Page 54 (1/2)

Prologue

Rush

13 years ago

There was a knock at the door then just the small shuffle of feet My chest already ached Mom had called me on their way hoo out to have some cocktails with friends I'd be the one that would need to soothe Nan My mom couldn't handle the stress it involved Or so she'd said when she called me

"Rush?" Nan's voice called out with a hiccup She'd been crying

"I' I'd been sitting on in the corner It wasspot If you didn't have one then bad things happened

Strands of Nan's red curls stuck to her wet face Her bottom lip quivered as she stared up at me with those sad eyes of hers I hardly ever saw theave her attention when she needed to dress her up and show her off The rest of the tinored Exceptby me I did my best to make her feel wanted

"I didn't see him He wasn't there," she whispered as a small sob escaped I didn't have to ask who "he" was I knew Mo Nan ask about her father So she'd decided to take her to see hione The stricken look on Nan's face had onna punch him in the nose I wanted to see him bleed

"Co my little sister into htly Times like this it was hard to breathe I hated the life she'd been given At least I knew my dad wanted me He spent time with me

"He has other daughters Two of theel's hair And they have a mo tennis shoes Dirty ones" Nan was envious of dirty tennis shoes Our mother didn't allow her to be less than perfect at all times She'd never even owned a pair of tennis shoes

"They can't be more beautiful than you," I assured her because I firmly believed that

Nan sniffed and then pulled back froreen eyes looked up at me "They are I saw theirls and a man He loves them He doesn't love me"

I couldn't lie to her She was right He didn't love her

"He's a stupid asshat You have me, Nan You'll always have me"

Chapter 1

Blaire