Page 72 (1/2)

“There’s so I didn’t tell you—” I start, but she cuts me off

“You’re having sex with Trent Aldridge, just like you did his father,” she hisses under her breath

“Are you fucking kidding ht My head shakes so hard it leaves me dizzy “No Nope Never Why do you think that?”

“What else can I think, Payton? Ronald left you all the rinds her teeth

“I didn’t ask for that”

“Yeah Okay Whatever” She doesn’t believe me It’s clear in her voice “Why don’t you tellme over this time?”

“I can’t get Trent to give et e”

“Sure” She nods her head It’s condescending as hell, and she knows it “That’s why you’re on cahly doubt that Cut the crap, little sis”

“Do you really think it was that easy? That Trent just took over the bills, and I lived happily ever after? A piece of shit like him?”

The words feel dirty co out of my mouth, mostly because he’s nice to everyone but me, and it’s hard to call him names like that after he reunited Henry with his son

I pu dirtier and dirtier each second “It wasn’t that easy He doesn’t want to sleep with me He hates me”

“Probably because you were banging his father,” she deadpans

I take a deep breath Bite my cheeks and try to calood

“I wasn’t” I shrug “I don’t knohat else I can say to prove it to you”

“Why should I believe you? You’ve alanted what I had”

I shakeabout? I’ve never—” I stop h to “You knohat? No Let’s not do this here What you don’t know is that Trent is extortingme”

“For sex?”

I shudder at her inquisition “Not everything is about sex”

“Well, what else would he extort you for?” Her curt voice lashes out at me

I turn up my chin “Money to pay e tuition payoing back to school is because I caved to his demands”

She stares at the expensive textbooks in my arms, full of disbelief and accusations “What exactly are these demands?”

“I’ly truth I almost shrivel inside myself as I say the words “He calls me hisI clean his house I do random tasks in his house I live in his house”