Page 34 of Little Stranger

His brows knit together.What’s wrong?

“I’m scared that if we keep doing this, I’ll start falling for you. And we… me and you… it’s impossible.”

He sits on the edge of my bed.These were just lessons for you.

Not a question—a statement. One that might have been true months ago when he asked me to show him how to kiss, but now? I can’t even think about anyone else without his face, his hands, his body infiltrating my mind.

“Were they more for you?”

I don’t know, he signs, and he genuinely looks dumbfounded.I don’t understand the way I feel. It’s different. Like I don’t have any control.

His diagnosis comes to mind, and I reach for his hand. “Maybe we should stop before it gets more confusing. Would you be comfortable with someone else now that we’ve… done things, or do you still want lessons?”

Can I not just be comfortable with you?

“I’m your sister.”

And?

I snort a laugh. “Do you want to give Dad a heart attack?”

He gives me a look that says he absolutely does want to do that—then I pull him into bed with me, and we kiss again, completely exhausted as we both fall asleep.

8

Olivia

BeforeIgotocheer, Mom wants me to go shopping with her to buy furniture for the new foster—a five-year-old girl called Molly. She was taken from her mother after doctors found drugs in the little girl’s system. The parents were given many warnings, but they didn’t even try for the sake of their child.

My dad was given her case when the father was being charged for raping his wife—and Jamieson Vize being Jamieson Vize knew he had to save the girl with a story nearly identical to my own.

She joins the family next week.

Malachi doesn’t care—he hates children and will probably stay far away from her. The past three months have been… fun. When we aren’t sneaking into bed and continuing our “lessons,” we’re hiding in places around the house while either one of us practices our oral skills or kissing until we’re satisfied.

Which is never.

Mom has given me some freedom, if I can even call it that. Adam is the one she wants me to marry now Parker is out of the picture, but she told me to take a year before the arrangement goes ahead. So I can enjoy the “single life” until I inevitably become Mrs. Adam Peckham.

Me being the great daughter I am, I agreed.

Malachi isn’t happy about it at all; that much is clear from the way he glares at Mom whenever she’s around, and even Dad had been keeping his distance from her since he found out about her secret payoff she gave to Parker.

He’s done nothing but apologize to me. He tells me he’d never sell his daughter’s virginity and that he’s contemplating divorcing Mom for her actions, but he still loves her, so he won’t. Not that I want them to separate.

“I’m going to Abbi’s tonight,” I announce. “She’s having a little party for her nineteenth.”

My brother’s eyes slowly lift to me, and he shakes his head.No.

I screw my nose up.Don’t dare try telling me what to do, I sign back while Mom’s back is turned.I’m staying there, and you won’t stop me.

I will.

I scoff and shake my head.Fuck you.

I’ll do that too.

The blush on my cheeks betrays me, and I kick him under the table, making him cough through a laugh while he eats his cereal.Just being honest, little sister.

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