Page 9 of Sins (The Sins Trilogy 1)
Because Ivy’s different. She’s…
Well. She’s my cousin.
Not by blood.
Shut up, shut up!
The roadster stops in front of a huge house I recognize. It belongs to the Wentworths. Joel Wentworth is a good friend of Father’s and has been Tempérane’s sheriff since before I was shipped off to Europe. But I doubt he’s at home just now. This must be the party Harry told me about, the one his son Caleb, who’s two years older than me, is throwing. The street is littered with cars.
I shut off the engine and stare at the crowd that’s spilled out onto the front lawn. Things will probably be fine. After all, Harry’s coming to this party, too.
But my hands clench around the steering wheel at the way the boys leer at Ivy as she walks inside with her friend. I remember the scent of tiger lilies clinging to her, the cherry and caramel on her breath.
I should go. Mother will burst a vein if she finds out I’m here. Where Ivy is.
But instead of driving away, I tap my thumb against the steering wheel, my shoulders tight. The clock on the dash tells me I’ve been sitting in the car, debating, for over ten minutes already.
I’m blowing everything out of proportion,I tell myself. I’ve never, ever responded like this to another girl in a similar situation. It’s none of my business what anyone decides to wear, who she decides to hang out with, what party she decides to attend.
I’m probably projecting what I would’ve felt if Katherine were still alive and boys were staring at her like that.
Except…what I feel for Ivy isn’t entirely brotherly.
But only because she isn’t my sister. She’s my cousin.
For fuck’s sake. I’m being stupid. There are only two options—go inside or go home. I reach for the ignition, then stop. I should go inside. Just to check on Ivy, make sure she’s all right. Let the guys there know they’ll answer to me if anything happens to her, then leave ASAP. I tell myself it’s the least I can do to prove I’m not beyond redemption, and it has nothing to do with my concern for Ivy herself.
My mind made up, I climb out of the car and walk toward the house.
