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Violet wondered if that was the doll Sara had told her about Sophie’s doll

"She’s always like that," Rafe answered, but Violet was ignoring hiers along the spines as she read the titles in her head: On the Road, The Catcher in the Rye, 1984, The Giver, Fahrenheit 451 There were classics sitting alongside books by Stephen King, Michael Crichton, and Anne Rule There was no rhy collection "She’s mad because I’m not the brother she always dreamed of"

"You think she’s bitchy to er poised over a tattered copy of To Kill a Mockingbird

Rafe shrugged "I don’t know, kind of"

"That’s ridiculous" Violet’s lips quirked, her eyes widening "Maybe you should teach her to use her big-girl words, and then we’ll know for sure"

His eyes dropped, but his mouth curved into a shy smile "I just meant she’s kinda pissed that I haven’t been nicer to her since she" His voice trailed off

"It’s just that you don’t want to get to know her" Violet finished his sentence

He looked up, his eyes , Violet spied a photograph sticking out froes, but even froe point, Violet could see that Rafe was in the photo beside a blonde girl Not pale blonde, like Geirl’s hair was darker blonde, , Violet pulled the picture free and exairl with black-lined eyes and a pierced lower lip In the photo, Rafe’s arirl’s neck He lookedhappy "Is thisSophie?"

So flashed behind Rafe’s eyes--hurt or one , didn’t she?"

She recalled her conversation with Sara, the way Sara had opened up about theirSophie "She didn’t want to I asked"

"I guess it’s my fault If I hadn’t said her naers and slid it back between the books without even glancing at it "You know, she had it too," he explained quietly,that happens whenever we touch, that shock between us I felt it when I touched her too You two are the only ones I’ve ever had that with" His gaze flicked nervously to hers

"Sowhat is it?"