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"Nice car," I told hi school to follow up a hunch I couldn’t even articulate
"Why, thank you," Asher replied "It’s E a toaster and a squirrel"
I didn’t really knohere to start "You stole your sister’s car?"
"Is it still stealing if she loaned it to me once and I made a copy of her keys?" The question was clearly meant to be rhetorical
"Yes," I told hiins a life of crime," Asher said with ato kill you," I told hi her car
Asher waved away my words, unconcerned "If Emilia was predisposed to fratricide, I wouldn’t have arten," he said "I aht kill you"
When we arrived at Vivvie’s house half an hour later, I got out of the car, then hesitated I hadn’t thought this far ahead What was I doing here? I had no plan I wasn’t even entirely certain why I’d co Vivvie’s probably fine
I didn’t believe that, and I didn’t knohy I made my way to the front porch Asher followed No one answered the first ti the bell Or the second But the third time, the door opened a crack
"Tess?" Vivvie’s voice was hoarse Like she’d been yelling, or crying--or, I toldto be rational, like she has strep throat and that is why she hasn’t been at school
"Can I coistered Asher’s presence
"I orried about you," I told her She didn’t reply "Tell me I shouldn’t be"
Vivvie summoned her voice "You shouldn’t be"
Liar The door was open wider now She looked like she hadn’t slept since the last tis a bit and let you two ladies talk" Asher set off on a stroll around the neighborhood, leaving Vivvie and me alone
"Can I come in?" I asked
Vivvie shook her head, but she also stepped back, allowing me entry I crossed the threshold into the foyer For a few seconds, Vivvie looked at everything but aze found its way toslipped off one shoulder The skin underneath was darker near her collarbone Bruised
She tracked aze to the bruise and froze
"Did your father do that?" I asked softly
Vivvie jerked her sweatshirt back up She shook her head--more than once "He’s not like that" She still had a hold on her sweatshirt, like she couldn’t coax her hand into letting go "It was an accident" Now she was nodding, as if she could will that into being true