“Like you and I have ever really been family.”
His expression darkens, fury flashing behind his eyes. His hand moves so fast I don’t have time to react, his grip around my arm so tight it feels like he’s trying to break my bones. To my horror, tears spring to my eyes as I try unsuccessfully to wrench my arm away. “You ungrateful little brat. If you had any idea what I’ve done for our family—”
“Hey!” Alyssa jumps in between us, pulling at his hand to aid in my useless struggle. When did Stan get so strong? His fingers feel like they’ve been carved from stone. “Let him go!”
At the sound of Alyssa’s voice, his grip loosens just enough for me to pull free of him. I stumble back, making sure to stay out of arm’s reach, rubbing the spot on my arm that I’m sure will later turn black with bruises. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I just . . .” His eyes dart around the room, as if he’s searching for the answer somewhere on Alyssa’s ceiling. If I didn’t know better, I’d wonder if he’s on something.
Then again, after the way he’s been acting, maybe I don’t know better after all.
He tries to grab me again, but I dodge him this time, his hand closing on empty air.
“Leave me alone.”
“Stan, maybe you should go,” Alyssa says firmly, coming to stand by me.
Stan’s restless gaze settles on her, his manic expression softening, just for a second. “He has never deserved you,” he murmurs.
“That’s it,” I say. My skin feels hot, my nerves all crackling like a thousand lit fuses. My arm throbs painfully. I take Alyssa’s hand and pull her toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go to the bonfire.” I glare at Stan. “You’d better be gone by the time we get back.”
Before we can get away from him, Stan literally lunges at me, throwing his arms around me from behind and hauling me away from the door. “You’re not going to that.”
“Get off me!” I shove him away, blinking in disbelief. “Are you serious right now?”
“Listen to me,” he says, his hands hovering in the air between us. “Just listen. You can’t go to that bonfire tonight. Trust me.”
“Why would I trust you after the things you’ve said to me?”
He shakes his head, his eyes wild. “If you’d just listen—”
I’ve had enough. I push him roughly aside, taking satisfaction in the thick thud his shoulder makes as he stumbles into the door of the coat closet. Now I won’t be the only one walking away with bruises tonight.
Alyssa lets out a little squeak of shock, but holds tight to my hand as I pull her through the front door and down the steps.
“Justin!” Stan calls after me as we jump into my car and slam the doors. He’s limping more than usual, still favoring his bad knee. “Don’t go! Come home with me. Please!”
I give him a funny look as I shove the keys in the ignition. Stan never says please. At least not to me.
The engine turns over and the Mustang grinds to life. I back down Alyssa’s drive and onto the street, Stan still shouting behind me. I can’t make out what else he’s saying over the roar of the engine, and I don’t care. I shove Stan out of my brain as we head toward the bonfire.
Chapter Fifteen
ROSE
Cars were already packed onto the Derrins’ expansive lawn by the time Rose emerged from the tree-lined drive. She gritted her teeth, knuckles white on the wheel as she hunted for a space. She’d finally agreed to attend the bonfire with Lisa and Shawn after prolonged begging from Lisa, but when Shawn arrived to pick them up, he’d seemed upset. Feeling like a third wheel, Rose had volunteered to drive herself in order to give them some time alone. Now, hunting for a parking space, she kind of wished she’d just stayed home.
Eventually, Rose created a makeshift spot behind a massive FRANKLIN GIBSON FOR MAYOR sign, trying her best to ignore the way the giant red letters made her stomach clench.
Straightening her skirt and smoothing her hair, Rose moved toward the crowd gathered around the dancing flames in the center of the Derrins’ sprawling front yard. The marching band blasted the school fight song into the dimming twilight, the notes mingling with the glowing embers that wound up into the air.
The lawn was filled with students, teachers, and parents. The PTA sold refreshments from behind folding tables lined with posters touting various school activities, while a little farther down, Rose spotted some of the teachers from her school, looking oddly casual in jeans and T-shirts and sneakers. Veronica was there, too, rocking slowly from side to side, her toddler in her arms, as she laughed at something Rose’s history teacher said. In Rose’s mind, she associated Veronica with the campaign, and forgot sometimes that she was married to the school guidance counselor.
Rose turned away hurriedly, before Veronica could spot her. Tonight, Rose didn’t want to think about the campaign or anything else having to do with her family. She just wanted to have fun.
Once she reached the edges of the teeming masses, though, she stopped, uncertain where to go next. There was Shawn, moving through the crowd with an ease she would never understand, bouncing from one group to another, his smile a glowing constant. If she didn’t know better, she’d assume this was his house, his party, instead of a school event where he was just another kid in the crowd.
Speaking of the owner of the house, where was Charlene? Rose didn’t see her or Lisa anywhere. She’d hoped to hang out with them, but that wouldn’t be an option if she couldn’t find them.
Rose made her way to the nearest refreshment table, figuring that getting something to eat would at least give her something to do with her hands. She’d just finished paying for a baggie of chocolate chip cookies when someone poked her in the shoulder.
“Hey, you!” Noah grinned at her as she turned. He was freshly shaved and smelled of warm spice, and she had to resist the urge to lean in and inhale deeply. “When you didn’t show up with Lisa and Shawn, I worried you weren’t coming.”
“Just drove separately,” Rose said, unable to hold back her smile.
“I would’ve given you a ride!”
“It was a last-minute decision.” She laughed, her heart giving a little flutter at his obvious disappointment that she hadn’t asked. Had he wanted to go to the bonfire together? “Want to go find a place to sit? I think I see a spot over there.”
“Oh. Uh, I kind of . . . came here with Steph . . .” His eyes drifted from hers, and Rose belatedly noticed the two cups of pink punch in his hands. He was wearing a black-and-red striped polo shirt she’d never seen before. It must be new.
Of course. Steph. The girlfriend.
Would she ever get used to that?
“Never mind,” she said hurriedly, wishing the grass would turn into quicksand and swallow her whole.
“You can come join us if you want,” he offered. “Steph went to find a good spot.”
“No, that’s okay—I was, um . . .” Rose cast around for someone, anyone, she could claim was waiting on her, but she knew he’d never buy a lie. He knew her too well.
“Come on; it’s totally fine. She won’t mind,” he said, leading the way.