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Prologue

Winter

I fidget, feeling out of place Cory puts his hand in the center of uide me into the enorht have on a fancy designer dress, but I still feel like I stand out I don’t belong here It’s the story of rown used to it by now, but still it lingers

The s a tray full of glasses of the bubbly liquid Cory grabs one and tosses it back, not bothering to ask me if I wanted one He kneouldn’t I’m actually shocked he drank one himself He never drinks At least anymore

I’ve only seen hiht I’d met him when he almost threw up on my sneakers That would have sucked They’d been ht have helped hiht, but he’d been the one who helped ue that fact He always says I’e, but he’s the one who made my life a heck of a lot easier He’s always been more than kind to me, and one day I hope to be able to repay him for all he’s done for me

“Let’s get this over with,” he ot here to begin with I kneas dreading co, so I’d volunteered to come with him I alant to help when I can He’s done so much for me It’s the least I can do, even if it puts me way out of my comfort zone

“You sure you’re okay?” He stops, looking down at me, and concern shows in his deep blue eyes I sh I’m far from okay He’s asked the saood with crowds Never have been A social worker once toldabandoned in a subway as a child tends to leave aI’d been there before someone realized I was all alone I don’t recall any of it No ets easier I have to grit through it If it was up to me I’d live far away from the city and the hustle and bustle of the world, but I needed a job and I can’t beat free rent I cook and clean and Cory covers the bills To be honest I’m not sure if he even pays rent or if his family owns the penthouse we live in

“I’ives me a skeptical look before we lances down at his watch to check the ti looks at us Cory warned me they would He hasn’t been to an event in years Apparently at the last one he’d gotten out of hand and ended up voht with his brother He called himself the black sheep of the fa and nice to be anything but a source of pride

Maybe he had been before That wasn’t the Cory I know The Cory I know is hard working and caring How his family doesn’t see that in hi to do with the social hierarchies I know nothing about and have never given any thought to I do know that Cory’s family has to be at the very top of whatever these social rankings are, and vo at so to their family Even so, I don’t like that they made him feel that way

It’s rude and uncaring Maybe they should figure out why their family member drove hiht IHe hadn’t handled the pain of losing his father I’d helped hi to him tell me tales about his family before his father’s death I’d felt jealous at so a fa them, too It was bittersweet

“We have a little while before the cere My brother hates this shit as much as you do, so I’ his already straight tie His faiven me ht