The Daughter They Didn’t Want Won The Lottery Chapter 04
Chloe and Liam, walking down the sidewalk together.
He had her Louis Vuitton over his own shoulder.
He was tilting her iced coffee so it wouldn’t sweat on her sundress.
I almost laughed.
Impressive. An hour ago, he’d been acting like he understood me. Now he was carrying Chloe’s bag and holding her drink like the perfect boyfriend.
He really did have a talent for keeping both sisters happy.
Too late to look away. Chloe’s eyes caught mine through the glass. She froze for a second, then broke into a huge smile and pushed through the door.
She slid into the booth across from me, eyes traveling over the tray.
“Em. Weren’t you literally just at my party? You’re getting Chick-fil-A? All of this?”
I said nothing.
Her smile sharpened. “Where’d you get the money?”
Her phone was already in her hand. “You didn’t take it from Mom, did you? I’m calling her.”
“I didn’t. Chloe, don’t.”
But how could I explain? Mom gave me twenty bucks a month. There was no way I could’ve afforded this tray.
Liam came in behind her, stood by the booth, looked at the food, looked at me. His face did something complicated. Not accusation. Something quieter and worse.
He knew, better than anyone, how tight my parents were with me. Which was exactly why this tray looked wrong.
“Em.” His voice was careful. “If you needed money, you could’ve asked. Your parents. Me. Anyone. But taking it isn’t the way.”
Even you. Even him.
Three minutes later Mom came through the door like a hurricane. One sweep of her arm and the whole tray went flying. Her palm cracked across my cheek before I could straighten up.
“You little thief—nineteen years old, stealing—”
My ear rang.
“Mom, I didn’t—”
“Then where’d it come from? You get twenty dollars a month. Where?”
My throat locked.
If she found out about the money, I’d never see the inside of that plane. That money was the ladder out of this pit. I wasn’t letting go.
So I stood there and let her hand come down again. And again.
The restaurant froze. Phones came up. Whispers.
Then Chloe stepped closer, arms folded, mouth curved in the smallest, sweetest smile.
“Em,” she said softly, “if you didn’t take the money… where did it come from?”
A pause. Her eyes widened as if the thought had just occurred to her.
“Oh my God. You’re not, like—seeing someone? An older guy? Because those men give girls money. All the time.”
My head snapped up. Mom and Liam froze at the same instant.
Then Mom lost it.