“It’s not, he’s blocked.”
“Is it your brother transporting little hate notes from the house?”
“No, surprisingly.”
“So, it’s your dickhead ex then. God, I think he’s the worst option.”
“I doubt it.” My eyes move into the house.
“Dollie, I get why you’re mad, but?—”
“Do not. You’re my friend.”
“And since when does that make me Ambrose’s enemy?”
Looking away, I fight the tears in my eyes to stay put.
“He’s trying to be your friend, Dollie. He got you a dog. The kind you always wanted.”
“I love Bubbles, but she doesn’t excuse what he did.”
“I thought you said it was a psychotic break. Doesn’t that excuse what he did?”
“I’m not talking about my parents.”
“The threat?”
“Yes, the threat. It wasn’t a simple I won’t talk to you for the next ten years. It was if you ever try to contact me again, I’ll slit—” Sadness catches up, and I need a minute. “He said he’d slit my throat like he did Mom’s.” My lip trembles as I talk. “I wrote so many letters. Only one he ever responded to. I missed him, and I needed him, and not only was he not there, but he wanted to…” I stop there, trailing off.
A sigh comes from Annabelle’s direction.
“Do you not believe me?”
“Of course I do, but this is your brother. This is a boy who literally died to try and keep you alive.”
“I’ve told you too much in the past.” I move to the paint stripper and dip in a brush before returning to my ladder and stalling at the bottom step.
“And I’ve never judged. But this just doesn’t make sense to me. He must have had a reason. Do you not think it was out of fear that maybe you’d try to visit him, and him feeling like it wasn’t a safe place for you?”
“Who knows.”
“Well, let’s go and ask him.”
“Absolutely not!” My tremble worsens, moving from just my voice to my whole body as I step down and away from the ladder, brush still in hand.
“That’s your call.” She makes her way up the ladder, testing the stripper on the letters strewn across my house like a grim banner. “Let’s switch subjects. Should we stay on men?”
“Not unless you wanna talk about what’s happening with Nyx.”
“Fuck buddies. Now you, what made you block Lucky? Did he admit to having a girlfriend? And you still haven’t told me who your text was from?”
“It was obvious he had a girlfriend. We can blame him for getting himself blocked for being an asshole and blame him for my date with Shane, who texted.”
“Sure, blame him because it wouldn’t be your fault for craving a man’s validation and being unable to be on your own.”
“Annabelle! Is that really what you think?” I drift closer to my ladder, needing it to support me through her insult.
“No!” She flashes her phone at me, but the distance between us prevents me from reading what’s on her screen. “It’s what your brother thinks. But…”
