I quickly went to shake her hand.
She pulled it back.
I awkwardly pulled my hand back.
Then, I heard Jake.
“Go get your future sister–in–law some water.”
Brittany lifted her chin at me.
<
8:06
I knew how she felt.
She knew about Jake and me.
0226
(
I didn’t feel guilty about confessing and sleeping with Jake, because they weren’t
together.
At the party that day, she rejected Jake.
Later, when I saw Jake in the corner, I
confessed.
434
I helped her get some water because I didn’t
want to make things difficult for my aunt and
uncle.
Then, as I gave her the water.
She dropped it on her dress.
Jake stood up and pushed me out of the way.
<
8:06
RDER
((
Then, he started wiping the water off of her
dress.
It was different to see it in person.
444
Seeing him with Brittany like that, I felt sick.
Jake looked at me.
“What are you doing? Why can’t you just give
her some water!”
As I listened to him yell, I gripped my palms,
fighting back the tears.
I thought about how he had always protected
me when someone was hurting me.
Brittany said.
“It’s okay, Jake.
“I mean, her parents left her, and the Jones’s
raised her for years.
“She probably thinks she’s a princess.”
Her words made my aunt and uncle’s faces
change.
8
Uncle Tom was the first to speak, his voice tight with disapproval. “Brittany, that’s not how we talk. Where do you get off saying Riley sees herself as a princess? We’ve always treated her like our own daughter. She is a Jones!”
Brittany blinked, clearly surprised by their
defensiveness. She awkwardly tugged on Jake’s
arm, looking for him to bail her out.
But Jake just looked down, saying quietly:
“Riley and I aren’t blood–related.
“But to me, she’s closer than a real sister. So,
Brittany, don’t say things like that again.”
Brittany’s face fell even further.
8:06
454
et
Only I knew that Jake’s so–called defense was
just another way to distance himself from what
had happened between us.
I let out a silent, bitter laugh. If Uncle Tom and
Aunt Carol weren’t there, I’d ask him: “Do
siblings kiss, hug, and sleep together?”
A few moments later, Jake was coaxing a
tearful Brittany upstairs.
I sat on the sofa, staring blankly at my shoes.
Aunt Carol patted my shoulder. “Honey, you
don’t deserve this. Your uncle and I just can’t
wrap our heads around it. It was always clear
Jake wanted you.”
My heart twisted.
I forced a smile. “It’s okay, Aunt Carol.
Childhood dreams don’t always come true.
We’re grown–ups now, and he’s allowed to like
<
“Besides, I’m focusing on college.”
