Everything would have been okay if we’d stopped there. Awkward moment confronted and dealt with. Move on, folks, nothing to see here. Only Austin had to open his big mouth.

“Don’t worry about her,” he said, throwing his chin in my direction. “She’s pissed. She’s always pissed.”

The word sounded slippery. Mean. I opened my mouth to say something, but apparently he wasn’t finished yet.

“She likes to play the big sister. The only grown-up in the room. Just ignore her.”

I felt slapped. Hard. I knew I had hurt the girl’s feelings and I really did regret that. But I hadn’t done it on purpose. He knew my sense of humor better than anyone, and he gave as good as he got. It was a lame joke between a brother and sister, and it was rotten luck and bad timing that it went awry. But what Austin said about me hurt. It really hurt.

I wanted to say something in my defense—anything—but I didn’t want to make a scene. If I got upset in front of everyone, it would prove Austin’s point and make everyone think I was crazy or that I was always pissed. I left the room with a growing ache in my chest. Now it was my turn to cry.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Shit, Austin. Since when did you think of me as always pissed? Worrying about you wasn’t being pissed. Someone had to do it, and obviously you aren’t too concerned with your future, since you just got sprung from jail and the first thing you did was throw a party with plenty of booze and underage drinkers. On post. At Dad’s house.

Those were the thoughts swirling around in my head as I walked up the stairs to my old room. The air inside the house was thick and getting thicker. I had to get away. I needed a break from Austin. From the vodka. From the party. I wasn’t sure if I needed a break from Kael, and for a moment, I had almost forgotten he was even there.

For a moment.

Almost.