Page 69 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

I whirl around at the familiar voice.

“Dean!” I say way too loudly.

“Holland!” my brother mocks, not catching on to anything. He gives Sutton a nod. “Hey, man.”

“Hey,” Sutton says back. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Pie,” River and Dean answer at the same time.

“Us too. I’ve had the weirdest craving for cherry lately,” Sutton says, and I pray nobody notices the blush that steals up my cheeks.

River bumps her shoulder into mine, and I peek over at her.

She bounces her brows up and down, flicking her eyes between me and Sutton.

My stupid blush deepens, and she grins.

I already know I’m going to be getting a text from her later, wanting all the details.

“Hey, Holls—have you talked to Mom?”

I haven’t talked to either of my parents in weeks and especially haven’t spoken with my mother. We’ve never been on the best of terms, but ever since Sutton’s confession, I’ve been more annoyed with her.

“Not lately. Why?”

“She’s been trying to get ahold of you. There’s a charity gala and our presence has been requested.”

“No, thanks.”

“Holland…” he says in the big-brother tone of his he rarely pulls out. “If I have to go, you do too.”

“Why are you going?”

“They’re raising money for supplies for schools in low-income districts. I’m the only teacher she knows, so Mom asked me to speak.”

Shit.

“Please. For me.”

“And me,” River says. “I am so not part of that fancy world. Based on you guys’ stories, I feel like I need some backup.”

She’s not kidding there. That world will eat you alive if you’re not careful.

But still, going back home after everything that went down with my father, after finally feeling like I’m doing okay on my own and like I didn’t make a huge mistake breaking away from him, it scares me.

“I don’t know, Dean…”

“Bring Sutton,” he suggests. “He’s a pro at those things. You two can keep River entertained while Mom shows me off.”

Sutton stiffens beside me, and I’m sure he’s experiencing the same emotions I am. He has problems with his own family he needs to settle.

Don’t even get me started on the history betweenusand those events.

“We’ll go,” Sutton tells him, and my mouth drops open in surprise.

I whip my head up at him, but he’s not looking at me.

He’s smiling at Dean, but I see how tight his shoulders are, the tic in his jaw. He’s just as scared as I am.

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