by Lynn Stevens
It didn’t take long for me to reach them. Theo grinned lazily, and Logan raised his eyebrows.
“Want another ride?” Theo asked. He glanced over my head. “Erik not giving you what you need.”
I slapped him as hard as I could.
“Damn,” Logan said, stepping back with his hands up.
I raised my hand at him. “You will tell everyone that you were lying. It was some sick joke. You will tell everyone that we did not have sex. Or I will tell the world about your girlfriend. You remember her? The one you’re too afraid to bring around your friends? What was her name?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Logan said, but there was a panic in his voice, and I knew I hit the nail on the head.
“Darla. That’s her name,” I said, letting my hand fall into a tight fist. “How would she feel if she knew you were ashamed of her? Take it all back, Logan. You had no right to do that to me or to Erik.”
Logan’s eyes widened and his cheeks burned. He simply nodded.
“You’re such a bitch, Andrea,” Theo said, still holding his cheek. “You want me to lie and say we didn’t slept together? Because I’m not a liar.”
“Maybe not, but you are a piece of shit. You preyed on me, Theo. And every girl at school is going to know the entire story.” I wanted to hit him again, but a hand gently touched my wrist. I leaned back against Erik.
“Just stop talking about her,” Erik said with an eerie calm. I knew then that he was on the edge.
Theo laughed. “I’m not the one talking about her now. You’ve got Vicky to thank for that.”
“Stop, Theo,” Logan said. “Leave them alone.”
“Queen Hudson isn’t going to let this go,” Theo said, still laughing.
“Let them deal with it,” Logan said as he glanced at me. “They’ve made their bed.”
Theo found that hysterically funny. He almost doubled over, but I reached out and grabbed his nose, twisting it hard between my thumb and my forefinger. It brought Theo to his knees.
“Leave me alone,” I said before letting go.
Theo stared up at me, tears rimming his eyes, but the hate stood out more. Mine was worse than his. He’d ruined me, but I’d ruined myself, too. It didn’t matter that Theo had preyed on me. It mattered that I fell for it. He was partly to blame, but I was the one who had to live with my decision at the end of the day. I’d always be a notch in Theo Tudor’s bedpost.
Erik pulled me back gently, then we turned and walked back to my car. He put his arm around my shoulders, tugging me against his chest. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. I wanted to know why me. He kissed the top of my head.
“You okay?” he asked when we got back to the Jetta.
“Not really. I just ... why do people treat me like that? Why do they walk all over me?” I looked up in his eyes. “Why do I let them?”
“That’s the universal question, isn’t it? Why?” Erik leaned against the driver’s side. “Why do we let people treat us like crap? Why can’t we control our anger? Why doesn’t he love me?”
I put my head on his shoulder. He was talking about his dad. Even though he didn’t say it, I knew. It was definitely something I could relate to.
“I have to go,” Erik said after a few minutes. “Mom doubled my therapy appointments.”
I nodded. “I get to see Dr. Levine tomorrow after golf.”
“It helps.” He kissed the top of my head again. “I don’t want to leave.”
“I don’t want you to leave.” I smiled sadly. This day had gone downhill faster than a roller coaster. “Mom kicked Dad out.”
“You really should’ve led with that today,” Erik said turning to face me. “When did that happen?”
“There’s been a lot we haven’t talked about the last few days. And I was going to tell you at lunch, then...” I shrugged. “The house has been quiet. Mom hasn’t been home so we haven’t talked about it.”
Erik lifted my chin. “Talk to her. You know your shrink would demand it.”
I smiled at that. He was totally right.
“You gonna be okay?” He caressed my chin with his thumb.
“Eventually. I’ll take it out on some golf balls tonight. Rex wants to work on my long game. My drives are straight, but he wants to practice putting them in different spots.” Just the thought of golfing for two hours made the bad of the day disappear. Or at least so much smaller. “He’s really a great teacher.”
“I can’t wait to see you golf again,” he said, kissing me gently. “Once my lockdown is over.”
“Maybe...” I bit my lip. “Maybe your parents will let me come over. We can study.”
“I’ll ask, but don’t bet on it. The Dictator is not likely to do anything I ask.” He kissed me again then stepped back. “Meet me here tomorrow, before school. We can walk in together?”
I nodded. Erik’s smile sent my heartbeat into overdrive. He really was great. For far too long, I’d let other people tell me what to think. That was definitely over.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mom sat at the long dining room table when I got home. It had been in the house since she was a little girl. Mom’s family was big into inheritance and keeping the family history alive. The cherry wood table still shined like it was new, so did the matching china cabinet which held one set of wedding dishes from every marriage in Mom’s line.
My muscles burned from my lesson with Rex, and I was a little irritated. He nitpicked my foot placement until I wanted to place one up his rear end. I was also a little elated that Erik and I were official. It was nice not to hide my feelings anymore. I was so used to keeping everything inside. Letting people know I really like him was amazing.
“Andrea, sit down,” Mom ordered. Her reading glasses perched on her nose. There were stacks of papers in neat piles in front of her. She closed the checkbook and pointed to a chair.
“What’s up?” I asked, letting my bag slide to the floor beside me as I sat down.
“We haven’t talked about what happened.” She took her glasses off and folded them together, but she didn’t put them down. “About your father.”
I swallowed and waited.
“I’m just going to be blunt. I think you deserve that honesty.” She met my gaze and grimaced. “Not just about your father either, but also about me.”
“What about you?” I asked. A tremor attached to my voice. Nothing could be wrong with Mom. That wasn’t happening. She was normally laid back, relaxed. Although she didn’t seem all the relaxed at the moment.
“I’ve been... lying to you.” She sighed, but she didn’t break her gaze. “There’s no other way to put it. For the last few years, I’ve been going back to school during the day while your father was at work and you kids were at school. Remember when I went to the spa a few weeks ago?”
I nodded.
“I lied. I was at a hotel in the city studying for my bar exam.”
“Seriously? Did you pass?” I couldn’t help but smile. That news was way better than I expected.
Mom smiled. “I don’t know yet, but I’m pretty sure I did. I’ve been interning at an old friend’s family law office part time. He’s asked me to come on fulltime as his legal secretary. Once I pass the bar, I’ll be an associate. In a year, he wants to make me a partner. I’m going to take him up on it for a few reasons.”
“That’s kinda cool, Mom,” I said honestly. “But why didn’t you just tell us?”
Mom raised her eyebrows and tilted her head. I knew that look. It was the same one I gave people who already knew the answers.
“Dad.”
“Your father... Andrea, I don’t think he’ll be coming back.” Her face was a stone-cold mask, but she had to be hurting. Twenty-five years didn’t just get thrown out the window for no reason.
“Why?” Did he cheat on her? That would suck, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise.
“He lost his job eight months ago.” Her eyes flashed with anger. “He never said a word
. Every day, he left like he always did. He continued to spend money like he was making it.” Mom reached across the table and put her hand over mine. “Andrea, we’re almost broke.”
“What?” I screeched. That didn’t seem possible. There’s no way we could be broke. Mom had a trust fund. Brendan and I had trust funds. Was all that gone too? What about school? What about college?
“We’ll be okay until I start working fulltime, but it will be a little tight.” She blew out her breath and her shoulders caved in. “We own the house and cars. Thank God or we’d really be in trouble. You grandparents set up school and college funds for you and Brendan when you were born. Xavier is paid for this year. You’ll still have your pick of colleges. Please don’t worry about that. We’re luckier than most people that end up in this situation.”
“How bad is it?” I asked.
“Your grandparents loaned us some money to get through the month, but we’re behind on the bills.” She shook her head and tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, honey, but the check to the tournament bounced. We can’t swing the fee right now.”
My eyes widened. The fee wasn’t that expensive.
“It won’t be like this forever, just long enough to get the bills caught up.” She stared down at the piles. “And I’m going to need your credit card back.”
“Mom, how bad is it really?” I asked, not wanting to know the truth but needing to know the truth.
“Your father hid the fact that he wasn’t working very well. He maxed out the credit cards.” Her face twisted in disgust then morphed into fear. She pressed her lips together and the stone mask returned. “That’s my biggest hurdle. It’s... high. But I don’t want you to worry about it. You needed to know. You had every right to know.”
“What about the club? Dad and I are supposed to play in the father son tournament this weekend.” I moved to the edge of my seat. “There’s prize money if we win. It’s not much, but it could help.”
Mom smiled sadly. “That’s already paid for, but the membership will have to be canceled. I’m going through everything now to figure out where I can save money.”
“What if I get a job? Will that help?” I asked. Maybe Rex would give me more hours at the range. He wasn’t paying me for the short time I worked, but he was giving me free lessons.
“If you want, but I won’t ask you too. I know how tough Xavier is. Your schoolwork is more important.” She put her hands on the table, shifting a stack of papers. “I need a glass of wine.”
I wasn’t sure if I should get up or wait for her to come back. A stack of papers near me fluttered when the air conditioning kicked on. I took the one on top and scanned it. My mouth dropped open. It was one of the credit card bills. Mom wasn’t exaggerating. It was maxed out and the credit line was six digits, higher than most people’s salaries. My economics class last year made it really clear what the average salary was in the U.S. Everyone at my school had trust funds that far exceeded that average.
I grabbed the stack and went through them. All credit card bills, six total, and all maxed out with very high limits. Mom hummed to herself in the kitchen. I glanced around the corner to see where she was. She stood at the counter with her hands on either side of her full wine glass. Her eyes were vacant as she hummed. I put the credit card stack back and took another one of past due utilities. There were two more stacks, but I heard Mom coming and didn’t want to get caught. She’d been open with me. I needed to continue to be open with her.
“Mom, what about Dr. Levine?” I asked. My therapist shouldn’t have been on my mind, but I had an appointment the next day and I really wanted to talk about Erik and now all of this.
“I don’t know, baby.” Mom sat back down. “I need to figure that out.”
“Why would Dad do this?” I asked, anger surging through me. “Why would he lie to you?”
“I don’t know that either,” she whispered. “I wish I did, but I don’t.”
“Dad’s an asshole.” I stood and grabbed my bag. “I’ve got homework.”
“Andrea, don’t hate him. You only get one father.” Mom ran her hands through her hair. “He made a mistake. He’s human.”
“Stop defending him,” I snapped, letting my anger free. “You always defended him. Why? He’s done nothing but treat me like a lesser person because I’m not his son. He treats Brendan’s life as a misadventure that will eventually change. He wants us all to fit in a neat little box and he’s the one sitting on top of it.” I turned and left the room, stopping just outside the door. “We all deserve better.”
When I got to my room, I grabbed my phone. There were no texts from anyone. No phone calls. Nothing. I tried Brendan, but he didn’t answer. I tried him again. He still didn’t bother. I called Erik, even though I knew his phone had bee confiscated. It went to voicemail. I didn’t leave a message.
Vicky. She would understand. I shook my head. She was the last person who would understand. Or even talk to me at this point. Plus, I didn’t want this all over school. Vicky wasn’t a gossip unless she wanted to tear someone down. I was Hudson Enemy Number One now.
I stared at my phone. There wasn’t anybody else.
That hit me harder than being broke or being hated at school.
I was alone.
Chapter Twenty-Two
I parked my car closer to Erik’s usual spot and away from Vicky and Eva. He pulled in a few minutes later, a grin on his face when he saw me. Then it fell. My heart ached, and all I wanted was somebody to hug me. No, all I wanted was for Erik to hug me.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets and standing back.
Did he not want to hold my hand today? It felt weird suddenly. I crossed my arms over my chest and glanced away.
“Andrea?” he asked slowly, irritation coating his words.
“It’s just....” If I said it out loud, it was true. I needed to talk to someone, and it wasn’t going to be Dr. Levine. Mom had left me a note saying she had no choice but to cancel the appointment.
“If you’re breaking up with me, just get it over with,” he said.
My gaze met his cold blue eyes. “What?”
“That’s what’s going on, isn’t it? She got to you, turned you against me again?” He sneered toward the general direction Vicky parked her BMW.
“If you really think my thoughts are controlled by Victoria Hudson, you’re not the guy I thought you were,” I snapped. “The world doesn’t revolve around you and her. There are other people involved.”
His cold expression melted into confusion then dripped into embarrassment. “You’re right. I was ... I was expecting the worst. In my world, you have to or you won’t survive.”
I stepped closer to him and put my hand on his chest. “I get that. I really do.”
He pulled his hands from his pockets, wrapping me into a tight hug.
“Mom said Dad’s not coming back,” I said against his chest. The exhaustion of everything tugged me down into a sea of tears. The sobs wracked my body. It wasn’t even that I wanted Dad around. He was hateful and mean to me all the time. So why did it hurt so bad?
Erik kissed the top of my head. “What happened?”
“He lost his job. Forever ago apparently.” I tilted my head back and looked into his eyes. “We’re broke.”
Erik raised his eyebrows. “Like how broke?”
“Like if school wasn’t already paid for by my grandparents, I’d be in public school today broke.”
“Damn. That sucks. You need money? I have plenty.” His eyes slammed shut, and he sighed. When he opened them, I saw the fears, worry, and caring warring there. “I know that sounds crazy but let me help.”
“Mom said we’ll be okay. It’s just going to take a while.” I leaned back into him. He smelled clean and musky. “It’s been a crazy week.”
Erik laughed softly. “You can say that again.” He rubbed his fingers up and down my spine. “Can I go with you tonight? To your lessons?”
&n
bsp; “I thought you were under house arrest?”
He snapped his fingers. “If only I didn’t have to ‘stay after school’ to make up so much work.” He grinned and pressed a sweet kiss to my forehead. “I told my mom that just so I could spend time with you. She won’t doubt me. And she knows how fanatical I am about my grades.”
“I would love that,” I said. Spending every available minute with him felt right.
“Good.” He leaned down until our lips almost met. “Everything’s going to be okay, Andrea.”
“Promise?” I asked in a breathless whisper.
“No,” he said. “I won’t lie to you. That I will promise.”
I tried to close the gap, but he pulled back.
“Hey, girlfriend, can I kiss you silly before school?”
I smiled. “Yes, boyfriend. Kiss me silly please.”
He walked us between his car and the ivy walled fence. I leaned back against his hood and welcomed his slow, sensual kiss. Erik didn’t rush. He savored each gentle touch of our mouths together. He relished just kissing me. I wanted to rush him, but it was so perfect. The first bell rang, but he didn’t stop.
“Get a room,” somebody that sounded suspiciously like Theo Tudor yelled.
Erik laughed and pulled back just enough he could rest his forehead against mine. “I’d say let’s skip, but that would only get us both in trouble.”
“You definitely don’t need to be in any more than you already are.” I pointed out as we started walking toward the building.
Erik draped his arm over my shoulder, tugging me against him. “Sad but true. You ready for round two of rumor hell?”
“I’d rather them talk about us then about my parents,” I said, the reality of being the lead rumor hit me in the chest. They could say whatever they wanted about me. I really didn’t care. I just didn’t want Erik to have to suffer any more than he already had.
“Then let’s give them something to talk about,” he said, kissing me as we walked side by side into the building.
I could do that all day.