Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
The sickest part of all is the way he whistles lightheartedly as he leaves the room and closes the door. At least he’s smart enough not to lock it this time, but then I’m smart enough not to test him. No way am I going downstairs now, not when I can’t stop shaking and feel like I might burst into tears at any moment.
I’ve never felt anything like that before. That cold, blatant hatred. I didn’t know there were people in the world who didn’t bother hiding feelings like that—who comes out and calls somebody a cancer they can’t get rid of? It’s sick, disgusting. What happened to him to make him this way?
No. I have to shut that line of questioning down immediately. I’m not about to humanize him or bother myself with figuring out how his brain works. I think I’d rather not know.
I go to the bathroom and splash my face, hoping to calm myself down. I’m so alone here. No allies—James might be if I wasn’t afraid of the repercussions of confessing everything to him. I don’t even know whether he would believe me. All this friendly, fatherly stuff might only be an act intended to placate my mother. If that’s true, the joke’s on him. I doubt she would care much if he treated me like I was garbage. It could be one more thing for them to have in common.
It’s safer to keep this to myself. It would be childish of me to imagine swearing James to secrecy. No doubt he would go straight to his sons, and where would that leave me? In much worse shape than I’m in right now, that much is for sure.
It’s a long morning, but at least I have books to keep me occupied and distract me from my empty stomach. Unfortunately, that only works for so long—by the time the clock is closing in on noon, I’m almost weak with hunger. It’s enough to distract me, so I can’t even enjoy reading. Maybe I’ll get lucky, and they won’t be home.
Since when does my luck work that way? My heart sinks at the sound of their voices in the kitchen, along with their father’s. Anybody who didn’t know any better would think they were listening to a happy family, laughing and joking. I doubt anybody could imagine how bad things really are.
It’s either face them or starve. When I look at it that way, there’s no choice. I wander into the kitchen, careful to make it seem like there’s nothing wrong while I grab an apple from a bowl on the counter. The first bite is heaven, crisp and sweet. It’s a shame my gaze drifts over to my so-called family, and my eyes briefly meet Colt’s. Now there’s a sour taste in my mouth.
“Leni.” James smiles broadly when he turns to find me. “I was beginning to think you didn’t feel well. Is everything all right?”
I feel Nix’s eyes boring holes into me. I’m not going to give him away, but I might let him worry for a moment. That’s why I take my time before answering. “Sure, I’m fine. Just a little tired.” The smug look on both brothers’ faces makes me want to claw their eyes out. They think they’re so superior like they have me under their thumbs. Not that they don’t, but I hate how sure they are of it.
“And what are your plans today?”
It’s different, having someone in the house who seems to genuinely care what I do with my time. I almost don’t know how to handle it. “I’m not sure. I guess since the job interview at the pizza parlor didn’t work out, I’ll have to apply for some more jobs. I’m sure there must be something.”
Colt passes on his way to the refrigerator and brushes against me like it’s an accident—when I know it’s anything but. “I can think of at least one thing you could do to make some money.” He mutters it so low his father can’t hear. A very perverse part of me wants to turn around and ask him to repeat himself. Why would I even think something like that? It would only end up getting me hurt.
“You know, it seems silly to have you running around town, applying for jobs in these piddly little businesses.” James purses his lips thoughtfully. “Do you think you could handle some light clerical work?”
“I’ve never considered anything like that.”
“Maybe you should.” An indulgent smile begins to stir his lips. “It just so happens we could use someone to do extra filing and copying down at the firm, maybe answering phones. I have no doubt you could pick it up in no time.”
He laughs gently, his gaze fixed over my shoulder. A moment later, I know why, as the sound of Mom’s heels hitting the floor reverberates through the air. “I’m sure the apple couldn’t have fallen too far from the tree,” he concludes. “If you’re half as quick a study as your mother, it’ll be a breeze.”