“You mean I’m not your home anymore.” Tearing my hand away, I rise to my feet. I take a deep breath, feeling exhausted all of a sudden. “I have something for you.”

He follows me into the kitchen, where I continue rooting through the drawer while Liam stares at the note on the kitchen table. “What time is your dentist appointment?”

“It’s at four,” I reply, removing the single key.

“What’s this?” Liam asks when I hold it out.

“It’s for my Toyota in the garage.” I shrug. “I figure you need it more than me.”

“I can’t accept this.”

“Why not?”

He stares at the key in his hand. “It’s too generous, for one.”

Gripping the counter behind me, my eyes slide over to the window. It’s raining outside, lashing against the glass.

“Here, take it.” He tries to hand it back.

“You should have it. I don’t drive, Liam. I’m not like you. Skelton is my home. I might dream about moving away, but we both know I’ll still be here decades from now.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw. I know my brother well enough to see the war he’s battling. He wants to accept it because we both know he needs a car, but he doesn’t like to feel indebted to anyone.

“Take it,” I insist. “It’s only a rusty little Toyota, but it runs.”

“Thanks.” He smiles, pulling me in for a hug. “I’ll be back again soon, I promise.”

We both know it’s a lie. But I hug him back and pretend this is my life—that I’m the girl with the caring older brother.

EPILOGUE

OCTOBER 27TH, 2015

CHLOE

“You’re such a fucking dick, Dylan!”

“Baby,” he pleads, pulling me back when I try to walk away. We’ve been arguing for what feels like hours. I’m cold and tired. “Don’t do this. Not over some stupid pictures.” Caging me against the side of the house, he presses his forehead to mine. “I love you, Chloe. It was a fucking mistake.”

“Love me?” I whisper, my heart splintering in my chest. Dylan has been my world since we were fourteen when he kissed me at Sam’s party. “Did you love me when you touched yourself to pictures of her naked body? Did you think of me then? Or did you think of her when you fucked me?”

Stepping back, he spins in a circle and throws his arms out. “For fuck’s sake, Chloe! I’ve told you already; they were just pictures. I don’t care about her. She’s no one!”

“So you keep saying.” With a sigh, I walk past him. “I’m leaving.”

I need space away from him to process these feelings inside me. I’m hurt, angry, and frustrated; even surprised. I truly thought what we had was real.

His fingers wrap around my arm and he pulls me back. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Let me go!” I shove him off, but he grabs me around my waist and lifts me up. I kick and scream to no avail; the party is too loud. “Put me down!”