I recognize him from the family pictures hung all over the house.
Finn’s brother. Brody, I think?
I’ve never met him before—Mr. Richards said he rarely makes it back home from Duke University—but his presence explains why so many older people showed up to a small-town party.
The college guys are staring at us, witnessing the scene from a distance. From the moment I look at Finn, I feel my heart being ripped out of my chest all over again.
He took her from me.
My birth mother.
The only thing I had left.
How could he?
“You’re fucking crazy if you think you’re taking her,” Finn declares as he advances toward me.
Click.
My switch has been flipped.
And there’s no going back.
“They took it!” I shout at the top of my lungs, putting my whole chest into it, and Finn stops dead, shock clear in his gaze.
I can tell he’s confused, but those deep, tortured hazel eyes don’t do shit for me.
“My mother’s shirt.” My anger dies on my tongue, my throat aching like a bitch. “They stole it.”
Then I start crying.
Full-on crying in front of him.
And I don’t even care.
“Because you couldn’t be responsible for one night. It’s gone. The only thing I had of hers. Because you couldn’t be considerate of anyone but your goddamn self for one fucking second.” I hammer his shoulder with strong blows, and he stumbles backward.
“And Lexie? I found her terrified in a corner of the library, bathing in her own pee, so yes, I’m taking her. And no, I don’t give a shit what you have to say.”
His jaw goes slack at my announcement, but I don’t spare him another glance, turning on my heels and heading for Jesse’s car. I think surely the worst is behind me… until another deep voice slices through the deafening music.
“Damn, bro, you were right. Girl’s got spunk.”
You have got to be kidding me.
I swivel to see Finn’s brother, Brody, pushing off the hood of the car to meet us.
“Although I have to disagree with you on her ass. She’s kind of flat.”
Click.
The switch just flipped.
Except this time, it’s not mine.
“The fuck did you just say to my sister?” Jesse nudges me behind him.
Brody stops near Finn and laces his arm around his brother’s neck. “Jesse, hey. Been a while, man.”