But people like our stepdad don’t care about “worked for.” They care about what they can take without trouble.

Jasper and I aren’t just siblings. We’re best pals.

“You’re my favorite person ever, Sage,” he told me last month, flopped on my bedroom floor after another tough day at his part-time gig.

I rolled my eyes. “What about Felix? Or Rowan? You guys are like best buddies.”

He shook his head. “Nah! They’re cool, but you really understand me. You see through all the fake stuff.”

That’s the deal with Jasper and me. We’ve learned to spot the fake things, especially when it comes to Vance, our stepdad.