Shrinking Violet (Colors #2) by Jessica Prince

against the couch, trying to formulate a solution. I didn’t want to dip into the money I’d saved on a down payment for a new apartment, but it wasn’t like I had much of a choice. Problem was, that place had the cheapest rent in town. I was looking at paying at least three-hundred more in rent a month.
    “We need to go to the cops. She can’t just destroy someone’s property and get away with it.”
    Navie’s head shook dejectedly. “We can’t. I don’t have any proof it was her. It would be her word against mine, and her dad’s a deputy. Who do you think they’d believe?”
    My head fell back in defeat. I stared up at the ceiling, willing the answers to our problem to appear out of nowhere. She was right. There was no way they’d believe a kid who bounced around the foster system over a deputy’s daughter. It was fucked-up, but it was the truth.
    She collapsed on my shoulder and cried inconsolably. “It’s okay,” I whispered, lightly rubbing her back. “Shh, it’s okay. We’ll figure something out.”
    “If I hadn’t moved in with you, you wouldn’t have to deal with all of this.”
    “Stop it,” I scolded, squeezing her tighter. “I’m not going to tell you again, you’re my family. I want you with me. I don’t care what happens. I don’t regret moving you in…never will.”
    When she said nothing in return—just continued to cry—anxiety started taking over. I didn’t know what to do or say to take away the guilt she was feeling.
    “Here.” Navie and I both looked up at the same time to find Cassidy standing in front of us, holding a box of Kleenex in her outstretched hand. “I thought you might need these.”
    “Thank you.” Navie smiled politely and pulled a tissue out, wiping at her face.
    Cassidy returned her smile, although it contained something more than politeness. There was an underlying look of remorse dulling her bright blue eyes as she briefly shifted her gaze my way.
    “Do you need anything else? Can I get you a drink or something?”
    “Uh…” Navie looked at me as if to ask permission, and I gave a little nod. “I could use a glass of water, if that’s okay. It’s so hot outside, and it was kind of a long walk.”
    “You walked here?!” I yelled, jumping to my feet. “Are you insane? You should have called me!”
    “It wasn’t that bad, Carson. Calm down.”
    “The hell I will! You just—”
    “Can I talk to you in the kitchen?” I felt a tug on my arm and looked over to find Cassidy pulling on my hand. “Just for a second. Please?”
    I wanted to argue, but she looked so insistent. If I said no, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind she would keep pushing.
    I turned back to Navie and told her, “Gimme just a minute, little bit. I’ll be right back.” I followed Cassidy into the kitchen, watching as she rushed to the cabinet to get a glass, filling it to the top with ice water. She held up a finger in the universal one moment sign and hurried to give Navie her drink before coming back.
    “Oh, my God, Carson,” she started in a hushed voice. Her gaze was pleading, almost begging me to forgive her. It was hard not to, considering how I felt about her, but each insult she’d thrown minutes before had been a direct hit. I was still feeling their sting. “I’m so unbelievable sorry for all those awful things I said to you. I had no right to judge you like that. I didn’t… I thought…” She stopped and clenched her eyes shut as if she were trying to collect her thoughts, pulling a deep breath in through her nose before looking at me again. “When she showed up, she introduced herself and said you lived together. I thought she…”
    “Was my girlfriend?” I asked, a small grin kicking up one side of my mouth. I couldn’t help it; she looked so adorably uncomfortable and ashamed. She gave a miniscule nod and dropped her gaze to the floor beneath her feet. “She’s my sister.”
    Her head shot up, blue eyes wide and her mouth open in surprise.