Page 103 of Between the Lines

“I’ve been living at Caden’s guesthouse for the last four weeks. He loaned me the money for this roof.” I slap my hands on the side of my legs, shrugging, fighting back the tears.

Penny steps back. “I don’t understand . . . why didn’t you come to me? Or Danny, or Jesse?”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“Are you serious, Penny?” I clench my fists. “You would’ve used this as an opportunity to control everything. You would’ve had us moved out permanently before I could even blink.”

Penny scoffs, brows pulled tighter. “And you thought hiding it from us was the better option?”

Guilt gnaws at my already bleeding chest when I think about Jesse. Clearly, he kept his word to me. Doesn’t matter now though.

“Maybe I did lie.” I swipe the tears away, swaying with anxious energy. “But I just wanted to prove to you all that I deserve to stay here, that I am able to handle things on my own.”

Puffy white clouds move above us in the sunny sky, and cars drive slowly down the residential street as the moment stretches between us.

Just when I think she’s going to say nothing, she shakes her head, eyes cast down.

“Well, you handled it alright. You borrowed money from a man you barely like, and you’re not even aware of what’s happening to our family home.”

Her words sting more than they should. Because she doesn’t even know the extent of what his unapproved repairs mean. She doesn’t know the pain in my chest from realizing he hid things from me. Even if they were good-natured, he knows that transparency is important to me. He knows what this home means to me, and I trusted him with that.

I kick at the grass, ready for the earth to open and swallow me whole.

“Did you forget that we all own this house?” Penny whispers.

“That’s not fair.” My gaze snaps to her amber eyes. “You want nothing to do with this house—you would burn it all down if you had the chance.”

Penny shakes her head slowly. “I just want what’s best for you and Daisy . . . and I may not want to hold on to it, but I’d never let someone I barely know fix it without consulting everyone.”

“Stop saying that. Caden’s not a stranger.” I sniff. “I trust him.”

Well, I did this morning when I woke up.

“Holy shit.” Her amber eyes go wide. “Are you with him?”

My jaw grinds. I say nothing.

“Fia, if you’re in trouble, you can tell me. If you’re indebted to him . . .” She pauses, inhaling sharply, like she’s the one who’s about to have an emotional breakdown. “I hope you thought this through. You have a daughter now, you know.”

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer.

“Did you really just say that? Everything I do is for her.” My voice is hoarse as I bite my cheek, fighting back more tears. “I’m not a child, Penny, you don’t get to decide who I should or shouldn’t be involved with.”

Penny throws her hands up.

“You’re right. You’re not a child, but take some advice from me—no good relationship starts with hiding things from each other.”

Penny brushes past me, pausing at her car door. “I need to go home. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I stand motionless as my sister gets in her car and backs away.

It took five minutes to destroy everything I’ve been working for.

Five whole minutes.

40

Fia