Chapter 3

Drew's message read, "You've always wanted to see snow in your dad's hometown, right? My commander said I'll be able to transfer to the Northern District in about six months.

"You can go to Northgate for school, and we'll finally get to see the snow together. We'll walk through it together, you and me, for the rest of our lives."

I cried when I read it. It had meant everything to me. Now I understood it was only ever my dream, and I was the only one who was going to make it happen.

I stayed at the beach until dawn before heading home. The whole night, neither Drew nor my mother thought to ask where I was. The only updates I got were from Brynn's social media, a steady stream of videos showing the two of them fussing over her, trying to make her feel better.

When I pushed open the front door, my pillow and blanket were in a heap on the living room floor.

Mom's voice was ice cold. "If Brynn has to share a room with you one more night, she'll never get a moment's peace. From now on, you sleep out here."

Drew walked up to me, his eyes bloodshot. "Your mom's right. That temper of yours needs to change.

"When we're married and you're living on base with me, nobody's going to put up with this kind of behavior. You should start getting used to that now."

I didn't bother responding. I just picked up my blanket, put it on the couch, crawled under it, and closed my eyes. I hadn't slept all night; all I wanted was some quiet.

Mom let out a scornful laugh. "Stubborn and useless, just like your dead father."

Then her tone shifted entirely, warm and bright, as she linked her arm through Brynn's. "Come on, sweetie. Let's take you shopping for some new clothes. You're starting college soon, and we need to make sure you look your best."

The three of them left the house laughing and chatting. Not one of them looked back at me.

I slept until the afternoon. The house was completely silent when I woke up. My throat was dry, so I went into the bedroom and grabbed my thermal flask, taking two big gulps before I registered the taste.

It was mango.

By then, it was already too late. My throat started closing up and red welts broke out across my skin. I tore through the medicine cabinet looking for my allergy medication, but every last pill was gone.

What I found instead was a carton of mango juice in Brynn's backpack.

There was no time to think. I managed to dial 911 before I blacked out.

When I came to, Mom was sitting by the hospital bed, visibly annoyed. "Can you seriously not let me have one good day? What is this now, a suicide attempt?"

I shook my head frantically. "Mom, no. It was Brynn. She put mango juice in my thermal flask on purpose!"

The next second, another slap cracked across my face.

"Bullshit! Brynn has been living with us for six months and you've done nothing but bully her. Why would she do something like that?

"How did I end up with a daughter this rotten?"

She turned and walked out of the room without another word. Tears blurred my vision before I could stop them.

The door opened again and Drew came in. He walked over and wiped my tears with his thumb, his expression softening with something that almost looked like guilt.

He sighed. "I'll admit I haven't been paying enough attention to you lately. But your mom asked me to look after Brynn, and I can't just say no to that. She's been looking out for me since I was a kid. I can't let her down.

"I promise, once you're both settled into college and Brynn makes her own friends, I'll spend every single leave day with you, okay? Just be patient and stop making this harder than it has to be."

I looked into his eyes, searching. "I'm telling you, Brynn is the reason I'm in this hospital bed. Do you believe me?"

I held up my phone in front of his face. On the screen was a photo I'd taken of the mango juice in Brynn's backpack, along with a screenshot of her purchase receipt.

Drew frowned. For one brief, desperate moment, hope flickered inside me. Just this once, I needed him to believe me.

But what he said next made my blood run cold.