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her expression wiped clean. June reasoned that just because she couldn’t

read it didn’t mean there wasn’t something going on. “Summer…” June

reached out, but Summer shook her head.

“No. Don’t do that. Don’t try to ‘Summer’ me right now.”

“I’m not trying to ‘Summer’ you. I just need to say that what happened

before was before. Arabella apologized and that’s it. I don’t want to think

about it or talk about it anymore. She doesn’t deserve to have it held against

her for her whole life.”

“No, but a good part of it would do,” Summer rejoined snidely.

“That’s hardly fair. We’re adults. Forgiveness is a thing.”

Summer looked furious. She fisted her hands on her hips menacingly.

“Oh, we might be adults, but this is straight up bullshit. She’s playing you.

Suckering you in for some big takedown.”

“I’m not—” Arabella insisted, but Summer wasn’t nearly finished.

She shook her finger in Arabella’s direction. “Okay, so she might not be

doing that exactly, but she could still hurt you. You think I haven’t seen you

get hurt enough by her? She was totally unapologetic and unremorseful ten

years ago. It’s easy for her just to waltz in and be all sorry. She needs

money. You think she’s not cozying up to you as a way out of her current

predicament? That’s what snakes do. They get into bed with you and then

they go for the jugular.”

“Holy God,” Arabella said. “That sounds more like a vampire, and I’m

not a vampire. I’m also not a snake and I never lied about my family’s

situation, but I really wish I had if you’re going to go throwing it in my

face.”

June was torn between trying to understand Summer’s anger and trying

to defend Arabella. It wasn’t fair to either of them. The only thing she could

point out was what she considered to be rational, so that they could all just

go to bed. It was obviously too late. Regrettable decisions and horrible

things were being said without the aid of alcohol. A good sleep was