Page 219 of Dark Duet: Platinum Edition

Rubio, for the first time, looked irritated.

“You wouldn’t know, would you?I do.”

I had to laugh.

“I didn’t mean to offend you. Claudia is a good friend. She’s just… well, you know.”

Rubio’s anger faded quickly.

“Yes. I know. The night we met, a friend of mine dragged me to a party. There was a girl I liked and I was heartbroken because I found out she started seeing someone else. I wanted to stay home but I went out anyway. Claudia saw me and she came over to me. She’s a big ball of happy energy and she insisted I cheer up. I told her about the girl and she told me to forget about her because I washerboyfriend.” Rubio had a stupid grin on his face.

“You belong together,” I said. Rubio seemed to like that. “Tell me more about Sophia.”

“She used to be sad. We cheered her up, but only for so long. I used to leave her and Claudia alone sometimes because I think it upset Sophia to see us so happy. She never said, but it was a vibe we got. That’s why we tried to set her up so much.” He shrugged. “Then she met you. She’s happy now. I hope you understand how lucky you are. I don’t know much about her past, but I know she is a good person. You should be careful with her.”

I looked at Rubio and his expression was very serious. Rubio was a good man.

“I plan to make Sophia very happy, Rubio. You don’t have to tell me what I have.”

“Good,” he said. “I never want to fight you.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. I was picturing Rubio trying to fight me.

“I never want that either, Rubio.”

Things were considerably less pleasant when we finally arrived home. Claudia met us in the driveway and the expression on her face gave me heart palpitations.

“Where is she?” I asked. I was already rushing toward the house. I didn’t hear what Claudia was trying to tell me.

“Sophia!” I yelled. I bounded up the stairs.

“I’m in here!” she responded from the bedroom. A wave of relief shivered through me. She was safe. There was no danger. Our lives were different. It took me a moment to settle. I’d thought I was going to have to hurt someone.

When I walked into the bedroom, Livvie was sitting on the bed. She’d been crying, and there was a letter in her hands.

“What’s wrong, Pet?”

She shrugged.

“I don’t know. I just…” She wiped at her eyes and sniffled.

“What happened? Did I do something?” I hated when Livvie was sad. I no longer relished the sight of those tears. They were bitter on my tongue.

“No, Baby. It’s not you.” She’d never called mebabybefore—well, not in a positive way.

“Tell me.” I sat next to her on the bed and she instantly found her way under my arm and against my chest. I rubbed her back and waited. Livvie was a talker and I knew she’d come out with it eventually.

“My mom sent me a birthday card. I brought my mail over and there was an unmarked envelope. I wasn’t ready for it.” She buried herself further in my chest.

Livvie’s relationship with her family presented a quandary. I wanted her to be happy. I wanted her to have all the things she desired. However, I wanted to be a part of her happiness. I wanted to be the largest part. Her family could threaten that—they could threatenus,what we had. I needed to tread carefully.

“What did it say?”

“That she’s sorry. She says she misses me, that they all miss me: my brothers, my sisters. She wants to know if we can work things out.” Livvie sobbed and held me tighter.

“Is that what you want, Pet?” I wanted her to say no. I wanted her to say I was the only person she needed and to hell with the rest of them. But I knew what that would mean. I’d been orphaned. I might have one living parent, but as far as I was concerned I wasstillan orphan.

“I don’t know.”