MAXINE'S POINT OF VIEW
I stared at the math homework spread across my desk, but the numbers just blurred together like nonsense. The only thing I could really think about was tuition. Tuition and money for nails and food and every stupid adult problem that suddenly belonged to us.
“Marcus,” I said, turning toward my brother, who was sitting on his chair, scrolling through his phone like the world wasn’t crashing down. “What are we going to do? Dad said the next tuition payment is due in a week.”
He didn’t even look up. “I know.”
“Then do something,” I snapped. “Call Mom. She’s rich now. She can help.”
He finally looked at me with that tired, hollow look I’d started to hate. “She won’t answer, Max.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she blocked me,” he said flatly. “I tried last week.”
Th
