Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Our mother always had a problem with Emily. Even as a baby, she was jealous of her own daughter. It was strange, but the woman is fucking psychotic. At least when I was growing up there were times where she showed some kind of love to me. With Emily, it was completely different. I think my father thought a second child would save their marriage, but it only made it worse.
“Get in. I’ll drop you off.” I climb into the SUV, slipping into the passenger seat. I hate not driving, and he knows it. It’s a control thing.
“It’s good to see you,” I say as he pulls out of the private airport.
“It’s strange, right? We text and email so much, but hell, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
I nod. “Wait, you came to Japan.”
“That’s right. The hell.” Chase shakes his head.
“It can all blur together, can't it?” I say in understanding.
“Yeah, it does.” He lets out a long sigh. I think all the travel is starting to get to him. “You know your father asked me to build a new property for him.”
“Property for what?”
“He wants to move out of the Score estate.”
“What?” The house has been in our family for generations.
“Shit, never mind.”
“Chase,” I warn. It’s too late now. I want to know what the hell is going on. The last time I talked to my father, he hadn’t mentioned any of this.
“Said he wants a clean slate.”
“So, his new wife wants her own mansion. Is that what I’m hearing?”
“Ash, don’t be an asshole. I’m sure that place doesn’t have the best memories. I wouldn’t want to fuck my new wife in the same place I’d had my old wife.”
“He doesn’t. He switched wings, and the house has been updated since she left.” It’s bullshit.
“Again, who gives a fuck? Let him build whatever the hell he wants.”
“It’s not about the money.” I glance out the window at the stone wall. The private airport is not far from our family home. We had it built so we had easy access to it. We’re already coming around the back side of the massive estate. The wall wraps around the entire property. There are a handful of smaller homes set across it. Some sit empty while others are taken up by staff.
“You’re right. It’s about your dad being happy for once in his life.”
“And how the fuck do you know how happy he is right now?” Chase ignores my question as we pull up to the front gate. He rolls down his window so the guard can ID us.
“Welcome home, Mr. Score.” He gives me a curt nod, entering the code to let the gates swing open.
If only it felt good to be home. That’s the last thing I feel as we pull up the long driveway, my headache starting to pound. I almost debate telling Chase to turn around and take me back to the airport, but I don’t. Not when I see my father standing outside the front door with a smile pasted on his face.
“Looks fucking happy to me,” Chase mutters.
He does, but we all know what is to come. I don’t think he ever truly loved our mother, but he tried. I’ll give him that. This woman, however, I think he might. She could very well ruin him. I won’t stand for that. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.
3
Molly
“Hey, Molly,” someone calls in a hushed whisper.
I glance up from my computer to see West headed toward me. Stupidly, I look behind me like there might be another Molly around here. I didn’t know West even knew my name, let alone why he’s saying hey to me. He runs in the same circle as Emily. He was on the football team, if I recall. We had one class together last semester. Never once did we say one word to each other.
I’ve seen firsthand how girls fall all over him. A lot of them he doesn’t give the time of day to. He can be a bit of a jerk about it to some of them. I don’t understand the appeal. Sure, he’s good-looking, but what they see beyond that is a mystery to me.
“Yeah?” He comes to stand beside the table I’ve taken over in the library. I always come here for lunch. The cafeteria is intimidating here. I peeked in one time and thought, Nope.
“You’re hard to track down.”
“I am?” Why is he tracking me down? He’s never uttered a word to me and now he’s going out of his way to find me. Something doesn’t add up here.
“Yeah.” He chuckles. “Did Emily tell you about the party this Friday night? My parents are out of town, so this might be our end of the year blow-out.” There are still a few more weeks of school left.