Page 43 of Unraveled

“It was fine,” I replied.

“Especially for Annie,” Tucker murmured, and I swatted his stomach as Annie smacked his arm.

Mom and Uncle Blake gave us a weird look, their expressions making them look so much like brother and sister it was crazy.

“How are you feeling?” Mom looked at me.

“Fine. The nap and medicine earlier really helped.”

“Good.”

“So, what did we walk in on?” Annie cut in.

Mom froze, just for a split second, but it was there. “We were just talking.”

“Cool.” My sister nodded, walking around the armchair to drop into it. “About how y’all both know Zane’s parents?”

“Damn,” Tucker muttered as I shot Annie a look. I’d wanted to bring it up, but not like this. Not putting them on the spot.

Mom’s eyes widened before she covered her surprise with a look of frosted warning. “Thatis none of your business. He’s just someone we used to know. End of story.”

“But–”

“No, Annabel. My personal life is just that. Personal. I used to know that man, and until today, he’s been out of my life. That’s it. That’s all you need to know.”

I looked at Uncle Blake, and he gave me a small sympathetic smile. His lips were shut, too.

Annie looked between them before pushing herself back up. “Fine. Then I don’t want to hear you complain when we hold back from you.”

She walked around the couch, her head held high with her frustration, and I followed. Because she had a point. After all the crap Mom gave me today, she was doing the same thing.

“Goodnight,” I heard Tucker say to them as we reached the stairs.

Annie went straight to her room, half-slamming the door, and I had barely walked into ours when Tucker gently took my arm by the elbow, pulling me to his chest. His hands locked behind my lower back, and I looked up, my hands resting on his abs between us.

“You need to go to Annie.”

“What?”

“I meant to tell you earlier. I think she’s having a hard time. You should go spend the night with her tonight.”

“But…” I looked back at our bed, nerves flaring in my middle even as part of me called to be with my sister again when she needed me.

“We haven’t tried a night apart sincethatnight, and you just brought up next year, even part of this summer really, if we consider basketball. Let’s test how we do. See what we’re working with.”

God, why did he have to make sense right now? I wanted to be with Annie. I did. Imissedour time together, but sleeping without him?

“Come on. You can do this. I’m right in here if you need me.” He gave me an encouraging squeeze, and I nodded,knowing he was right. If I went to Baste Academy next year, we’d have to learn how to be apart.

“This isnotgoing to become a normal thing.” I pointed a finger at him as I went to go change, and he smacked my ass as I pulled open the dresser drawer.

“Not even a chance of that, princess.”

ANNIE

I was just coming out of the bathroom and pulling the covers back on my bed when my door opened.

“Izzy?” I took in her silhouette from the dim light behind her.

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