My brother released me and stared down at my face. “Do we have any idea what the hell Mom was doing with Riscoff?”

I looked away, not wanting to acknowledge the obvious, but Asa was no idiot.

“She couldn’t have been screwing around with him,” he said, answering his own question. “They’ve treated us like shit for years. She wouldn’t.”

Karma laughed from the kitchen doorway. “Didn’t you hear, cuz? Gable women love the Riscoff dick. Just ask your sister who she’s been sneaking around with.”

I wanted to punch Karma in the face. She’d been hovering nonstop since Aunt Jackie brought me back to their house from the hospital, like she wanted a front-row seat to my grief. How could anyone be so cruel?

“Karma, get out of here. Give them some space,” Aunt Jackie snapped, shooing her out of the room as Asa stared at me with disbelief.

“What is she talking about?”

I swallowed, not wanting to admit it, but I couldn’t lie to my big brother. I’d never been able to lie to him.

“Lincoln Riscoff and I . . . we . . .”

Shock crossed Asa’s face as he took a step back from me. “Fucking hell. This is my fault. I should’ve taken you with me and gotten you out of this town. You deserve better than this. What the fuck did I think was going to happen without anyone to watch out for you?” He shook his head, and I was stunned that he was blaming himself. “You’re not staying here, Whit. We’ll get through the funeral, then you’re leaving with me.”

Before I could respond, Ricky came up behind me, having entered the house through the front door so quietly I didn’t hear him.

He threw an arm over my shoulder. “Not necessary, man. She’s coming with me. I fucked up, and I know it. I’m going to take care of her from now on. I promise.”

I twisted out from under Ricky’s arm, suffocated by the weight of their combined smothering. Why can’t anyone let me decide what I want? Why is everyone always trying to control me?

I looked from my brother’s face to his best friend’s. They meant well, but it was too much. I just needed space so I could breathe.

“I can’t talk about this right now.” I took a step toward the kitchen, but Ricky caught my wrist and pulled me against his chest.

“I’ll take care of you, Whit. No one will ever be able to hurt you again, especially not those fucking Riscoff assholes.”

My brother watched us both. “Yeah, you fucked up, Ricky. And when you say no one will ever hurt her again, you better mean you too, jackass, or I’ll take you out back and shoot you myself.”

“I’m sorry, man. Shit got crazy for a little bit. It’s the rock-star way. But Whit and I, we’re a forever thing.”

I tugged my wrist from his grip and stepped away before he could pull me back. “I’m not having this conversation. Not here. Not now. And not ever, if I have my way.” Ricky and I hadn’t talked about what he’d done, and I’d been too shattered to bring it up until now.