Page 178 of Sinful Like Us

But we’ll still fight for him.

“I know,” I breathe. Admitting that is a pain to my heart.I know.

I know.

I know.And even with that knowledge, I’m going to try anyway. Because I’ve failed far too many times in my life to be terrified of failure now.

“So here’s what’s going to happen.” I wipe the rest of my tears from my cheeks.No return, no going back.“If you don’t promise me here, today, that you’re going to stop using, then I’m moving to New York. I’m going to live in an apartment on the same hall, and every day that you snort coke, I’m going to do the same.”

His eyes flash hot. “Jane—”

“If you’re going to destroy your life, your body, then I’m going to destroy mine.” I add in French, “Ton destin est mon destin.”Your fate is my fate.

Charlie steps forward. “Ton destin est mon destin.”

“You’re insane.” He rubs away his tear tracks with the heel of his palm. “You’re bothinsane.”

“We’re Cobalts,” Charlie declares.

Beckett extends an arm. “So being a Cobalt is now synonymous with insanity? That’s great.” He plants a look on me. “You’re not taking coke. You freaked out when you ate a pot cookie. I call your bluff.”

Charlie reaches into his back pocket. “We thought you’d say that.” He procures a small baggie. Filled with white powder.

36

THATCHER MORETTI

13 Days Snowed-In

Charlie wavesthe small baggie of coke. Which he bought in town before we were snowed-in. I knew—I fucking knewthis part would be like a swift kick to the gut.

It’d throttle me to move. To come to her aid. To sweep Jane protectively in my arms and pull her from immediate danger. I watch this play out in real-time, and it’s fucking unbearable. Tendons in my neck pull taut, searing inside out. I grit down on my teeth and stay frosty.

Focused onher.

Back when I first heard the plan, my immediate reaction was to say no.

Fuck no.

Hell no.

Anyway you want to say it—no.

But Jane loves her family, and she’d do just about anything to protect them. Even put herself at risk. Being the barrier between her andthatis like telling her not to be all of who she is.

So I said yes.

But seeing the events unfold, I’m questioning my judgment seven ways to hell.

Beckett has awhat the fuckexpression as he stares at the baggie. “Where did you get that? How…?”

Charlie arches a brow.

“Right. You’ve been to Scotland before,” Beckett remembers. “I’m guessing you knew someone here who could sell to you?”

“Maybe.”

“Fantastic,” he mutters.