15 Tyler I covered my head with my pillow and tried to drown out the sound of my brother pounding into the girl of my dreams in the room next to mine. Eventually, I put on my headphones in an effort to escape their elated cries and ecstatic moans, but what I imagined happening next door was almost worse than actually hearing it––almost. It was obvious that Tristan was making his claim on Lexi known in the most primal way imaginable. He wanted me to know that she was his, and the realization that it was true made my blood boil with fury. Even though I turned up my music, the thumping of his headboard against the wall was like a constant bass beat in my mind. I balled my hands into fists so tight my short fingernails dug into my palms as I dreamed of pummeling Tristan into oblivion. The

