I snatch up the pile of acceptance letters. “Which one was it? Northwestern?” I toss the letter in the air, moving on to the next. “Michigan? North Carolina?” I glare at Becs frozen in the doorway. “Indiana?” I toss the rest of the letters at Jessie’s feet. “That’s where you went this weekend, isn’t it? To look at some school a thousand miles away.” My heart is surging in my chest, ripping itself apart with the need to hear her tell me it’s not true. She’s not going anywhere. She’s staying here. Staying mine.

“Yes. I went to look at a school out of state,” Jessie answers flatly, her back straight and her eyes clear.

“Devin, it’s my fau—” Becs starts, tears in her eyes as she glances back and forth between Jessie and me.

“Becs, this has nothing to do with you,” Jessie cuts her off. “This is about your brother not trusting me.” Jessie and I square off, eyes locked, wills warring. “I thought we could have a calm and rational adult conversation about our future, but I guess I was wrong.”

The air has been sucked out of the room and I’m suffocating.

“What future? You’re leaving.” I look over at Becs. “You’re both fucking leaving.”

“That’s what you think? That we don’t have a future?” Jessie’s eyes narrow and her nostrils flare.

“You leaving?” I answer her question with a question.

“It’s complicated.”

I shake my head and glare at her. “No. It’s not.”

Feet shuffle by the door and in my peripheral vision I see the girl I don’t know put a hand on Becs’ shoulders before she says, “We should go.”

“No,” I snarl. “I’ll leave. It’s my turn, isn’t it?” I cross the room to Jessie, stepping into her until our chests collide. She holds my gaze, strong as steel. I lean down to her, brushing the pendant around her neck with the pad of my thumb, and whisper, “You’ve got your freedom now, little hummingbird. Fly away. See if I care.”

Her face is unmoved, sneer locked in place. The only signs she heard me at all are the few quick blinks of those beautiful green eyes that are shining with tears.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jessie

My heart races with rage and frustration. The moment I see Devin’s back disappear through my bedroom door, I let out an exasperated roar.

“What an asshole!” If he’s still in the house, he must’ve heard me. A fire blazes in my chest and I collapse onto the bed, gasping for breath. My shoulders tremble with the mix of fury and heartbreak.