Page 175 of Trailer Trash

“Hey,” I say, stunned by his comment.

“What, Killian?” River snarls. “Do you think you’re better than us because your twin blew off his head?”

A glass flies across the table and breaks against my plate. Wine splatters across my face and shirt.

“You fucked my fiancée!” River says.

I freeze.

He knows.

River stalks around the table towards me, fists tight and ready to fight.

“Stop it!” screams Mom, who pulls on his shirt, trying but failing to hold him back.

I’m on my feet, palms raised as I back away.

“Listen, I didn’t know Nina was your girl at the time,” I explain.

“Horse shit! Guess what? She left me this morning. She told me everything as she walked out the door. I had to hear it from her — not my own brother.”

I stumble but stay upright. “She was at the same party. I swear I didn’t know her name. It meant nothing.”

“Nina wouldn’t be in the same slums you hang out. You obviously brought her there.” He takes a swing.

I duck, barely missing his fist.

“Will you forgive me?” I say.

The question slips out before I can stop it. Suddenly, I’m back in the room with Asher — to the moment he said, ‘Sorry’ before shooting himself.

He didn’t finish the sentence. Asher should’ve said ‘Sorry, will you forgive me?’

A fist slams against my head as I’m brought back to reality.

“I don’t want to fight you,” I say.

“Too fucking bad. She left me because the money dried up. Mom and Dad give it all to you, the goddamn baby of the family.”

Another swing.

Tha-rack!

A fist hits flesh and bone, right against my father who darted between us at the last second.

“Fuck!” says River.

Dad bends forward, cradling his face. “Damn it, River! See what you did? You’re tearing our family apart.”

I glance at Harlow.

She’s gone.

My heart sinks. I rush around the table, checking in every direction. Mom shouts my name. I run out of the restaurant, calling out her name.

There, sitting on the curb, Harlow cries.

Cautiously, I sit beside her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and bringing her close.