Page 109 of The Otherworld

“Uh, hey, Adam?” he says. “Notice anything different?”

I frown, grabbing a dishcloth and turning to face him. “What do you…”

My heart stops.

Orca.

Orca is the girl sitting beside him.

Orca is here, in my house, having dinner with my family.

Impossible.

Her gaze locks on mine, and a smile blooms over her face, lighting up her eyes. “Hello, Adam,” she says. That’s when I realize I’m not hallucinating.

“Orca,” I whisper, stunned. “What… What are you doing here?”

Jack speaks up, answering for her. “Orca’s come to spend some time on the mainland.”

My gaze switches to him, and the rest of the story clicks into place.

Jack went and got her.

While I was gone, he must have snuck out in my plane, flown to the island, and brought her back here.

I know without even asking. I know from the glint of rebellious triumph in my little brother’s eyes when he looks at me. I know from the smug, self-satisfied grin that hasn’t left his face since I walked in the door.

Damn it.

This is exactly what I was afraid of.

“Does your father know you’re here, Orca?”

She hesitates, her smile faltering. “Yes… He’s fine with it. He gave me permission to come.”

I can tell she’s lying by the look on her face. I know her. I know Jack.

Mom clears her throat to break the silence. “We’re very happy to have Orca with us,” she says, casting me an unsure look out of the corner of her eye. “You’re welcome for as long as your father can spare you, dear.”

Dad murmurs his agreement, Orca thanks my parents for their kindness, and Jack keeps looking at me, that unapologetic spark in his eyes.

My mother starts to say something else, but I interrupt her.

“Jack, I want to talk to you for a minute. Outside.”

I don’t mean for it to sound like a death threat, but apparently, that’s how Mom hears it. She passes me a look that says Don’t fight with your brother, but I’m already walking away. I push through the screen door and stride into the cool night, crossing the driveway and stopping at the edge of our woods, well out of earshot.

Jack takes his sweet time following me. Eventually, I hear the screen door whine open and slam shut. Footsteps approach, but I don’t turn to face him yet. I stand my ground, staring at the darkened forest, my nerves thrumming.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

Jack remains silent for a long moment, then says, “I don’t know what you’re talking—”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” I whirl on him, my blood boiling. “Her father gave her permission? Bullshit. Who do you think you’re fooling? Mom and Dad, maybe. But not me.”

Jack looks away, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I might not have known him for more than ten minutes, Jack, but that man would die before he let his daughter fly off with some eighteen-year-old guy—”

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