Never Ever by Sara Saedi Page A

of their discussion, even though Wylie was sure if they forced him to pick a side, she would win.
    The only thing currently working in Wylie’s favor was that the pot of woodmeg tea they found waiting for them after dinner was tapped out. Without any caffeine to keep him awake, Joshua began to yawn between sentences, and his eyelids started to droop. Wylie knew if he let his head hit the pillow and closed his eyes, he’d fall right to sleep. Maybe Joshua would agree to stay purely so she would stop talking and he could give in to his fatigue. That was, after all, how police officers coerced suspects into confessing to crimes they’d never committed—by mentally and emotionally exhausting them. Wylie was prepared to do both.
    â€œI don’t want to stay young forever. I want to get older,” Joshua finally admitted.
    This was the argument Wylie had been dreading all night.
    â€œDon’t you guys?” he continued. “I want to go to college one day. I want to get a job. Abigail and I had plans to get married, have kids, and grow old together. That’s the pointof living, isn’t it? Experiencing everything life has to offer. Not staying in some strange state of arrested development.”
    â€œHe makes a good point,” Micah chimed in. “Honestly, fifteen hasn’t been all that great for me. I don’t know if I want to be a teenager forever.”
    Wylie was nearly fuming now. Micah had been quiet all night, and he decided to break his silence by siding with their brother?
    â€œGrowing up won’t guarantee you happiness, Micah,” Wylie announced. “It sucks, but it’s true. The people who make fun of you now are going to grow up right along with us. But starting over on an island with people who don’t know the Micah Dalton from Harper Academy? That could solve all your problems. You are a wonderful person, and you deserve to be around people who will finally appreciate you.”
    Micah looked down at his hands.
    â€œWhat makes you think they won’t hate me here, too?” he asked.
    â€œBecause they’ve invited you to stay. They want you here. If this island is high school, then the people we were at dinner with tonight are the popular kids, and they already like you. Especially Tinka. She was staring at you all night.”
    The last part wasn’t entirely true, but when Wylie saw Micah’s mouth form a smile, she knew it was a justifiable lie. Joshua wasn’t the only kid in the family who could take a page from the politician’s handbook.
    â€œWhat about prom?” Joshua said, looking right at Wylie.
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œYou’re really okay with missing it?”
    â€œMissing out on one night so I can be seventeen forever? Yes, I’m more than okay with that.”
    â€œWhat about falling in love and getting married someday? Don’t tell me you’ve never dreamed of your wedding day, Dad walking you down the aisle.”
    Wylie rolled her eyes. It was so typical of a guy to assume that all females associated the word “future” with a white gown and a diamond ring.
    â€œI can honestly say I’ve never dreamed about my wedding day. Why would I, with Mom and Dad fighting all the time?”
    â€œWhat about being a chef? You’ve always wanted to have your own restaurant. You can’t do that here.”
    â€œMaybe I can help Lola in the kitchen. I don’t care who I work for as long as I still get to cook.”
    â€œWhat about Mom and Dad?” Joshua asked, rubbing his eyes. “Are you actually prepared to never see them again?”
    â€œYes.” Wylie responded as confidently as she could. Despite the anger she felt toward her parents, the thought of never seeing them again was difficult to fathom. In one swift move, the Daltons would be declaring themselves orphans, and their parents would be as good as dead. Just like Phinn and his inner circle, except