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CONTENTS Note to Reader Playlist Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Epilogue Also by Hailey Dickert Acknowledgments Dick-tionary Trigger Warnings About the Author This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Copyright © 2023 by Hailey Rose Dickert All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. First released June 2023. ISBN: 978-1-960497-03-1 Developmental Editing: Alli Morgan and Anonymous Copy Editing: Anonymous Proofreading: Alli Morgan Discreet Cover: Books N Moods Non-Discreet Cover: Maldo Designs Interior Images: Ophelia Designs with Commercial Licensing Permission Published by Hailey Dickert www.haileydickert.com Created with Vellum Return Policy is a spinoff of Dickert’s first novel, The Sister Between Us. Although it can be read as a standalone, there will be a greater emotional impact if The Sister Between Us is read first, as the main plot twist is frequently discussed in this novel. There are multiple sexually explicit scenes in this novel, for those of you who’d like to find (or avoid) the smut quickly, please see the ‘Dick-tionary’ at the end of the book. This book contains serious topics that could be difficult for some readers. For a complete list, please see the ‘Trigger Warnings’ page at the end of the book. Should you be having a mental health crisis, please reach out to 9-8-8, The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Your mental health is important. Your life is important. Should you need to speak to someone regarding sexual assault, please reach out to 800-656-HOPE (4673), The National Sexual Assault Hotline. Your voice matters. To anyone who’s ever felt silenced, make your voice the loudest. “Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Sunflower, Vol. 6 — Harry Styles Somebody’s Problem – Morgan Wallen Mastermind — Taylor Swift Fictional — Khloe Rose Girl in a Coffee Shop — Zach Seabaugh Feels So Easy — Her With or Without You – Chris James Good as Hell – Lizzo Pony — Ginuwine boyfriend — Ariana Grande, Social House Super Freaky Girl — Nicki Minaj Sunflower — Post Malone, Swae Lee I Like You (A Happier Song) — Post Malone, Doja Cat Despacito (Remix) — Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber Kiwi — Harry Styles Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa — FINNEAS Can I Kiss You? — Dahl 1000 reasons – Caleb Hearn a little more time — ROLE MODEL Gettin’ You Home — Chris Young Want You In It — James Barker Band That’s Why — Troy Cartwright The Way I Love You — yaeow, Neptune112 She Is Love — Parachute If Heaven Had a Landline — Brian Congdon I Drive Your Truck — Lee Brice The Good Ones — Gabby Barrett Hate to be lame - Lizzy McAlpine, FINNEAS Wonderland — Taylor Swift AVO TOAST – Clinton Kane Work of Art – Benson Boone wonder if she loves me — JVKE I Saw Love – Forest Blakk Fall Into Me – Forest Blakk Pointless - Lewis Capaldi Pray For You — Grace Kinstler xanny — Billie Eilish Lighthouse (Acoustic Version) — Hearts & Colors Paper Rings — Taylor Swift PROLOGUE SOPHIA Nine Years Old “I’m sorry, Sophie Bear. I know you were looking forward to sitting outside,” Dad says as I glare at the rain pouring down in sheets. “You can’t control the weather, Papa Bear.” I stab the plastic spoon into my ice cream. “It’s fine.” It is not fine. “Well, anyways,” Sage, my best friend, mumbles with a mouth full of rocky road, “tell your dad about that epic drawing you did of the soccer player for Friday’s fall showcase!” “Oh, is that this week?” Dad asks. Mom would have remembered. “Yup,” I tell my bowl, mind wandering to my favorite picture of a little clay teapot. A few months ago, Chloe, my sister, and her best friend, Leah, were making one in our garage while laughing and singing. Hopefully one day I'll be able to draw their smiling faces too, but for now, that’s what I can do. The sketch reminds me of home—the feeling, not the place. My twin siblings are nine years older than me, but they never fail to make me feel included and loved. Especially my older brother, Jake. He thinks we don’t notice all the small stuff he does since Mom’s been gone, but I do. I notice every single thing down to the burnt pancakes. They taste better that way anyway. “I can’t wait.” Dad beams, eating a big bite of his chocolate sundae. A loud ring blares throughout the small shop. He sticks his spoon in the bowl before pulling his phone from his pocket and sliding out of the booth. “How’s the mint chocolate chip, Joey?” Sage asks, using the nickname she gave me because of my obsession with koalas. You make one horrible Australian zookeeper impersonation and never live it down. “Everything I dreamed and