"And for the record, Connor, if you think your daddy issues give you a free pass to walk around acting like your own shit doesn't stink, newsflash, it doesn't. Not everyone wants to kiss your ass or suck your dick." She leans in slightly, her voice turning into a deadly whisper. "Grow. Up."

Connor's face flushes red, his smirk crumbling as her words hit home.

Mia snorts beside her, barely containing her laughter, and I almost lose it too, but the knot of anxiety in my chest only tightens, making it harder to breathe.

Camilla steps closer to them, arms crossed, her eyes narrowing even more.

"Now, unless you want to embarrass yourselves further, I suggest you both exit stage left before you make bigger idiots of yourselves."

Evan glares daggers at her, but it's Connor who tugs him by the sleeve, muttering something under his breath as they retreat. I release a shaky breath, my entire body trembling from the confrontation.

Mia turns to me, concern etched across her face. "You okay?"

"God, what is it with those assholes? Why won't they just leave you alone?" Camilla's question hangs in the air, and all I can manage is a weak shrug.

"Seriously though, are you okay?" she asks again.

I nod, but we all know it's a lie. I don't think I'll ever be okay while Evan's around, lurking in the background, ready to remind me of everything I wish I could forget. I'm not sure what else to tell them or how to tell them.

"Idiocy must run in the family," Mia observes.

"Well, their family tree must be a cactus 'cause they're all a bunch of pricks," Camilla adds.

I can't help but laugh, feeling grateful for them being here. "Thank you. Both of you."

"Girl, the only thing you should be thanking me for is not clawing dumb and dumber's eyes out with my nails." She holds up her hand, freshly painted fingernails wiggling in front of us.

"They're lucky I just got them freshly done."

32. You're Safe With Me

CHAPTER 32

YOU'RE SAFE WITH ME

NORA

June, 1998

8 years old

There's a loud bang and it wakes me. My room is super dark, and I forget where I am for a second. Then I remember I'm at the lake house, just like every summer. There's another bang and I jump out of bed really fast and run to my door. I open it a tiny bit, and see Nate and his dad Scott in the hallway. My tummy feels weird when I see that Nate's head is bleeding. He's hurt.

But why isn't his dad helping him?

Scott's holding Nate's arm so tight it looks like it hurts, but Nate just stares at the floor while his dad yells in his face. I don't like Scott—he's big and mean, like the bullies at school the teachers always tell off. I don't think Nate likes him much either, even though it's his dad.