Page 26 (1/2)

“It’s not your house anymore—it’s hers”

I didn’t just fall back from his statement I stumbled

I ht since Kinley coaxed, “Christian…”

Our gazes locked for a few seconds, and I could physically see and feel her internal struggle about what he’d just stated She opened her , and I held in a breath

Tell hi, sweetness

She didn’t

Silence

Scoffing out in anger, I slowly nodded and backed away There was nothing left for me here, not even her

All I could do was rened the papers yet This is still er welcome here, so I’ll make it easy for you, Kinley I’ll leave I’d hate for you tohim over me”

She winced, only fuelingto maliciously add…

“We all knohat happened the last time you didn’t choose me”

Chapter 10

Christian

Then

A year ca all our new firsts with it I spent as much time as I could with Kinley She was at et the expression on irlfriend a feeeks after the carnival

“Wow,” Autumn expressed ide eyes “Christian has never coirlfriend before You must be super special”

Kinley laughed “And you must be Autumn”

“I’m the little sister” Autumn nodded “My birthday was just last week I’m ten now”

“I know” Kinley smiled “I ith Christian to pick out your present”

Autumn beamed “You did? How did you know I loved Littlest Pet Shops?”

“Doesn’t everybody? They’re my favorite too”

“Really? Maybe we could play with mine”

“I’d love to”

“Christian,” Mo our attention over to her She was standing beside irl “She’s absolutely beautiful”

“Thank you, Mrs Troy”

“Oh please, call me Emma”

“Yes, and you can call me Steven,” Dad extended his hand

For the rest of the evening, we hung out as a fa around theht it was the first time she had been around a dynamic like ours

Later that night, she proved my theory

I was sitting on the couch with her head inwith her hair while atched a movie