Bella pushed her chair back with a sudden scrape against the floor, her eyes cutting away from me like I wasn’t even there. Without any preamble, she announced in that clipped tone of hers, “I’ll be in Alex’s room,” she said to Irene, but made sure I heard her loud and clear.
I didn’t even bother to look at her. I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of thinking that bothered me one bit. I only heard her footstep as she walked away.
“You know,” I said casually, “it seems your sister doesn’t like me at all.” I glanced at Irene. “And she’s nothing like you. This one...” I tipped my chin toward Bella’s retreating back, “...is more like Alexander. Which I guess makes you the black sheep of the family.”
Irene let out a laugh, a light, amused sound that made me tilt my head. “As apt as t
