“Amy! I know you’ve always disliked me.
You’ve always left me out. But you can’t just
say things like that!”
く
“I was wrong to sleep with Mike, but we’re in
love! You can’t force us apart!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you hated me this
much. I’m going to talk to your mom and dad.
I’ll tell them I’m moving out.”
Sarah wiped her eyes and went to walk
upstairs.
“Don’t bother. Just leave. They’re on vacation.
I’m in charge of the Harrison family now,” I
reminded her.
Sarah stared at me, her eyes filled with
hatred.
Mike couldn’t take it anymore. He put his arm
around Sarah.
“Amy, you’re too much! Sarah has always
been so nice to you! You’re crossing the line!”
He was furious. I realized that Mike was kind
of ugly. I remembered Jason’s face.
“Don’t be nice anymore. If you have any pride,
just move out. I’m going to have the
housekeeper watch you pack. Anything you
leave behind will be thrown away!”
I’d given them an ultimatum.
I’d played the part of the villain, and it felt
great.
I told Jason about it.
He said, “Good for you. They deserved it.”
Since our first meeting, the ice had been.
broken. Jason wasn’t acting distant.
I asked him to teach me about business.
I’d been too busy chasing Mike. I hadn’t
learned a thing. I wanted to grow and help my
dad.
Jason was patient and generous. He
answered my questions and peeled pistachios
for me.
I ate them, and the taste of nuts made me
want to cry.
I’d been dieting for years, because Mike liked skinny girls. I’d never allowed myself to eat.
Jason was different. He fed me, like he was
trying to make up for all the years I’d starved
myself.
I asked him, “What if I get fat? Won’t that be
embarrassing?”
Jason smiled. “Then I’ll get fat too, and we’ll
both be embarrassed.”
He thought about something, and his smile
faded.
“I never saw you eat anything at school.”
I’d been dieting since middle school, just so I
could be pretty for Mike. No one had ever
cared.
I wouldn’t do that anymore. I was going to eat
I wouldn’t do that anymore. I was going to eat
and live.
The sun was shining. Jason was kind. My
parents were sending me vacation photos.
For the first time since I’d been reborn, I was
happy.
That didn’t last until I got home, though.
The housekeeper had taken photos of Mike
and Sarah’s room. All their stuff was gone.
I thought those two were finally out of my life,
and I was going to see what I could do with
their old room.
But when I opened the door, Mike jumped out
at me.
“What are you still doing here?!” I demanded.
“Why didn’t you say yes when you saved me?
That’s what you’ve always wanted, right?”
Mike sounded low and angry.
It was too much like the day I was burned.
“It’s what you wanted, isn’t it? So you could
be with Sarah!”
I backed up, close to the door.
“It doesn’t make sense. You’ve been
obsessed with me since we were kids. How
could you throw away such a good chance to
take advantage of me?”
Mike came closer, looking bitter and
<
resentful.
“Did Jason say something to you? Did you
two hook up a long time ago? You’re just a
fickle woman!”
Hearing Jason’s name made me feel safe. I
laughed.
“So? You’re upset that I’m not chasing after
you anymore?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. You’re nothing to me,
Mike.”
He’d called me fickle. He was the greedy one,
sleeping with Sarah while scheming to get my
family’s money.
He should have refused my help. But he was
afraid he couldn’t get back on top without
- me.
Mike was furious, punching the wall next to
- me.
“Amy, you’re only doing this because I’m.
down on my luck. If Jason goes broke, you’ll
be begging for me back!”
“You better worry about where you’re going
to sleep tonight. Get out of my house!”
I’d already sent a message to the
housekeeper.
Mike was dragged out, glaring at me.
I changed the locks and the fingerprints. I
wanted to put up a sign that said “No Mikes
or Sarahs Allowed.”
Without Mike and Sarah, life was quiet.
I told my parents what had happened. They
didn’t understand why my feelings about Mike
had changed, but they supported me.
I started spending time at the office, learning
about the business.
I used to only care about Mike. Now I was
focused on helping my dad.
I had mentors at work, and I also had Jason
to coach me. I was learning quickly, even
though I didn’t have the experience to handle
big deals yet.
Without obsessing over one person, I got so
I almost thought the past was a dream. The
pain of death began to fade.
I told the housekeeper to keep an eye on
Mike.
He and Sarah had left our house, but his
enemies were on the prowl.
He couldn’t do anything openly.
I remembered what he’d said before I died.
He said that anything I could give him, Sarah
could give him too.
It was ridiculous.
Without me, without my family, Mike was
nothing!
<
They were supposed to be broke, but they’d
moved into a nice apartment.
Who was helping them?
