I have a look at his arm and hesitate, my smile faltering.

Normally, Adam is the one who escorts me. One of many little issues we’ve at all times finished, pretending we’re refined like our mother and father.

I don’t wish to harm Charlie’s emotions, particularly after Evie was so impolite to him, however I don’t need him to escort me both. As a result of I do know no doubt Adam can be completely livid if I accepted Charlie’s arm.

Adam appears to get jealous if every other boy a lot as breathes subsequent to me.

I can’t even depend what number of occasions boys at college would find yourself with black eyes or busted noses the subsequent day after merely talking with me.

Till they stopped making an attempt all collectively and began avoiding me like I’ve the plague.

Adam has turned me right into a social pariah.

And he doesn’t even go to my faculty. He’s in highschool, about to graduate.

No, he has others watching me and thinks I haven’t figured it out. It’s his solely fault, and the one factor that really scares me about him. If I wasn’t so drawn to him, so used to being with him, I is perhaps tempted to interrupt issues off.

Particularly as a result of he appears to actually hate Charlie. Hates him a lot, I’m sure he’d harm Charlie too if he believed he might get away with it.

I’ve seen it in his eyes many occasions. The darkish flame stuffed with loathing and violence, that solely appears to be rising hotter and darker through the years.

It worries me a lot I gave Adam a dragon attraction to appease his fiery mood and remind him he’s the one one I look after. He’s been higher ever since, tolerating Charlie’s presence with out visibly displaying his hatred.

However this might completely set him off once more.

If he even exhibits up for dinner…

“Why thanks, Charlie. I’d like to be escorted into the eating room,” Evie says as she barrels by means of the door, hip-bumping me out of the best way to take his arm.

The colour drains from Charlie’s face and he appears totally terrified as she hyperlinks her arm by means of his and yanks him down the corridor.

I blink after them, questioning what simply occurred.

Then Evie casts a fast, sly look over her shoulder at me earlier than she beams up at Charlie.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you. I do know you didn’t imply to be impolite. You simply… scared me,” she says sweetly, fluttering her lashes.

Eyes widening, Charlie stammers. “I-I promise I’ll knock subsequent time. I didn’t imply to scare you.”

Evie’s smile grows indulgent and he or she pats his arm. “I do know you’ll. You’re boy, Charlie. The perfect of us. We don’t need something unhealthy to occur to you.”

And immediately all of it clicks inside my head.

Evie isn’t imply to Charlie as a result of she likes him. No, she’s imply to him as a result of she’s making an attempt to guard him.

Had Adam been within the room with us when Charlie barged in, who is aware of what would have occurred.

A shiver travels down my backbone as I observe behind them.

So many little issues which have occurred through the years start to make sense. I’m so distracted by all of it, at first I don’t really feel the vacancy of Adam’s absence.

After I place my hand on the chilly banister although, watching Evie and Charlie descending the winding staircase in entrance of me, my chest tightens.

Way back to I can keep in mind, I’ve by no means walked down these stairs alone to dinner. Adam has at all times been right here to information me.

Gripping the banister as if my life relies upon upon it, I slowly stroll down the steps. Afraid I’d journey and fall at any second.

Am I so hopeless that I can’t exist with out him? That in any case these years I don’t know the right way to?

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