Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“You guys, I’m kind of tired. Do you mind if I turn on some music?”
“Of course, dear,” Nance said. “Sorry. I’m sure you’re tired after all the work you’ve been doing for tonight.”
As I turned up the music, I realized it was Adele’s “Someone Like You.”
Because of course it was.
Ah, fuck.
“Well, screw Casey and Steve,” Serena said. “I’m more interested in hearing about what else was happening on that dance floor. You and Prince Owen stole the show.”
My jaw clenched. My grip firmed on the steering wheel.
“Yes, you two were looking incredibly…enamored with each other,” Nance added.
It seemed the only thing they could agree upon was me and Owen.
And it was the very thing that sent me over the edge, had tears filling my eyes, making it difficult for me to see the goddamn road.
Adele sure as fuck wasn’t making matters any better.
“I just… I’m gonna pull over real quick,” I said, putting my signal on and veering to the side of the road. Fortunately, I’d managed to move us safely off the road and turn the emergency lights on before the tears flooded my eyes. It was a continuation of the brief moment I’d had to cry in the restroom, an emotion my body was eager to act out. It reminded me of the way I’d held back the tears that day when my biological father came to visit, when I had to wait until I was finally by myself to release all my pain, hurt…anger.
I leaned forward, sobbing against the steering wheel.
“Keeg?” Nance asked. She hesitated a moment before pressing on. “Is this about you and Owen?”
“Owen and I had a fight,” I confessed, knowing that I was going to have to explain sooner or later, so it might as well be sooner.
Nance rested her hand on my back. “Oh, Keeg. Jace and I assumed the two of you were doing a lot more than was required when you first signed on to help him, but like with coming out, we figured you’d tell us when you were ready. Are you all right?”
I nodded.
“It’s okay to have fights. All couples have them. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Oh, the fighting is the best part! It means you get to make up,” Serena exclaimed from the back.
I took a moment to let my body run through a few spurts of spasms and twitches as I felt emotions run their course through me.
“No, it was bad,” I insisted when I finally felt like I had control of myself once again. “I don’t think he wants to be with me.”
“Okay, Adele isn’t really making anything better right now, so let me turn this off.” Nance turned the radio volume down. “Keegan, this doesn’t sound right at all. We saw you two together tonight. You were inseparable. Owen’s eyes were on you the entire time. He could hardly keep his hands off you.”
“Now, Keeg,” Serena said, removing her seat belt and leaning between the front seats. “You know I’m not one to agree with your mother about…well, much…but I do have to agree with her there. Considering the way you two were acting tonight, I was waiting for a proposal…not this.”
“Well, no proposal,” I assured her. “Because apparently I’m not able to handle being a royal or some bullshit—sorry, Nance. I saw him talking to Lucas at some point. They seemed to be getting along, and I guess they both agreed that it’s too much for me.”
“I can’t believe that’s how he feels,” Nance said.
Hearing those words from her was particularly difficult, and as I turned and saw the sincere expression on her face, it was a struggle for me to reconcile her honesty about this with the secret she’d kept from me for so long.
“You think I could handle it?” I didn’t doubt my own ability, but I wanted to know what she thought. What she really thought. “Tell me the truth, Nance.”
“Of course I think you can handle it. The truth? Why wouldn’t I tell you the truth?”
It seemed she believed what she was saying, but then why hadn’t she ever told me about Mike?
“Maybe because you wanted to protect me from something. Hurt feelings? Or not knowing that some monster just wants some cash and doesn’t really care about me?”
Her gaze shifted to the console as she clearly caught my reference.
Meanwhile, Serena winced as she became even more confused by the conversation.
“Okay, did I miss the part where someone needed cash? This is a fight over money? This makes more sense now.”
“No, it’s not about money,” I said. “Not with Owen.”
“Keegan…” Nance said as tears rushed to her eyes.
“I heard everything,” I admitted.
“Okay, I’m going to assume you two know what you’re talking about,” Serena said as she pulled back, clearly trying to give us our space.
“Serena, in high school, my biological father tracked me down and said he wanted to spend some time with me, that he wanted to be back in my life, and the moment he was alone with Nance, he tried to extort money from her. Claimed he was going to try to fight for custody. I overheard them talking, and…”