Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
She nodded, and he walked out.
There was only a tiny sliver of light that cut into her room, the moon coming through a crack in the piece of wood that was nailed to the window on the other side. She opened the notebook and peered down at the words.
Hi, Raven!
I’m Haddie, and I’m Otto’s little sister. We should totally be friends since you live with my brother now. I’m ten, and I just started ballet, and it’s my favorite thing ever. Also pink is my favorite color so I hope you like it, too, and the thing I hate most is spinach because it’s gross. Do you want to go get ice cream? I bet Otto will take us! Write me back!
Haddie <3
Hi, Haddie,
Thank you for wanting to be my friend. I’m nine, but your brother said he didn’t think you’d mind too much. I haven’t ever done ballet, but I think learning to dance would probably be my favorite thing ever, too. I like pink and ice cream. I think my brother won’t mind if I go with you to get some.
Raven :)
Hi, Raven,
I loved that we finally got to meet, and oh my gosh, can you believe I dumped my whole cone on the ground? And bubblegum is my favorite. Wahhhh. Of course, Otto got me another one, but still, I was so embarrassed. But you were really nice. My other friends would have laughed and told me I deserved it. They pretend that they like me, but I don’t really think they do. Ugh, they’re dumb. I’m really glad I met you.
Haddie <3
Haddie,
Well at least you have friends.
Raven
Raven,
Um, hello, you have me. You totally have a friend. And also my brother’s friends because my brother told me you’re a part of the family now. And all of them are so cool and always bring me stuff. You’re so lucky you get to live with them. My mom sucks sometimes, but she’s been cool lately, so that’s good. Okay, I have dance class. Gotta go!
Haddie <3
Haddie,
I’m sorry I didn’t write for a while. My brother thought I should have a better place to live, and I went to stay with my grandma for a little bit. She was supposed to keep it a secret, but she told my DAD. I hate him and I hate her now, too. But I got back here, and River promised I would never have to leave again. I hope we are still friends.
Raven :)
Raven,
Of course we’re still friends. What do you think BFF means? It means best friends forever. No matter what. And my brother was so mad River took you there. He wouldn’t tell me at first, but then I made him because he was being so grumpy when he came to visit. I’m really glad you’re back!
Haddie <3
Haddie,
So guess what? We are getting a new house. A real house!! I mean, not that I don’t like it here, but it’s kind of gross and we always have to sneak in, and my brother is always worried we’re going to get caught and I’m going to get taken away. And my brother got a motorcycle, almost like Otto’s and Theo’s, but his is black.
Raven :)
Raven,
I’ll see you Friday! Otto said I can come spend the night at your new house!
Haddie <3
TWENTY-THREE
OTTO
More than a week had passed since Raven had been staying here, and I was about to fuckin’ lose it.
The woman under my roof. Her laughter all around. That sweet, moonflower scent invading.
The woman was constantly underfoot, driving me halfway to unhinged. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hurry to help her pack her things to get the hell out of there or beg her to stay forever.
The problem was, I fuckin’ liked it.
Liked walking in my door and finding her in the kitchen sipping from a glass of wine or stretched out on the couch watching TV or reading a book.
Liked her girly shit strewn all over my bathroom counter.
Liked her sleeping in my bed, even though I’d made sure to stay out of it considering what’d happened the last time I’d woken with her curled in my arms.
She hadn’t had a nightmare since. I’d been more than thankful—both because I couldn’t stand her being tormented by her ghosts and because I was beginning to question my morals.
Guilt clamped down on my chest, my conscience flailing behind its bounds, tendrils reaching out to remind me of what I’d done.
Morals?
What a fuckin’ joke.
It was all right there below the surface. The truth of what I’d cost. The truth of what I had to do. The truth of what would go down tonight.
And there I was, a twisted fuck who was so close to reaching out and taking what he knew he should never touch.
Raven had found one apartment that she’d really liked, but it’d already been leased by the time she’d decided to take a leap on it.