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what’s she like?” he asked.
    I sighed. “Rose is…” I started, not because she didn’t want to be called Grandma, but because I refused to acknowledge that she was family. “…classy, elegant, and eccentric. Everything I’m not.” Or would ever be.
    “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Pipes.” His voice was disapproving.
    “Everything is different here.”
    “Good or bad?”
    “I can’t decide,” I admitted, drawing lazy circles on the bedding, “Sure, it looks like paradise, and I’m living in a palace bigger than the White House, but it’s too much. None of it feels real. I keep thinking that any minute I am going to wake up in my room.”
    “You might get used to all that luxury and not come back,” he said.
    “Never,” I vowed, but my mind immediately went to Zane.
    “Thank God,” he exhaled in relief. “Because I’d come get your ass and drag you home.”
    I smiled into the phone. “It’s so good to hear your voice, Park. I really miss you.”
    “Maybe I could visit,” he fished, hoping for an invitation.
    For some reason the idea of Parker in Raven Hallow didn’t thrill me as much as it should. I hesitated. “Maybe.”
    “Or not,” he added, sensing my lack of enthusiasm.
    It had not been my intention to hurt his feelings, because I did really want to see him. The crappy part was, I couldn’t rationalize why I didn’t think it was a good idea. Something about this place, this island… “Whatever. Don’t be like that. You’d hate it here,” I said, trying to lighten the suddenly serious mood.
    There was a bit of a pause. “Not if it’s where you are.”
    I swallowed. There it was, the inkling that Parker liked me more than just a friend. He had been patient with me, not pushing, but lately he had been dropping not-so-subtle hints. I was still not ready to take that huge step. Parker was important to me—he was family. If we crossed that line and it went sour, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I lost him. Selfish, but I needed Parker in my life, and I was taking the safe path for now—friends.
    “It’s just three months,” I reasoned. “Ninety days. I should be able to survive without ending up in juvie or on Google’s homepage.”
    “Not funny,” he moped.
    “Tough crowd tonight,” I mumbled. “I should go. It’s getting late. Text me later?”
    “Ditto.” His voice was laced with concern.
    Click . There went home.
    I had expected the ache in my chest to lessen after talking to Parker. Sadly, that was not the case.
    ~*~*~
    I’ll admit. Life was better in flip-flops. And with a maid. And a chef.
    But that’s where better ended.
    Rose spent every second she could criticizing my wardrobe, clucking her tongue at my hairstyle, and picking apart my mannerisms. Or more appropriately, lack of. She wanted to mold me into a miniature, younger version of herself. Christ. No wonder my mom had skedaddled the first chance she had gotten. Rose was smothering. It could be she was trying to make up for the last seventeen years, but if I had to hear her say one more time, “Piper Brennan, that’s not how a lady acts,” I was going to clobber her. Old woman or not, I could only bite my tongue for so long. And this was most definitely the longest I’d gone without lashing back.
    I was having sarcasm withdrawals.
    The use of my full name brought painful memories of my mom. They shared the same eerie tone and disapproving glare. The only consolation…she adored TJ, and he seemed genuinely happier here than he had in months. At least a change in scenery had done one of us some good. I, on the other hand, suffered, missing her more that we were so far away from the only place I’d ever lived. There was not a single piece of Mom inside this museum.
    The longer I stayed locked behind the walls of my room, the more I seemed to gasp for air. Too much space. Unfamiliar surroundings. Too much time alone with my thoughts. I needed to get out of here. Pronto.
    Throwing