Page 81 of Midnight Dissonance

She was just finishing zipping up the bags when her sister stood in the doorway.

“You could have given me more notice that you’re moving out. He’s too old for you, you know.”

“You know what, Lisa? It’s none of your fucking business. Just like it was none of your business to tell him about my student loans. You deliberately harmed my relationship with him. What the fuck gives you the right?”

“You took the man I was interested in.” She shrugged carelessly, like it was no skin off her nose the damage she had caused to Lexi’s life.

“Like I knew that. Did he know you were interested? Did you guys ever go on a date? Did Josh ever do anything to make you believe you might have a future together?”

“Well, no,” she sputtered.

She’d never fit with her family. Ever. She just never realized how much her sister disliked her too. That she would do something so intentional to hurt her. “So you did it out of spite. I get that Mom and Dad hate me. I just never realized you did too. And so much you saw fit to try and ruin my life. Josh dumped me because of you.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. It’s not my fault you like to keep secrets. It couldn’t have been that good of a relationship if you didn’t tell him about the loans. It’s really your fault when you think about it. Besides, you’re young. You’ll find another guy.”

But she didn’t want another guy.

She was totally. Irrevocably. In love with Josh.

Damn him.

But Lisa didn’t understand. None of her family had ever understood her. She’d always been an outsider, putting up with their toxic barbs. It didn’t matter anymore. None of it did. She just knew she couldn’t sit around here and wait for things to get better. She couldn’t live where she wasn’t wanted.

“The money I just paid you in rent. I’m going to need back.”

“If you think you’re going to mooch off me—”

“Newsflash, I’m moving out.” She gestured to the bags. “I won’t live here anymore. I don’t care how cheap the room is. I don’t want to be anywhere near you or our parents.”

“Where are you going to go?” Lisa’s expression was as controlled as ever.

Lexi snorted and hefted the bags onto her shoulders. “Like you give a shit. As far as I’m concerned, we’re done. I don’t want to see you or hear from you ever again.”

“Don’t be like that. This will all blow over, and you’ll find a new guy. You’ll—”

Lexi lost her shit over her sister’s belief she somehow helped her. And she snapped. “You don’t even get how badly you fucking betrayed me. Out of what? A hurt ego because Josh didn’t give you the time of day and wanted me instead. And you know, I don’t care what you think of me or my choices. At the end of the day, you are exactly what Mom and Dad made you, a self-absorbed, egotistical bitch who can’t see past her nose. You and Mom and Dad have done everything in your power to push me out of this family because I don’t fit into your perfect little boxes. Well, y’all got your wish because I’m out. So you no longer have to worry, because I certainly won’t be worrying about you guys. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m leaving. And I won’t ever be back.”

“Lexi, it doesn’t have to be like this.”

“Yes, it does. I’m done having the three of you treat me like I’m this stupid little girl who doesn’t know her own mind and can’t do anything right. But guess what? I’m smarter than you. My PSAT, SAT, and ACT scores were all higher than yours. My GPAs have always been higher than yours. I worked toward a career I didn’t want in the hope that one day, one of you assholes would actually love me. But you guys don’t even love yourselves. You love being pompous, self-inflated, egotistical assholes who look down their noses at everyone else.”

“Lexi—”

“No. You don’t get to play this off like you’re so much better. What you did was wrong. You don’t even realize how fucking toxic you are. And you know what, keep the goddamn rent. I will figure it the fuck out on my own, just like I have everything else.”

She shoved past her sister. At the honk from the driveway, she murmured a prayer in thanks and headed for the front door.

“Lexi. Come on. Don’t be like this.”

With the doorknob in hand, she glanced at her sister. She wouldn’t come back here. Ever. As much as it pained her, she never wanted to see Lisa or her parents again. They would never accept her. Even if she went on to medical school, they would always find fault with her.

And the moment she walked out the door, she no longer had a family. But she would make one of her own, like with Cliff, Nate, and Robbie. Those were the people who cared about her.

“Goodbye, Lisa. Have a nice life.” She walked out the door, needing to get as far away from Denver as she possibly could.

Because there was nothing for her here now.

23

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