Rocky Mountain Rebel by Vivian Arend

to starve, I’ve made other plans.”
    Okay, Vicki wasn’t proud of that loss of temper, but damn it. “You weren’t cooking. You were opening cans and heating them in the microwave. Which, fine, if that’s what you want to eat, but when you fed the lasagna I brought to the damn dog, I got pissed.”
    “Whatever. Make your own plans because we’re all busy. You can stay in this hole and cook whatever fancy crap you want.”
    It wasn’t late enough in the day to start drinking, but hell if the thought of a couple of shots to numb her right then and there didn’t seem attractive. “Okay, Sarah. I haven’t borrowed anything from you for years. There’s nothing here you need.”
    Sarah slowly gazed around the room, taking in the tiny space, the uncluttered bookshelf and counter.
    Uncluttered, because Vicki didn’t own a hell of a lot of stuff. And that was fine. It was going to make it much easier when she finally did get to take off and get free. Nothing to weigh her down. Nothing to hold her back.
    “You know, there’s room for you at the house.” Sarah sniffed lightly. “I still don’t see why you rushed to move out in the first place. Now that my old roommate is gone, it would be nice to have some company.”
    Yeah, right. Like Sarah really wanted the company. She wanted someone to help pay the rent. Her sister also knew why Vicki had moved out. Listening to Sarah having loud sex with random guys was not something Vicki ever wanted to experience again, along with other issues. “I’m good here.”
    Sarah rose and headed toward the door, pausing at the picture of their middle sister. “Lynn call you lately?”
    Lynn didn’t keep in touch very often, but when she did, it was with Vicki. “She’s doing well.”
    Sarah snorted. “I bet. Mom’s still pissed at you for contacting social services.”
    “Well, she can stay pissed. It’s been four fucking years already. Lynn is happy, and that’s what counts.” Happy and safe. Vicki suddenly felt way older than twenty. “You know Lynn needed to be in the special education program earlier, and Mom didn’t follow through. The group home is exactly the kind of—”
    Her sister cut her off. “Whatever. If Lynn’s happy, that’s great. Just don’t expect Mom to ever welcome you with open arms, not after you pulled that fast one. Got the authorities on her ass and all.”
    Another conversation that didn’t need to continue, because it was going nowhere but old paths. “You planning on hanging around for a while?”
    Sarah rolled her eyes. “Nah. I guess not. If you ever decide to get that stick out of your ass and have a good time, call me. Otherwise, I’ll see you round.”
    No wave. No hug. Nothing but back as Sarah left without another word.
    First things first. Vicki was getting the damn locks changed on this place. She didn’t think she’d ever given Sarah a key, but obviously, she’d gotten one from somewhere.
    Her plans for the following weekend were now easier. No need to go through the motions of being an all-loving family. Mom would be out, Sarah would be partying. Lynn would be celebrating with the caring people in her life, thank God.
    Vicki would be the one sitting at home and staring at the walls. Or not. Maybe she’d go for a long ride into the mountains. Pack a picnic lunch and stare at the wilderness for a while.
    Tomorrow she’d make arrangements for the locks to get changed. Sometime this week Joel and her would get together for another lesson. A bright shiny spot to look forward to.
    It was like wiping away the grime after a long time of not cleaning. It wasn’t going to be easy, making changes. Getting the hell out from where she was trapped. But with the memory of Joel Coleman kissing her senseless, the feel of his tongue over her lips—
    Okay, life was looking up. She would cling to that truth for all she was worth.
    Of course, when she decided to go grab a few extra bucks to put in her purse, and the cash she kept