Page 37 of Atone

“You were out late last night.” Patience stops just inside my room. “Are you dating someone you’re not telling us about?”

“I went for a walk.” I fuss with my hair in the mirror, avoiding her gaze.

It’s not a lie.

Ididgo for a walk—to my car. Then I drove to Montgomery Psychiatric Ward for the third time this week because I couldn’t help myself. At least this time, I convinced myself to stay in the car. Alex has made it crystal clear he has no interest in seeing me.

“You need to be careful going for walks at night.” Patience’s eyebrows furrow. “Especially after what happened to Oxy.”

After what happened to Oxy, everyone in Bristal has been on edge. It’s like a warning has been issued. A reminder of what happens when someone pisses off a member of Sigma Sin.

“Don’t worry about me.” I change the subject. “You’re not wearing that to the party tonight, are you?”

Patience looks down at her pale-pink cardigan and jeans. The clothes cover almost every inch of exposed skin, even though it’s summer. The wispy feathers on her sweater wave with her every movement. Which, paired with her blonde hair, is almost ethereal.

“Why would I change? I already told you I’m not going.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s the year-end party. I understand you hate Sigma House, but you’re leaving town tomorrow. It’s our last chance to celebrate surviving another year.”

Her cold eyes narrow.

“One hour. I promise that I’ll take you home myself if you aren’t having fun. Besides, Teal’s heading there after her art show, and we both know she’ll stay the night with Declan. So if you don’t go, you won’t have a chance to say goodbye before you both leave for the summer.”

From across the room, I can almost hear her teeth grinding.

Patience has come to terms with Teal and Declan’s relationship these past few weeks because she’s had no other choice when they secretly got married. But that doesn’t mean she likes it.

“Fine.” She rolls her eyes. “One hour. Then I’m saying goodbye to Teal and leaving.”

“One hour,” I promise.

Her phone rings from her pocket, so she sets her bag down to pull it out. “Wonderful.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s my parents.” She answers, “Hello.”

Something is said on the other end of the line that has her spine straightening. Tension ripples through the air, and her face pales more than it naturally is.

“He what?” Patience snaps. “When did he check out? I was just there yesterday.”

This is clearly a private conversation. One I should not be listening to, but I can’t help it.

“Why would he go back there?” This time, her anger cracks at the end.

Her expression is stoic, but her eyes gloss over.

“I don’t believe it.” The final whisper is still hanging in the air as she hangs up.

“What’s wrong?”

Patience grips her phone, staring at the wall. “It’s my brother—” She swallows the rest of her sentence as her cold eyes shoot to mine. “It’s nothing. My parents are just trying to get in my head before I leave. They’ll do anything to try and keep me in Bristal for the summer. Are you ready to go?”

“To the party you were just trying to avoid?” I hitch an eyebrow.

“Just—” She shakes her head, grabbing the bag and storming to the door. “We leave in five minutes.”

I barely have time to finish my hair before Patience grabs my arm and drags me out the door. She’s quiet the entire drive to Sigma House. To the point where she might have forgotten I’m with her. It isn’t until we park and climb out that I break the silence.