Brooke’s jaw dropped open. “I can’t believe you would accuse me of that.”
But then the front door slammed shut. I heard thudding footsteps heading right toward us.
When Dean came into view, he looked like a wreck. His hair was a mess. His eyes red. One of his cheeks was red too. I’d never seen him so torn apart.
“Grace, I need to ...” He paused when he saw Brooke.
“I got here first,” she said, but I knew that voice. It was the one she used when she got the doll from me and cried that I was trying to take it. The same voice she used to garner Mom’s sympathy.
“I didn’t kiss her,” Dean rushed to say. “I wouldneverever betray you like that.”
I knew. I’d known the whole time.
This was why I hadn’t ever told Brooke no. Because I’d seen what she was capable of. I’d seen how she threw a fit.
“Okay, we need to get the story straight.” Virginia looked at Brooke. “I want to believe you, but you’re accusing my son of something serious.”
“I’m not a liar.”
“But you are, Brooke.” Every set of eyes turned to me.
“What?” she asked.
“Youarea liar. And a manipulator. And a fuckingbitch.”
She jerked back from me. “How dare you!”
“Shut up.” I stepped close, getting right in her face. “I’m so sick of you. You have steamrolled my life whenever you remember I exist, and I tolerated it because I hoped, deep down, that you cared about me because I’m your sister. But you don’t. You’re a spoiled brat trying to ruin what I have because I told you no. But guess what? I see right through you and I don’t believe you.”
“B-but we’refamily.”
“Not anymore. You’ve hurt me a lot over the years, and I shouldn’t have let that slide. But you’re not going to hurt someone Ilove. I draw the line there. So get out of my house.”
My cheek erupted in pain. It took me a second to register that she’d slapped me. Virginia gasped, and Dean had Brooke’s arms in a tight hold before I could even take a breath.
“Don’t fucking touch her!” he yelled.
“I can do what I want!”
“Oh my God!” Virginia hurried to my side. “Are you okay, honey?”
“I’m fine.” My voice was flat as I stared at Brooke. Instead of seeing someone I cared about, I saw a girl who’d never faced consequences for her actions.
And it was time she did.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my phone and called the one person I never thought I would.
“’Ello?”
“Mike, I need to report an assault. And an unwelcome person in my home.”
“Grace?” Now he sounded awake. “Shit, kid. I’ll be right there.”
Once he hung up, I turned back to the scene in my house.
“Are you okay?” Virginia asked again.
“Yeah. Her bark’s worse than her bite.”