Page 95 of Make Me Pretty

When did that happen?

“I don’t know if it’s brotherly. More… friendly?” It’s said like a question as I yank on my braids, now falling apart with hair sticking out from each twist. “You know Peris and I clash. But I think we’re maybe, finally finding a groove that works? We just hung out and listened to music. When we got home, we both sat on the couch to watch T.V., but I know I felt like a zombie, so Peris must’ve been dead to the world.” I laugh as I glance over my shoulder. Elise nods, encouraging me to keep going.

“So, anyway,” I add five heaping scoops of sugar and stir it, swaying with each cling of metal against ceramic, “I think we’re trying to be friends.” The word tastes wrong. “Or something. I don’t know. We’ll probably still fight a lot.”

“As brothers do,” Elise says like that’s not so fucked up. I grimace, lip curling upward with my nose as I turn around. She laughs at my expression. “I know, I know. It’s weird, but it’s funny too because you’re both eighteen, about out of high school. More roommates than anything, but I love to tease.”

“Peris must get that from you,” I blurt as I stare down into the dark swirl of coffee. Then my eyes shoot open wide. “Erm?—”

“Yeah, probably.”

“What about his dad? He doesn’t talk about him. Neither do you, and there aren’t any pictures. Did he die?” I ask, tone softer, trying to be sensitive or whatever.

My head cocks to the side when Elise stiffens from head to toe. It’s the second time I’ve ever seen her looking truly uncomfortable, and if that doesn’t set off a dozen alarm bells in my brain…

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“We just don’t—” She pulls in a deep breath, steadying herself. “We don’t talk about him.”

“Okay.” I nod, accepting her answer. Peris isn’t gonna like it when I press him about this. “So, what’s the agenda for today?” I change the subject easily.

“Dunno. What sounds good?”

I shrug, always useless when she asks because I still don’t know how to… how to just be.

“How about a chill day at home, and then tonight, we’ll all make dinner together before I have work?”

I light up at spending the day with two of my favorite people—one of which is just a lot more complicated. But Peris is more bearable in front of his mother. Portraying his best behavior, I bet. Probably because he doesn’t want her to see what a fucking psycho he is under that sheep’s mask he wears. Maybe he doesn’t want me to see, either.

Not that I’m complaining.

We all wear our skinsuits.

“That actually sounds… nice.” I smile. And I know it’s crooked because my jaw is uneven and my lips are too big on my small face. All angles, no softness. But Elise smiles back and maybe…

Just maybe.

I’m not so bad.

CHAPTER 28

PERIS

“Peris Oliver! Would you just—”

“Ma, I’vegot it.Quit hovering, and chop the tomatoes.”

“Well, Iwouldif you’d stir it!”

“I just did one minute ago! They’re not gonna stick!”

Ma huffs out a breath, blowing her hair back from her face. She lifts the knife and points it at me. “Fine, but if you ruin my lovely dinner?—”

“Oh,yourdinner?” I arch a brow. “I thought it wasourdinner. Yanno, since we’re all cooking it.”

Her eyes roll. “Smartass.”

I beam at her as I stir the fucking pasta. “That’s me.”