"Your father."

I shook my head and looked away from him.

"Time for the cake."

He let go of my hand, and his palm fell away from my waist. He stood next to me, arms folded, as our parents fed each other sickly sweet wedding cake. I ended up with a paper plate in my hand, picking at a slice. The icing was too cloying sweet and I wanted to spit it out.

"This cake sucks," Victor grumbled.

I couldn't help it. I started laughing.

There were a few looks, but no one paid me much mind. They probably thought I was laughing from happiness at the wonderful wedding. I dumped my cake on a random table and looked for a place I could hide. I never liked crowds and it felt like there was an itchy wool blanket on my shoulders, weighing me down. I tugged on my skirts and wove my way through the crowd, and ended up in front of the fire hall. I breathed in warm, humid evening air. Music thudded through the brick walls as I sat down on a narrow ledge running through the windows and plucked at loose strands of my hair. A shadow fell across my feet.

I looked up and Victor pushed a gla.s.s of red liquid at me. There was a little umbrella in it.

"I can't drink."

"Me either. Not here, anyway. It's a Shirley Temple."

I took it and sipped it through the little straw. It was too sweet, but it was cold and liquid. Victor had one, too. He seemed amused by the umbrella. After he finished the drink he took it out and was playing with it, popping it up and down.

"These aren't supposed to have umbrellas. Want another one?

"I shouldn't be talking to you."

"Why?"

I was trying to think of an answer when I heard a piercing voice.

"Victor!"

I looked over to see a girl our age storm outside. Her dress made me blush. I was honestly wondering how it stayed up. It had no back or sleeves, just cups for her rather large b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She walked over and planted her fists on her hips, a long leg visible through a high slit in the side of her skirt.

"Uh," he said.

"Amber."

"Right. Hi, Amber."

"What are you doing out here?" she demanded.

"Getting some air. I brought Eve something to drink."

I looked at her but she ignored me. Instead she tugged his arm.

"Come inside. What was that about, giving her the garter?"

He shook loose of her grip. She scowled at him.

"What are you doing here?" he said.

"You invited me," she said, folding her arms under her impressive bust.

"I did?"

"Yes," she growled.

I stood up. Neither of them noticed me. I took my cup and Victor's, and walked back inside. I found a trash can, tossed the little plastic cups and looked at the clock. When would this be over? I just wanted to be alone.

The reception had moved onto the dance floor, so I walked back into the dining room and sat down at my seat. It wasn't five minutes before Victor slunk in and sat down next to me. In my father's seat, I noticed.

"What do you want?"

"You look upset."

"Shouldn't you be occupied with Amber?"

"Don't worry about her. She kinda crashed the wedding."

"I see."

I folded my hands primly in my lap. Maybe if I just sat there he'd leave.

"I'm sorry if I got you in trouble."

"About what?"

"The car. The day we met. I wouldn't have done that if I knew your father would flip out."

"You wouldn't?"

"Maybe I would have. Mom was worried about you. She said you were really upset. Did I p.i.s.s you off?"

I look over at him, then away, and sigh. "No. Not me."

"I know he was upset, but I do know what I'm doing. You want some more cake? Something to eat? A drink?"

"Why?"

He shrugged. "Look, I'll be honest. I don't know most of these people. The ones I do know I hate. Three of my ex-girlfriends showed up, invited by my mother. Your father tried to kill me with his eye lasers when I gave you the garter."

"I don't think that was appropriate," I said. "Our parents are married now. We can't..."

"What?" he said, smirking.

"Nothing."

"We can't nothing? That's a double negative."

Fl.u.s.tered, I rubbed at my temples.

"I know, it's shocking. I read a book."

"I can't talk to you," I blurted out.

"Why? Did somebody threaten you? Your dad?"

"Why do you keep asking me that?"

"Why'd you come up to the widows walk? You want to tell me, you just won't. Look, this guy just married my mom. If he's trouble I need to know."

I look around the empty dining room. The crowd in the dance hall starts to blur as my eyes burn.

"He disciplines me. That's all. I broke a rule. I needed punishment."

Victor looked at me intently.

"Punished you how?" he said, softly.

I covered my mouth with my hand and stifled a sob.

"I can't. Don't make me tell you. I can't."

"I don't want to make you do anything."

I sat there and sniffed quietly until he found a clean napkin and handed it to me. I s.n.a.t.c.hed it and rubbed at my eyes and nose. It only made my nose raw.

"You moved into my house. My roof. Your father married my mother but the house is mine."

"Are you mad at her? For getting married again?"

He sighs. "Yes, but don't tell her that. It's not... she's been alone for over six years. She doesn't fit into my dad's social circles. She was a waitress before they married. She's completely alone. Your father spent a lot of time with her. They got to know each other, started seeing each other, I was fine with it. I think he had me fooled."

"Fooled?"

"You don't have to tell me what he does to you. It's probably better if you don't. He does hurt you though, doesn't he? You're scared s.h.i.tless of him."

I started wringing the napkin in my hands. "He spanked me when I was younger. That's all."

"When you were younger," Victor said, carefully.

"A-after the car ride," I choked out.

"With his hand?"

"No. He uses a belt."

His hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles bleeding of color as he crushed the tablecloth in his hand. "Not anymore. He puts a hand on you again, or a belt or anything else, you come to me, understand?"

I nodded, not knowing what to say.

"I wish you'd told me before. I would have put a stop to this."

"He'd kill me," I blurted out.

Victor looked up. "What?"

"I didn't mean it. You know how people say 'he'd kill me," I added quickly.

"No. You meant it."

I swallowed.

"I'm thirsty. Will you get me something to drink?"

"Yeah."

He came back from the bar with another sweet, alcohol-free c.o.c.ktail. I drank it quickly. I thought he brought the second one for himself, but he gave that one to me, too.

"You were home schooled," he said.

"Yes."

"You weren't around any other kids? Ever?"

"No. I wasn't allowed."

He scratched his neck. "Jesus. You're supposed to start college this fall?"

"Yes."

"I want you to call me if you get in any kind of trouble."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "I guess I'm your big brother now."

I scowled at him.

He touched the back of my neck lightly with his fingers. It turned into a caress.

"I wish we weren't."

I stood up. "I should go back to the dance floor. I'll be missed."

"Wouldn't want that, would we? You go, I'll wait a bit. Wouldn't want Daddy Dearest to think we were making out in the bathroom."

I was a mess, but it was dark out there. People were milling around more than dancing. I thought it would be over soon. I hoped so.