144

“Chris is someone who you can say, my rescuer. They all are, especially Arianna. But as an older brother, he paid attention to me the most.” I start my story with the first taste of my chocolate chip cookie ice cream. Brandon is sitting across from me, having plain vanilla.

“As an older brother,” he repeats.

“At first. Yes.” I eat another spoonful, then speak again with a slight coolness in my mouth. “He really was my brother, though. Don’t put any meaning to it just yet.” I glare at him slightly, and he smirks.

“Fine. Continue.” He tastes his ice cream as well.

“Dad had just died, and I was depressed. Mom thought my sadness was because of Dad’s passing, but it wasn’t just that. It was because the two people I loved left me.”

“Which was that fucker and your father,” Brandon says. “Everything’s coming together here.”

“Exactly,” I confirm.

He shoots up an eyebrow. “So Jason’s brother knew what happened to you.”

I shake my head. “He didn’t know every detail. He thought the same as Mom. I