I did know that, but it was reassuring to hear it again.
Not that I should need to be reassured of that fact. It’s not like it makes a difference. He’s going to be my stepdad either way.
“This is how we survive, Eden. We just have to accept that.”
I swallow thickly. “Right, I know.”
She hums in response, and I take that as my cue to leave.
I shut the door and then lean against it, running my fingers through my hair with a sigh.
“This is how we survive,” I reiterate softly.
I just hope I can survive this vacation.
CHAPTER 3
EDEN
The pool is deserted when I arrive, and I enjoy having the water all to myself. As I back float from one end of the pool to the other, I can’t stop my thoughts from looping back to Christian and how he fed me ice cream from his spoon. The memory burns inside me, a simmering between my hips that refuses to cool down.
I’m staring up at the night sky when I hear laughter from behind me. When I right myself in the water, I see it’s Brittany and her two friends in their bikinis. They whisper among themselves as they glance over at me.
I raise my hand in a halfhearted wave. “Hey.”
A look of annoyance flashes across Brittany’s face, as one of the other girls—a blonde in a red bikini—waggles her fingers in my direction.
“You’re Brittany’s stepsister, right?” she asks. “Edith or something?”
I smooth my wet hair back from my face. I’m sure this girl already knows my name. She’s just being a bitch about it for Brittany’s sake.
“It’s Eden,” I say.
“Oh my god, that’s such a pretty name!” The blonde leaves the others to sit beside the pool, closer to me. “I’m Allison.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“And I’m Stephanie.” The other girl—a redhead with freckles—sits beside Allison, letting her long, pale legs dangle in the water. “Brittany told us her dad invited you and your mom on their vacation.”
I shoot Brittany a glare. She’s back to staring at her phone with an air of aloofness.
“Christian is such a nice guy,” Allison says, her smirk as sharp as a knife. “He’s always helping the less fortunate. Last year he donated a bunch of money to a homeless shelter. Have you ever lived in one of those?”
My jaw clenches.
“No,” I reply, my voice flat with irritation. “I’ve never lived in a homeless shel—”
“That’s such a cute swimsuit.” Stephanie splashes me with her foot.
I glance down at my teal tankini. I’ve had it for a couple of years, so the color is kind of faded, but it’s still one of my cuter suits. Even so, I know better than to take a compliment from one of Brittany’s friends at face value.
“Thanks…”
“I could never wear a suit like that,” Allison says. “The bigger tops just look better on girls your size. I’d just get swallowed up in it.”
The snide comment would hurt more if I wasn’t used to people giving me crap about my weight. I’ve been what most people would consider “overweight” since I was a kid, and I’ve survived my share of bullying because of it. But in watching my mom struggle with her illness over the last year, I’ve come to accept my body at its current size. I’m strong and healthy and capable. I’ll never be thin, and that’s fine. I’m damn cute just as I am.
Honestly, I’m more annoyed than offended that I have to endure this interaction.
“Guys, I’m bored,” Brittany says, inspecting her fingernails. “Let’s go find the sauna.”
Allison puts on a pout. “Aww, but we were just getting to know your new stepsister—”
“She’s not my stepsister,” Brittany snaps. She scowls at me and then stalks off toward the resort entrance.
The other girls scramble to their feet.
“Brittany, wait!” Stephanie calls. “I thought you wanted to swim…”
They rush after her, leaving me blissfully alone. But even as relief washes over me, part of me knows the feeling won’t last. That selfish, petty, spoiled girl is going to be my stepsister.
I groan. Why couldn’t Christian have been child free?
Rather than risk another run-in with Brittany and her minions, I decide to call it a night. I climb out of the pool and towel off, then wrap my towel around my body and slip into my flip-flops. It’s not until I’m ready to go that I realize my keycard is missing.
And I don’t suspect it grew legs and wandered off on its own.
Clenching my jaw, I glance in the direction that Brittany stormed off in. She must have taken it while the other girls distracted me.
“Damn it.” I rub the spot between my brows. I’ll just have to hope my mom isn’t so dead to the world that she doesn’t hear me knocking.
I walk back to the room with my fingers crossed. Pressing my ear to the door, I knock.