Page 17 of Corrupt Obsession

“I think Tina’s getting a cold. Is anyone in there with you?”

“No.”

He sat up and unzipped the tent. Violet crawled in, the tiny flashlight on her necklace revealing what she was wearing.

He grabbed a handful of the shirt that was four sizes too big for her. “Isn’t this mine?”

“Yup,” she said, supremely unconcerned, as she secured the tent and turned to examine his sparse setup. “Why is your tent so small? Or is it just that you’re so big?”

“Just be grateful I have room, and you aren’t being eaten alive by mosquitoes,” he said testily as he unfolded his sleeping bag for her.

“Tina’s been coughing nonstop. I don’t want to get sick.”

As Violet crawled around on all fours to spread out the sleeping bag, her shorts shifted, showing a flash of bright blue underwear. He resumed his position, flat on his back with his hands behind his head. Violet moved his backpack and rearranged things to her liking before she flopped beside him.

“Ouch.”

He snickered. “Sorry, I didn’t bring another sleeping bag.”

She shifted. “I feel a stick in my back.”

He closed his eyes as she fussed around. The flashlight on her neck swung, lighting up his eyelids briefly before she landed heavily beside him. He heard a click as she turned off the light on her neck.

“I should have grabbed my sleeping bag before I left, but I didn’t want Tina to feel worse than she already did. It’s just for one night, right?”

When he didn’t speak, she nudged him.

“Are you up?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Why are you so crabby? Mom asked me if something happened. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

He could feel her eyes on him, though he knew she could see very little. The only illumination came from the distant fire, which penetrated the thin material of his tent.

“Did I do something?” she asked as she nestled against his side

“No,” he said gruffly.

“Why are you so tense?” she complained, prodding his flexed arm.

He made a concentrated effort to relax.

“Tell me what’s bothering you,” she ordered, smacking his chest.

“Nothing’s bothering me.” He was very aware of her hand on his heart, which was picking up speed.

“Siblings aren’t supposed to keep secrets from each other. They’re supposed to tell each other everything.”

He opened his mouth to say they weren’t real siblings, but the words died on his tongue as the truth slammed into him. He didn’t want her wearing some other guy’s clothes, didn’t want anyone arranging her fingers on guitar strings or trying to feed her because he saw her as his. She was his to touch and providefor, and these guys were encroaching on his territory, they just didn’t know it.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” Violet asked.

He jerked. “What?”

“About why you’re angry.” She peered at his face in the meager light. “Seriously, what’s going on with you? You’re acting so weird.”

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