Page 44 of Totally Off Limits

“Please don’t, dad.” Layne’s cheeks turned pink, and Sierra tried to figure out what else might be going on with her brother—but she was going to keep her mouth shut because, for once, she wasn’t the one under the microscope.

Although their father nodded, Rebecca straightened her shoulders and folded her hands together on the table, and Sierra zeroed in on the multitude of diamond rings on her mother’s fingers rather than looking at her face. Rebecca wasn’t focused on her oldest daughter anyway. “If you didn’t want to have an official graduation, Layne, it would have been nice to know several months ago. Your aunt is planning to fly up at the end of the week, and we were going to have a party catered next Sunday.”

“I already told you I don’t want any of that.”

“That’s good, because you won’t be getting it.AndI’ll be sending back the cards well wishers sent you.”

Layne didn’t even protest—but Paul said, “Dear, don’t you think—”

“I think it’s a natural consequence.”

As he stood, Layne’s chair squealed against the tile, even with its padded feet, and Sierra imagined he’d done that on purpose to make a point. “It’s not the end of the world. So I’ll graduate a little later—and I don’t need a big deal made out of it.”

“Your graduation is for yourfamily, not you.”

Sierra interpreted Rebecca’s words as meaning it was something her mother could flaunt to her friends.My son went through his schooling so quickly that he earned his Ph.D. before twenty-fiveor some other bullshit. And the way her mother was tearing into her brother made her feel a little compassion for him, something she hadn’t felt in ages.

“I’m not denying you the graduation. It’ll just be later.”

“You’re missing the point.”

“No,” Layne all but shouted, “you’remissing the point. I’m giving you what you want—a graduation. But the degree has to be about me. I’ll be living my life after you guys are gone and if I want any kind of life, it has to be doing what I enjoy.”

“Even if you’re living on the streets.”

No longer was Layne even trying to hide his emotions, and they were most evident in the tone of his voice. “I don’t recall you guys giving Sierra this much grief when she had to postpone school because she let herself get knocked up.”

Sierra’s ears perked up as her entire body grew tense. That was such a typical Layne move—not getting what he wanted, getting the kind of negative attention usually reserved for his sister, so he decided to throw her under the bus.

What an unmitigated asshole.

Rather than look at her parents or even her plate where her eyes had been focused, she turned her attention to her brother. Until now, she hadn’t thought it possible to hate him more…but he’d just proven her wrong. She considered defending her honor but immediately thought better of it. That would be a sure way to pull the focus from him to her, and she was tired of being lectured. In a way, it was a relief to be out of the spotlight.

“Maybe I should get some random girl pregnant so you guys’ll help me like you did her.”

As if pulled from a trance, Paul also stood. While their father was a typically quiet, unassuming, even dignified man, when he got up from his chair, his presence reminded them that their parents were unified in opinion. Sierra prepared to take another verbal assault like she was used to now that Layne had tried to deflect their animosity onto her.

“Layne, own your mistake. Don’t try to deflect our wrath on Sierra. She’s already had plenty to deal with because of her mistakes.”

“Natural consequences,” her mother said as if to punctuate Paul’s words.

Their father continued, “Youwill write the letters of apology to the people who sent you cards and money. I don’t care how you explain it, but you’ll apologize and return any gifts they sent.”

“And what if I don’t?”

Now Rebecca stood, placing her hands on the table around her plate, her fingers splayed, displaying her diamond-encrusted rings. Usually, they looked beautiful even if ostentatious; now, they simply looked gaudy. “You don’t want to find out, Layne.” The woman’s voice was like a growl, awakening an old fear in Sierra. She’d never been physically abused by her parents—and, really, not even mentally or verbally. Bullied, perhaps, and most definitely pushed and prodded, but something about her mother’s voice now sent a chill up her spine.

Damn Layne for dragging her into this shit.

For his part, Layne jutted out his chin as if considering for a moment simply walking away. With defiance, he stared down their mother, then turned his eyes to their father. After sucking in a deep breath through his nostrils, he said, “Fine.”

But then he started to walk out of the dining room.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Give him a little time, Rebecca. We’re asking him to—”

“We’re asking him to do the right thing. Now is not the time to walk away.”

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