"It's great. Thanks."

"Good. No problem." He shoves his phone in his pocket. "Your schedule is in your History book. You've already been registered. So all you have to do is show up for cla.s.s tomorrow." He puts his hands into his pockets and gives me his patient smile. It's totally fake. "Your pills are on your nightstand," he adds.

Warmth envelopes my cheeks. When I glance at Adam, he's staring at me with a worried expression. "And you know you have your appointment next-"

"Yep, got it," I say, dropping my purse on my bed before I take a seat I do not want to talk about this. Dad and I haven't talked about my medication since I was put on it over a year ago. An eerie silence envelopes the room, and I pretend to pick lint off of my new comforter.

A huge black desk sits beside my bed. My laptop, printer, books, and pens sit on top. A bookshelf near the window overflows with books, and my dresser stands opposite of the bed, close to my entertainment center.

Dad claps his hands. "Adam, you keep an eye on her." He points to me like I'm some kind of prized possession. "Keep her away from"-his eyes move toward the kitchen-"people."

Adam laughs. Plopping down beside me on the bed, he runs his fingers through his dark hair. "Dad, Jaden isn't exactly Cade's type. You don't have to worry about him. He's isn't around much, anyway."

Not his type? Not that I give a s.h.i.t, but why? Oh-that's right-because I'm five foot two, and the b.o.o.b fairy ran out of b.o.o.bage when she was giving all the other girls theirs.

"Good," Dad says, straightening his tie. "I've got to jet. If you...need anything let me know, okay?"

I nod. Reluctantly, Dad walks over and presses a kiss to the top of my head. "Bye, Jaden. You can come home whenever you feel like it, okay?"

I nod.

Then he's gone. Just like that.

Once the door closes, Adam lets out a huge sigh and slams his palms down on the bed. "I'm so glad he's gone."

I smile over at him. "Why, because you're scared he'd find out that skunk smell isn't really a skunk?"

Adam's green eyes, that match mine, dart over to me. "Oh, Dad knows. He just didn't say anything because as long as I'm not getting girls pregnant and staying in school, he doesn't care. But how would you know what that smells like, huh?"

I roll my eyes and stand up. "So, I guess you're stuck with me now?"

Adam gets to his feet, stretching his arms above his head. "Guess so. But, hey," he says, grabbing my wrist, "are you okay? I mean ..." he trails off. Because neither one of us knows what to say. Adam knows what happened in school. h.e.l.l, my grandma who lives five hundred miles away knows about what happened at school.

"I'm fine." I s.n.a.t.c.h my dresser drawer open and pull out underwear, a tank top and some yoga pants. "Like Dad said, I'm starting over."

Adam smiles, and a dimple that matches my own indents his jaw. "That's right." He kisses the top of my head. "Hurry and shower. Will is getting back from baseball practice, and I want to introduce you."

"Who's Will?"

"My other roommate."

"Another? What do you mean?" I think I know exactly what he means. That Cade is one of those other said roommates. I just thought he was visiting. I didn't think I'd have to actually live with him.

"Cade and Will are both roommates. Cade moved in a few weeks ago. But don't worry, they won't bother you. They know you're my little sister. I'd beat their a.s.ses."

That's not what I'm worried about. I'm worried I'll embarra.s.s myself living with two college guys. Or the fact that I'm super aware of everything Cade does around me. Or how large his shoulders are. Christ, did Dad not think this out at all? I'm going to be surrounded by guys all the time.

"Oh," I say.

Grabbing my things, I shoot across the hallway toward the bathroom before he can see the worry line in my forehead.

-- END OF UNEDITED SAMPLE --.

end.