Page 44 of Hale

“Good, because you’re still a minor and that could land him in jail, Rylie. Not to mention, there are laws about siblings being together in that way.”

I glower at her. “In what way?”

“Sexually. Romantically. You were both practically naked sitting in the dark. I think because emotions are running high since the loss of your parents, that you’re both—”

“Stop,” I snap. “Don’t go there. You’re being disgusting. I would never do that and neither would Hudson. Do you think we’re sick?”

Sick. Sick. We’re definitely sick.

“No, but I just think—”

“Well, stop thinking,” I choke out. “I won’t have you making Hudson feel bad for trying to comfort me.”

She rises from the bed and walks over to me. “Okay then. Perhaps I misread the situation. I’m not good at this parenting thing. I only want to protect you as your parents would have.”

“Who will protect Hudson?” I croak out.

Me. The answer is me.

“He’s a grown man now,” she says softly. “He can take care of himself.”

“Are we done here?” I ask, tears threatening. “I’m tired.”

She nods and slips out of my room without another word. Once I’m certain she’s gone back to her room, I grab my phone and hide in my closet in the dark. I turn it on and dial my brother. He answers on the first ring.

“Hey,” he says, his voice gravelly, sending a thrill right down my spine.

“Hey. Where are you going?”

He lets out a heavy sigh. “Amy’s, I guess.”

I wince. “I thought you two broke up.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t have,” he whispers. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done a lot of things tonight.”

My chest aches like someone is taking a bat to it. Pounding. Over and over again.

“Don’t say that.” A tear races down my cheek.

“Rylie…” His teeth grind loudly together. “We fucked up.”

“Nobody has to know.”

He’s silent for a beat. “It’s illegal.”

“I’ll be eighteen soon.”

“No, it’s illegal because we’re brother and sister. We could go to prison for up to four years. I looked it up.”

I laugh because it’s absurd. “We didn’t do anything wrong.”

“And we won’t,” he grumbles. “It’s better this way. I’m sorry.”

“But I liked it…”

He exhales heavily. “I liked it too. But we can’t. It’s wrong and against the law. We just need some space and things can go back to the way they used to be.”

“I don’t want things to go back to the way they were,” I say sharply. “I don’t want to lose you.”