fills with warmth. It brings back memories of afterschool ice cream and bowling nights. Whenever Corey was around, we felt invincible—no bullies would dare come close to us. He wasn’t just June’s big brother—he was mine, too.

And we were both his little sisters.

Which is why I’m not surprised when, after our delicious brunch arrives, Corey suddenly turns serious. “Look, Apes,” he says, glancing around the restaurant with suspicion. “This all looks very nice, but… you’re okay, right?”

June draws close to me, nodding along. “Because, you know, if anything’s off…”

I give them both a reassuring smile. “I’m okay,” I tell them, taking their hands in mine. “I promise.”

I don’t feel half as confident as that, but I hope it doesn’t show. This whole thing with Matvey is… complicated, for lack of a better term. But I still don’t think it’s dangerous.

Not in a life-or-death way, at least. As for other types of danger… you’d have to ask my traitorous hormones.

“You’re sure?” Corey frowns, picking up on my uncertainty. “‘Cause Rob’s one hell of a lawyer. I bet he could get you half of everything here, plus full custody. And if he ever lays a hand on you?—”

“Oh, no danger of that,” I joke bitterly. “He won’t touch me with a ten-foot pole. He’s made that very clear.”

“That’s… good?” Corey tries.

“Of course it’s good.” I frown. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know,” June says evasively. “You did kinda say it like it was a bad thing, babe.”

Did I?As if on command, the back of my hand starts tingling with the memory of his lips. His touch. His warmth. His?—

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