Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
I sighed, glancing down to his stall. “Yeah. When Thatcher allows it.” One of those things I was working on accepting. Thatcher was terrified of me going too fast on Zephyr, especially in a race where I could be in an accident.
“Allows it?” she asked, her eyebrows shooting up and shoulders thrown back. “Don’t you let a man control you.”
I opened my mouth to explain when Sebastian tugged her against his side and kissed the top of her head. “It’s not what you think, Ace,” he told her. “My brother can’t stand the thought of Capri getting hurt. That’s all.”
Royal’s gaze softened some, but not entirely. She wasn’t completely satisfied with that answer.
My phone buzzed again in my jeans, and annoyed, I jerked it out to end the call, sending my mother to voicemail again, when I saw Esther, my former best friend’s, name on the screen. She hadn’t texted or called me in months. Not since I had returned from being abducted by Thatcher and told the media that it had been a misunderstanding. I had gone away with him willingly. My parents had been hurt, and she hadn’t agreed with my decisions or choice in men.
My finger hovered over the screen as it rang a third time before I accepted it and placed the phone to my ear. I gave Sebastian and Royal a brief smile and then walked down toward the East exit, where no one else was. I didn’t know what to expect from her, but I also didn’t want others to hear. Esther had been my best friend all my life, and then she wasn’t. It had hurt, but I had found peace with it.
When forced to choose, I chose who I couldn’t live without- Thatcher.
“Hello,” I said, the hesitancy in my tone obvious.
“Can you not answer your mother’s calls? Seriously, Capri, who are you? What happened to the girl I knew?” the frantic, judgmental tone of her voice would have made me hang up if there hadn’t also been a slight hysteria in it. One I recognized because I knew her well. Almost as well as I knew myself.
“I’m sorry, Esther. But why are you calling me about my choice not to speak to my mother?” I asked, my hand tightening its grip on the phone.
“Because you won’t answer her. Do you not watch the news? Or do you just not care?” The anger in her tone lashed out at me.
“As a matter of fact, no, I don’t watch the news. But you would know that. I was unaware you’d started watching it yourself.” Esther had always said if there was any news worth hearing, she’d read about it on Facebook or see it in her TikTok feed.
“If you weren’t locked away on the Shephard compound then you would have been aware that everything in town is falling apart. And it all revolves around YOUR family.”
Her emphasis on the last part had made it clear she believed I had traded in my parents for Thatcher’s family. I also doubted the town was falling apart. Esther was as dramatic as my mother.
“What has happened?” I asked, crossing one arm over my chest as I stepped into the sunshine.
“Oh, let’s see. Where to begin. I know. Your mom walked into the church offices two days ago and caught your father banging Maelee.”
My arm fell to my side, and I froze. “What?” I asked in disbelief.
Maelee Phillips was three years older than me. She’d taken over as the Children’s director two years ago, which had surprised a lot of people, seeing as they thought Mrs. Dean would be taking the position.
“You heard me.” Esther snapped. “Naked and spread out on your father’s desk in the church. Slut. I always knew she was a slut.”
Okay, wait. I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. My father, who had never even said a curse word in my life, supposedly was having sex with a thirty-year-old woman in his office. I shook my head. My mother was lying.
“Why would Mom say that?” I asked, my anger building at her selfish actions. I tried to think of any possible reason she would say something so awful.
“She didn’t! She said nothing. Your father stood before the congregation the next morning, admitted it to the church body, then resigned and walked out the back door. He and Maelee have left town. No one knows where. Your mother is falling apart. Completely humiliated. Then the news gets a hold of it because Mel Rainy called Maelee a whore in the parking lot of the church, and Maelee’s momma swung her fifty-pound purse full of God knows what and hit Mel across the head. She fell onto the cement and cracked her skull. Chaos broke out, police were called, it was awful!”
I had to lean against the nearest wall. It was true. My dad had admitted this? What? How? I shook my head. So many questions running through my head as my chest… hurt. But for who? My mom?