I returned our home while he toured with her novel Chapter 57

Chapter 3

Back at the Mitchell house, lights blazed. Party in full swing.

Celebrating Rose’s “survival against all odds.”

Champagne tower. Flowers. Balloons.

Rose sat between Jason and Lucas in a red dress, laughing. Didn’t look like someone who’d just survived a

near-death experience.

I pushed the door open. Warm air hit me.

I shivered.

Music cut out. Everyone stared.

At me. Or at my ridiculous leg brace.

Jason frowned, put down his drink, walked over. His voice had an edge. “Where have you been? I told you to

wait for the rescue team. They said they couldn’t find you, we thought you made it down on your own. Why was your phone off? You know we were worried.”

Family.

I looked around. At the curious, mocking stares.

Where was my family?

“Phone died.”

Jason didn’t like my flat tone, but he softened when he saw my leg. “What happened to your leg? Frostbite?

How many times do I have to tell you, stop with the extreme sports. Look at Rose. She knows how to take it

easy. Whatever. You’re back. Go change. It’s Rose’s night tonight. Don’t kill the vibe.”

He handed me a glass of room-temperature juice and turned to go back to his seat.

Like my week-long absence was just a cold. No big deal.

“Jason.”

I stopped him. Last time I’d ever call him that.

He looked back, impatient. “What?”

I set the juice on a side table. Calm. “The second rescue team. They never came, did they?”

His eyes flickered. Just for a second. I caught it.

Chapter 3

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Three years later, she returns as a top surgeon and pianist with a powerful…

“Weather turned bad. Airspace closed.” His voice went up, defensive. “That’s just how it shook out. And

you’re back, aren’t you? Nina, enough with the nitpicking. It was an emergency. Rose is fragile. She had to go first. You’re the older sister, you should get that.”

Older sister.

I laughed so hard I almost cried.

I was one year older.

“Right. I understand.”

“Right. Because I’m the older sister. So I deserved to freeze to death in the snow.”

“I’m the older sister, so if I lose my leg, that’s on me, right?”

“And my life? That doesn’t matter. Not compared to her little cough.”

Whispers around us.

Jason’s face went dark. “Amputation? Give me a break. The doctor said you’re fine. Nina, are you seriously trying to ruin tonight? Are you that jealous of Rose?”

Rose came over, hooked her arm through Jason’s. Eyes red-rimmed, voice soft. “Jason, don’t. It’s my fault. My stupid body. Nina, if you’re mad, take it out on me. Just please don’t fight with him…”

She reached for my hand.

I stepped back.

“Don’t touch me.”

“You disgust me.”

Lucas snapped. He strode over, shielding Rose. “Nina, enough. Rose has been worried sick about you. How can you say that to her? And that leg, probably not even that bad. Just fishing for attention.”

I looked at the two men.

One, my blood. One, my supposed forever.

Now they stood like walls, blocking Rose from me.

I nodded.

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