“That’s what you say when you don’t like someone, but you’re not ready to admit it.”

Izzy turned back to the water. “It’s not her fault. I mean, she tries so hard to make us like her it’s almost painful to watch. And Molly falls for it of course. For months I was the one who held her when she cried. I cooked her meals. I read to her. I even let her sleep with me. I’ve washed her sheets when she’s wet the bed—” she glanced at him, her gaze fierce “—and if you as much as mention that—”

“I wouldn’t.”

She sighed. “It’s all Flora this, and Flora that, like she’s been bewitched or something.” Embarrassed by her own indiscretion, she took another swig of her drink. The truth was thinking about Flora made her feel bad about herself. The nicer Flora was, the angrier Izzy became. She didn’t know why. “Forget it. I don’t even know what I’m trying to say.” And now Aiden was going to think she was a total bitch. Maybe she was. A nice person would have embraced someone like Flora, wouldn’t they? She hadn’t fed them a poisoned apple or anything. It could have been a lot worse.

“Molly really likes her?”

“Oh yeah. It’s a mutual lovefest.” She knew she sounded bitter but she couldn’t help it.

She waited for Aiden to say that it must be nice for Molly but for a few minutes he said nothing at all. He just stared at the water, thinking. Then finally he stirred.

“That must hurt your feelings. And the fact that she’s nice—that kind of sucks, too.”

“What do you mean?” It did suck, but she wasn’t about to admit that when she already felt as if she had a “mean girl” neon sticker on her forehead.

“Well, it makes hating her an uncomfortable experience, because she isn’t giving you good reason. Always assuming that you do hate her, which I probably would in your position.”

Izzy swallowed. “You would?” No one understood how she was feeling. Not her family, not her friends.

But Aiden understood.

“Yeah. I mean, your world is all screwed up and in she steps, Miss Perfect. And she’s not putting a foot wrong, from the sounds of it. If you want my opinion, I think it’s kind of selfish that she isn’t giving you a single reason to hate her.”

Izzy choked on a laugh. “I can’t believe you just said that. You’re so bad.”

“I’m not. And neither are you.”

“I feel bad. Like I’m a truly horrible person.”

“As you said—it’s a crap situation, and none of it is in your control. You’re not calling the shots. Flora has it much easier.”