Page 126 of Terror Tuesday

“How?”

“He told me he had somethingIwanted.”

Confused, my brow furrows. “What was that?”

“Your future happiness.”

My bottom lip quivers. Swallowing back tears, I check over my shoulder, where Mom is heading back from the bathroom. “Doessheknow?”

“I haven’t told anyone yet.” Dad brushes my hair back and grabs me in a tight embrace. “Are you happy?”

Smile broadening, I press my chin against him, then look into his worried eyes. “Yes, Dad. I am.”

I’ve rarely seen him get so emotional, but the ice melts, and a warm tear falls down his cheek. He whispers, “Then I have everything I ever wanted.”

“What’s this about?” Mom asks, and I wipe away my own tears and kiss her cheek.

“I’ll tell you soon,” I say, skipping toward my old bedroom for some tissues.

The bathroom door in the hall is cracked, and I overhear a voice from inside. I creep closer. Nick’s on the phone, his back to the door, thinking he’s being sneaky.

“Yeah, the Cardell boys pay well,” Nick murmurs smugly, his voice muffled but clear enough. “I’ll take her out next week, play nice, and then get laid later. She won’t know what hit her. May even get a Cardell appointment out of it. Set for life, bro.”

Blood rushes hot to my face. Fury blends with humiliation. Without thinking, my feet carry me outside, hands gripping the cold metal handle of the garden hose. My breath steams angrily in the crisp air.

I crank the faucet to full blast, yanking the hose through the door and into the kitchen, aiming without mercy at my three brothers, currently exchanging jabs with each other like they didn’t just try to set me up with a piece of shit.

Henry and Aiden howl, holding up their hands. Ryan leaps onto the countertop. As he returns to the living room, I flip the spray onto Nick, who sputters and screams like a bitch.

Mom’s yelling for me to stop, but Dad…

He laughs. Riotously. Falling over onto the couch, sputtering, tearing up…

“Think again next time you decide to plot behind my back!” I shout over their protests, soaking them all thoroughly until they’re dripping, furious, and humiliated.

Dad calms himself in his chair, waving his mug of after-dinner coffee in the air. “Don’t ruin the floorboards.” He snaps his fingers at my brothers as I drop the weapon. “You guys clean that up.”

“Dad! She started it!”

“What the fuck, O?”

“We didn’t do shit!”

“Bullshit!” I yell. My mom’s eyes widen, not knowing what I’ll do next. “YoupaidNick Veldt to ask me out. I justheardhim on the phone.”

The three snap their gazes to him. Henry looks the most surprised. “I didn’t know that!” he protests, and he’s probably right. But he’s done enough to deserve a good hosedown.

“What’s wrong with going out with Nick?” Ryan asks.

“Because…” I try to come up with the words, but I’m suddenly afraid of their reactions.

Dad stands and rubs his face with his palm, then clears his throat. “Olivia’s not going out with anyone. She’s been appointed, or…she will be soon.”

Stunned silence grips the room. Ryan sputters, “Towho?”

Pippi stands near the library in the corner, but she’s not giving away anything if she knows.

“Valen Von Dovish,” Dad says with measured reluctance. Mom grabs my dad’s hand and checks in with him. He gives her a squeeze and a nod, reassuring her.