Chapter 141

Caelin

Inside the sounds of the party spill out, to where I’m sitting on the back porch, finishing up the last of this particular pack of cigarettes. I always tell myself this one will be it.

The final one.

But within a few days I’m right back to the familiar hard pack. It’s my go-to for everything. When I’m stressed, when I’m bored, and when I’m doing my absolute best to keep my hands off Justice Walker, I smoke.

The party going on in there isn’t about to stop anytime soon. The Walker twins are popular at school, and the fact they’re turning eighteen on a Friday night into Saturday isn’t lost on anyone.

My phone vibrates and I take a minute to look at the pictures my sister sends me of my niece. Just what we needed, another girl around here. But she’s got me wrapped around her little finger. All of a sudden, I hear voices start yelling.

“Ten!”

The countdown has started, it appears.

“Nine!”