Chapter 3

One day, Chloe came in from outside carrying a huge manila envelope, stuffed to bursting.

It was her acceptance package from the school in New York, packed with an acceptance letter, a new-student guide, school stickers, and even a little pennant.

To celebrate, my parents booked a table at a fancy restaurant downtown.

From beginning to end, no one asked me when I’d hear back from my own schools.

Chloe sat at the head of the table, holding the gold-embossed acceptance letter like a trophy.

Mom took hundreds of pictures of her.

Dad even opened a bottle of wine he’d been saving.

Once they were both a little tipsy, Mom suddenly turned to me, as if she’d just remembered. “Winnie, why haven’t you gotten your letter yet?”

I looked down and took a sip of soda water. “Probably still in the mail.”

Chloe leaned into Asher’s shoulder, her smile sickly sweet. “Winnie’s so smart, she’ll be fine. In New York, Asher’s going to have to look after me a lot.”

Asher pulled his arm away and lowered his voice. “Chloe. Behave.”

Chloe pouted, her eyes all over him. “Okay, okay. You’re always bossing me around.”

Mom sipped her wine and chimed in. “You’ve been hanging off him like a koala since you were little. Anyone would think you two were the couple.”

Chloe slowly cut her steak, a challenging little smile curling her lips. “I mean, it’s not like that would be so bad.”

Feeling how coldly I was staring, Asher reached under the table, grabbed my wrist, and squeezed hard—half to soothe me, half as a warning.

“In a few days I’ll take you to New York to look at apartments. You get the master bedroom. Didn’t you always want a walk-in closet?”

I’d imagined our life together at college with Asher a thousand times. Chloe had never been in any of those pictures.

I felt sick. I yanked my hand back and said flatly, “We’ll see.”

Asher was about to say something else, but Chloe had already put down her knife and fork and slipped her arm through his. “Asher, come outside with me. I need some air.”

“Sure thing, princess.” He gave a helpless little laugh, pushed back his chair, and stood.

Watching them walk out side by side, I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see any more.

Now that I’d decided to leave, however they wanted to wallow in this swamp had nothing to do with me.