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“Great.” Ava said with a cracking smile.

Everyone seemed excited, except for me. It was bad enough having to live with him, but I’d always had to run in the same social circle as him. I shared every aspect of my life with him.

“You okay, Josh?” Noah asked.

No.

“I’m great.”

??

The pulsating music mingled with the lively chatter of teenagers. Alcohol and other substances infused the air. I spotted my friends huddled together, sharing laughter as their voices rose above the music. Ava spotted me first and waved me over.

“We were thinking you weren’t coming.” Elsie said.

I shrugged. There was an unmistakable hesitancy as I debated hugging her, but I extended my arms.

“Happy Birthday.”

I greeted the rest of my friends, thanking Noah as he placed a drink in my hand.

“I could have given you a ride here.”

“Thanks, but I wasn’t home, anyway. Sawyer wasn’t invited, and I didn’t want my mom to force me to bring her.” He explained.

I nodded my head, but couldn’t help but feel disappointed. I hadn’t seen her for days and I never had the chance to ask her to join me. Although, this wouldn’t be the ideal environment to introduce her to my friends. Not Elsie’s birthday.

“You have got to be kidding me.”

He was glaring at someone over my shoulder. We all turned around to follow his line of vision. A subtle tension crept into the air as Sawyer entered the room with her friend. They both seemed apprehensive, but that wasn’t what made my blood boil. Asher whispered in her ear and then pointed in a different direction. A pang of jealousy took place in my chest.

“Noah, why is your sister here?” Ava asked. “With Asher?”

“I have no idea.” He said. “I’m going to find out.”

Without speaking, I trailed behind him, following him to the kitchen. The atmosphere shifted as I stood in the doorway, watching as Asher handed them both a drink with his infamous charismatic grin. The one that fooled everyone into thinking he was an angel. A gift to women.

“Sawyer,” Noah approached them. “What are you doing here?”

Her eyes cast downward as she avoided his gaze. She hesitated before speaking.

“Partying.”

“I can see that.” He said. “Why here?”

I was going to tell him not to be aggressive, but Asher beat me to it. Everyone’s hero.

“I invited her.” he said, straightening his posture. “Do you have a problem with that?”

Frustration marked their faces, neither willing to give in. The room was suffocating with intensity.

“I do,” Noah said. “I don’t like the idea of my little sister being exposed to this.”

Asher snorted.

“She’s sixteen, not six.”

Asher stepped forward, but Sawyer blocked him. My eyes fell to her hands on his chest.