“Just let Victor take a look,” Mom says.
I peek over at my stepfather who’s outside swimming laps in the pool and swallow. I don’t know why, but the thought of him putting his hands in my mouth makes a shiver run down my spine.
“I’ll just wait for Dr. Rieger,” I say.
“Why? Victor is an orthodontist. It’s what he does.”
“But Dr. Rieger has been my orthodontist for three years. He knows my case.”
“So does Victor,” Mom says with an eye roll. “Plus, you’re far along enough in your treatment plan that you don’t need a specialist.”
I run my tongue along the wire that’s poking out.
“It’s tearing apart your gums,” Mom says, as if reading my mind.
I’ve been trying to make it through by using a lot of dental wax, but it’s simply not enough. Still, the thought of Victor touching me, even in a
