Then she jerked the carafe toward the counter.
Too hard.
Hot coffee sloshed over the rim.
Straight across my bare thigh.
I screamed.
The pain was immediate.
Sharp.
Scalding.
I stumbled backward and grabbed the edge of the island.
Linda stepped away.
“Oh my God.”
But she didn’t sound sorry.
She sounded theatrical.
“Rachel! Look what you made me do.”
I stared at her.
“You poured that on me.”
“I absolutely did not.”
“You did.”
Evan moved toward us.
For one stupid second, I thought he was coming to help me.
Instead, he grabbed my arm.
“Stop accusing my mother.”
“Evan, she burned me.”
“She didn’t do it on purpose.”
“She looked right at me.”
Linda folded her arms.
“This girl has been disrespectful since I walked in.”
I turned toward Evan.
“Get her out.”
His expression changed.
“What?”
“Get your mother out of my condo.”
“Rachel—”
“Now.”
He stepped closer.
Then his hand hit the side of my face.
Hard.
My head snapped sideways.
I tasted blood immediately.
