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Well that answers that question By , the inside source should pretty much be uncovered and discredited--I will be done Funny how short overnment lasted It survived a five- up in scandal-ridden flames

I spot Cass’s back in the crowd and a through bodies, when I feel a guy run his hand overin the pocket of my jeans

"Okay, what the fu--" I stop when I co a guy feel you up," she says

There are a lot of words that run through my mind--none of them kind I should use them She deserves theue about shit that doesn’t matter to anyone but her andat all

"Your little game--you and your sister? You’ll never win Our lawyers are already picking apart that story," she says I notice the flex in her jahile she waits for a response She’s pissed, but she’s also nervous Her lawyers aren’t picking apart anything

"My sister couldn’t care less about you," I say, wanting to make it clear that Cass is no part of this war She’s only a casualty to our warfare, an innocent bystander that I so

"How about that boyfriend of yours? Is he here? Abandoning my niece so he can spend tis him up, and so quickly, strikesa step aorkingher question

"He’s not my boyfriend," I say, and she rolls her eyes I can tell by the way she ss, though--by the way she keeps her gaze at the crowd of people near us--whatever she needs would be easier to get if Houston wereto use Leah

"In fact," I say, hooking her She’s looking at otten s to the paper He was pissed that I talked to them Not because he cares about you, but he said Leah wouldn’t want to see those rumors spread around about her aunt He toldfor

"Well that sucks for you, doesn’t it?" she finally says I chuckle, because her response is pathetic

"Yeah, Cee Cee," I say, loving the way she winces when I use her fa her alone in a crowd that eventually ss her up and quits caring she’s here I didn’t ask about how she’s here, if she’s out on bail, or if anyone ever brought her in for anything It’s not like she was co with the rus are getting harder for her I like that they are I can see she’s feeling the pinch

The closer I get to Cass and Rowe, the more I also realize that I’ve oing to be ugly, because Houston is going to think it’s because of him And while it’s really because of Leah, it’s not because I’irl and be a part of her life It’s quite the opposite, really

I’ as I stay in that house, Chandra will threaten to run to daddy--to o Either way, Joyce was right

I Ae

He waited up I kneould I think that’s why I stayed out until now It’s two in thearound ht, so now my head hurts All I want in the world is to lie down

But I can’t Because I have to walk into this house and tell the only guy whose ever made me feel cherished that I have to move out I have to convince him that it’s for the best, and that it’s what I really want I have to lie better than I’ve ever lied in my entire life

I told Cass it was just too unco here I also told her I ether, like ere supposed to Most of what I said was true A lot of it wasn’t though

Truth is, I’ here When I think of home, this is where I want to be But not if it costs Leah a future paved with opportunity--not if it causes pain for Houston I can’t bring that on their house Joyce wouldn’t want me to