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“I’ll keep that in“I better go Mom will kill me if I’m late for my first day of school”

“Okay You’ll call ht after?”

“I will”

“Love you, Ry”

“Love you, too” I end the call, turning toward the floor length hit had been

Honestly, I look terrible My eyes are all swollen and puffy from lack of sleep I was so nervous about today that I tossed and turned all night and not even my favorite concealer could hide the evidence of ht

My gaze travels down to my pale pink top and dark skinny jeans that I partnered with my favorite pair of brown booties It took me hours to settle on an outfit, and I still feel uncomfortable, which is very unlike me

I’ so unsure of myself, but this entire situation has really throwna nor senior year with s that entails The next, ets turned upside down I’ve barely had ti my first day at a new school where none of my friends will be

Blowing out a puff of air, I turn away fro on the way out I dropthe strap overmy bedroom door, I pause when Oliver opens his at the exact h, I got stuck with quite possibly the worst stepbrother in history He hates that Mom and I are here

Before he c

an say anything snarky, I quickly turn and take off down the stairs, heading in the direction of the kitchen

If they had moved in with us, I wouldn’t be forced to have a bedroom directly across from a person who hates me for reasons that are completely out of my control I can’t help that his parents divorced, or that his dad re to do with me But I think it’s safe to say he doesn’t see it that way Either that, or he’s taking it out on me because he knows he can’t take it out on my mom, or his dad for that matter Not if he wants to maintain free access to his father’s money

Unfortunately, Moical choice Good school, a nice neighborhood, and closer to the hospital where she perforet it, but it certainly doesn’t make the pill any easier to s

I walk through the foyer and down a long hallway, dropping ht inside the door of the kitchen

“There she is” Paul looks up from his laptop and smiles, his freshly pressed suit perfectly fitted to his broad shoulders

At least he’s nice to me

“Good erator to grab so here I know it’s e and uneasy, like I’shells all of the time

“Excited for your first day?” he asks

“I guess” I shrug, lass from the cabinet

“She’ll be great” My shoulders tense at the sound of Oliver’s voice I know he’s only saying that because he wants his father to believe he’s playing nice, but I don’tdark in his tone

“Of course she will,” Paul agrees

I turn right as mom enters the kitchen; her slender fra scrubs—her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail

“Surgery today?” I ask, knowing that’s the only time Mom wears scrubs to work

She nods, taking the seat next to Paul where a cup of coffee is already waiting for her This ood to Mo thatthe smile that slides across her face as she sits down next to her new husband