Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“Good.” The tension in her face diminishes, softening the little lines around her eyes. “I realize you’re having sex and perhaps developing feelings for him, but don’t forget that it was his family who forced you into this situation.”
Disbelief bubbles up in my throat.
Is she serious?
It’s oh-so-tempting to add that they also had a hand in forcing me into this predicament but hold my tongue at the last minute. There’s no point in heaping more guilt onto my parents. It won’t change anything.
From the driveway comes the blast of a horn.
Eager to end this conversation, I place my mug in the sink and beeline for the front door. “I need to go. I don’t want to be late.” Once I get to school, I’ll find Kingsley and figure out what’s going on. Hopefully, my mind is spinning for no reason and this is nothing more than an overreaction on my part.
Mom hoists her smile. “Try to have a good day, sweetie.”
“I will,” I say with a wave, escaping to the entryway where I grab my backpack before heading to the shiny black G-wagon parked in the weathered brick drive.
It seems like with every day that passes, life becomes more complicated. I’m not sure how much more I can withstand.
Chapter Nine
As soon as I open the door, music pours out at an earsplitting decibel. Barely is my ass sliding onto the passenger seat next to Austin when he steps on the gas and rockets out of the drive. I give him a bit of side-eye and grab the oh-shit bar as he swings out of the subdivision and speeds toward school.
His face is set in grim lines.
I turn down the radio instead of trying to yell over it. “What’s the matter?”
“Seriously?” With a scowl, he shoots me a disbelieving look before his attention snaps back to the black ribbon of pavement stretched out in front of him.
I wince and realize that he’s still upset about the earlier discussion in the kitchen.
“I’m sorry, Aus. I found out about their plans the other day.”
“And you didn’t say anything to me?” he snaps. “I’m really fucking tired of all the secrets. Every day it’s some new bullshit.”
Sadly, he’s not wrong. That’s exactly the way it feels.
“You’re right,” I admit, “I should have told you. I’m sorry.”
My apology has the desired effect and his anger recedes as we pull into the long drive of Hawthorne Prep before passing through the elaborate wrought iron gate that wraps around the hundred-acre property.
“It burns my ass that Mom and Dad didn’t bother telling me about this themselves,” he begrudgingly admits. “I’m always the one left in the dark.”
“I know, but it wasn’t meant like that.” Somewhere in the back of my mind, I acknowledge it’s the secrets that will rip our family apart. And I don’t want that to happen.
“It never is,” he mutters, pulling into a parking space and cutting the engine. He swivels toward me. Now that the brunt of his anger has dissipated, he searches my face. “I’m a little surprised your good with this.”
Yeah, that’s the thing...
“I’m not sure that I am,” I admit nervously before glancing away.
Austin knows me better than anyone. All he has to do is read my expression to know what is in my heart.
“You like him, don’t you?” His words are low, laced at the edges with resignation.
I could deny it, but what would be the point? Much like him, I’m tired of the lies.
“Yeah, I do.” It’s almost a relief to release the truth into the world instead of continuing to hide it.
His brow furrows as he digests that bit of news. Maybe he suspected it, but to hear it confirmed is another matter entirely. “If that’s the case, then why the hell are you going along with their plan?”
“That’s not what I’m doing,” I mumble, guilt slicing through me as I shift on the butter-soft leather seat before glancing out the windshield. My gaze scans the thick crowd of students for one in particular. The boys are dressed in navy blazers, white button-downs, and perfectly pressed tan pants while the girls are outfitted similarly with the exception of short navy, green, and gold tartan skirts in place of the khakis.
Nowhere in the sea of teenagers do I find Kingsley’s dark head.
Where is he?
“That doesn’t make sense. If you like the guy and are fine with being a child bride, then you should have been straight up with them.”
I roll my eyes. “I am not a child bride.”
“Whatever,” he snorts. “You know what I mean.”
A pent-up sigh of frustration bursts from my lips. Yeah, I do, and that’s part of the struggle. “I’m not sure how to explain it. I like Kingsley. And the more time I spend with him, the more my feelings grow, but that doesn’t mean I want all of my choices snatched away from me at the ripe old age of eighteen. I don’t want to feel like a prize awarded in some stupid agreement between our parents. I want us together for the right reasons, not because we were trapped by circumstances outside of our control.” When I finally run out of steam, my body sags against the seat as I glance at him. “Does that make sense?”