Chapter 89

I try to move her onto something less raw and to the bone, distracting her with something menial. I look her up and down, unsure what to make of that obvious affection. Even for him, she’s a bit young. She doesn’t look old enough to have even left school yet. I never pegged him for that kind, and it makes me feel sick to my stomach that he could be, and I never realised it.

No better than Rick and his tastes in young girls. I find it repulsive to think of him looking at someone like her in that way, and yet I can’t ignore that tiny bite of jealousy, stupidly.

“I’ve known him my whole life. I consider him like an honorary uncle or even like an older brother. He can sometimes be intimidating, but I like him.” No hint of a lie. The kid is smitten in a connected family way—innocent and naïve. She’s deranged but NOT sexually linked. Knowing that she sees him as family makes me feel better and immediately relieved, even if there’s something wrong with her.

I guess family