“No.” If this all comes to light, will he see it the way I do? Would he agree that the company and our relationship should be separate?
As much as I want to be with him, it feels important that I have a choice in the matter. I’m aware that my rationale doesn’t necessarily make sense, but it does to me.
“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?”
“Yeah,” his voice softens as understanding fills his eyes, “it does.” He reaches out and wraps his larger hand around mine before giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry about all this bullshit you’re going through. I had assumed you were cool with it.” He jerks his shoulders. “You seemed, I don’t know...happy.”
Air leaks from my lungs. He’s not wrong about that. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been content. But still...
In the back of my brain, the knowledge that we’ve been forced into this relationship eats away at me. And no matter what I do, it refuses to go away.
“I worry about the future. We’re only eighteen years old. For goodness’ sake, we’re still in high school! A lot can change over the next couple of years. I don’t want to be stuck with someone for the rest of my life who doesn’t want me.”
“I didn’t think about it like that.” His hand tightens around mine. “Who knows, maybe it would be for the best if they can find a way out of this stupid contract.” He drags a hand down his face. “Fuck, Summer. I don’t know how to make anything better. All I know is that it’s a mess.”
I sputter out a laugh. Leave it to Austin to sum up the situation perfectly. “You got that right.”
A heavy silence stretches between us before he clears his throat, drawing my attention to him. “Does Kingsley know what’s going on?”
I shake my head.
His lips flatten into a tight line. “If Mom and Dad find a way out of this contract and Kingsley discovers that you knew about it, he’ll go ape shit.”
Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m afraid of. Austin’s confirmation only makes my pulse skitter as a fresh wave of anxiety crashes over me.
“I know,” I whisper, barely able to force out the admittance before worrying my lower lip with my teeth. “Why does everything have to be so complicated?”
A soft puff of air escapes from his lips. “You realize everything has been a massive clusterfuck since Grandma Rose kicked the bucket, right?”
How could I not?
Rather ironically, she had zero involvement in our lives when she was alive. Now that she’s dead, she’s a specter that refuses to be banished. It’s a cosmic joke of epic proportions. Except no one’s laughing.
“Yup, I have.”
“Fucking Grandma Rose,” he mumbles with a shake of his head.
The sentiment has my lips quirking. Sometimes I wonder if her last dying wish had been to turn our lives upside down.
“Guess we better get this show on the road,” Austin says with a quick glance in my direction. “You ready to do this?”
I jerk my head into a nod. It wasn’t so long ago that I dreaded walking through the doors of Hawthorne Prep. Today, that’s not the case. Those first few weeks were a nightmare. There is no way I could have survived the entire year under those stressful conditions. And my brother would have most certainly got his ass expelled.
After we exit the Mercedes, Austin clicks the locks before tossing me the keys. Since he stays after for football practice, I usually drive home by myself. For the last two weeks, he’s been catching a ride with Kingsley. I wouldn’t exactly say they’ve become friends, but we’re neighbors and our families are now locked in an agreement, so I guess it behooves both to make the best of the situation.
“Thanks.” I slip the key chain into my backpack before hoisting the strap over my shoulder.
“Summer,” a female voice calls out, “wait up!”
I swing around only to find Everly jogging through the parking lot to reach us. Her long auburn hair bounces around her shoulders, glinting in the sunlight. Guys turn, watching as she moves seamlessly through the crowd.
“Hi!” I greet as she falls in line with us.
Other than Kingsley, no one has gone out of their way to be welcoming. I have no idea if that has to do with us being Hawthornes or if this is the special treatment all new residents are subjected to. What I do know is that it’s nice to have a girlfriend again. Especially after contending with Sloane and her cohorts.
Austin jerks his chin at the pretty redhead in acknowledgment. “Hey.”
From beneath my lashes, I watch Austin for telltale signs of interest. My brother isn’t a long-haul type of guy. And I’ve lost more than my fair share of girlfriends over the years because of him. Or maybe they were never my friends to begin with. I’m hoping that won’t be the case with Everly.
When I don’t pick up any I’d-like-to-get-in-your-pants vibes from Austin, I glance at Everly and am pleasantly surprised to discover the same amount of disinterest radiating from her.
“Hi,” she says with a smile, promptly dismissing him as we walk up the wide stone steps to the front entrance.
And then we’re pulling open the doors and getting swallowed up by the tide of students making their way to their lockers.
“Did you study for the lit quiz?” she asks.
“Not really.” I shoot her a grimace. “I’ve read the story so many times that I’m pretty sure I can get away with winging it.”
“I’ll catch you at lunch,” Austin cuts in as I stop in front of my locker.
I give him a quick wave as he strides away. Everly’s attention stays glued to him until he disappears down the corridor.
“Your brother is a real hottie,” she says conversationally. I get the feeling it’s more of an observation than a round about way of telling me that she’s interested.
A smile springs to my lips as I grab my books from inside my locker. “My advice is to steer clear. I hate to say it, ’cuz I love him and everything, but the guy is kind of a manwhore. And even though we just met, I like you way too much to see you get chewed up and spit out.”
I hold my breath, waiting to see how that comment will play out. From experience, it’ll go one of two ways. If she gets huffy, then I know Everly was never interested in developing a friendship with me. If she—
When a burst of laughter escapes from her upturned lips, the tension filling me evaporates.
“Oh, trust me, I’m not interested. I’m more than happy to admit that he’s pretty to look at, but the guy has dangerous stamped all over him. Which is exactly the type I avoid at all costs.” She cracks a grin. “But I appreciate the warning. I’m sure it’s not the first time you’ve had to issue it.”
“It’s not.” I can’t help but return the easygoing smile. “A lot of girls look at him as a challenge.”
“Been there, done that. And have the T-shirt to prove it.”
“Ohhh,” I chuckle, eyes widening, “I sense a story.”
“Here, I’ll give you the SparkNotes version, it doesn’t have a happy ending. Anyway,” she says before quickly changing the subject, “I ordered a copy of Wuthering Heights last night, so I’ll be able to return yours in a couple of days. Thanks again for letting me borrow it.”
“It wasn’t a problem.” I slam the metal door shut.
Everly keeps up a light chatter as we walk through the corridor to her locker. I’m only half-listening as I search the area for Kingsley. I don’t remember seeing his red Mustang parked in the lot when we arrived. I pull my phone from my blazer pocket and glance at it for the umpteenth time.
There’s still nothing. It’s been almost an hour and a half since I fired off the first text and he still hasn’t responded. Even though I can’t imagine what could be wrong, it feels like something is off.
The two-minute warning bell rings as Everly shoves her messenger bag into her locker and grabs her books for first hour before we hightail it to class. As soon as I step over the threshold, my gaze flies around the room, but he’s conspicuously absent. My brows draw together in concern as I slide into my assigned seat and Everly settles on the one across from me. There’s less than a minute before the bell rings and Kingsley continues to be MIA. I slip my phone from my pocket and send one last text before Ms. Pettijohn passes out the quiz.
Now I am worried.
What if something happened to him?
Like an accident.
Should I reach out to his dad? I don’t even have Keaton’s number.
I’m at a loss as to what to do.
As the bell rings throughout the building, signaling the start of class, Kingsley strolls into the room and takes his seat. Relief rushes through me as I sag on the chair. Why did I allow myself to get so jacked up? Clearly, everything is fine. He probably overslept and was running late.
“All right, everyone,” Ms. Pettijohn begins, “it’s quiz time!”
Groans ripple throughout the room.
Now that Kingsley is here, I wait for him to turn around and flash me a familiar grin or wink. Any gesture that will prove that we’re good and my downward spiral was nothing more than a strange case of self-induced paranoia. One minute slowly ticks by and Kingsley’s attention stays focused at the front of the room as our teacher finishes passing out the one-page quiz. When sixty more seconds creep by and he doesn’t acknowledge my presence, I realize it’s not a bout of paranoia after all.
Something is definitely wrong.
But what?
Chapter Ten
Confusion swirls through me as I mentally pour over the events of the last twenty-four hours with a fine-tooth comb.
I don’t get it.
Why is Kingsley ignoring me?
Last night, we had sex and I fell asleep with his arms banded around me. What could have changed between now and then?
Nausea rises in my throat until I can practically taste it in my mouth. This is so reminiscent of the first day of school that my body breaks out into a cold, clammy sweat. I fold my arms around my middle, trying to calm the nerves that prickle beneath the surface of my skin. Whatever is going on between us has to be a misunderstanding. There’s no other explanation for it. As soon as we can talk, I’ll clear it up and everything will be fine.
When the quiz lands on my desk, I stare at it blankly. My brain refuses to compute the words on the paper. By the time Ms. Pettijohn collects them ten minutes later, I have no idea what questions were asked, and I certainly don’t remember what I scribbled down in response. My guess is that I bombed it in spectacular fashion. I’ve never failed anything in my life, let alone a quiz on a book I’ve read so many times that I could recite it in my sleep.
The bell rings and I jump from my seat, beelining for Kingsley. As I step in his direction, Ms. Pettijohn summons me to the front of the room. The dark-haired boy doesn’t even
glance at me as he slips into the hallway with Duke.
His cold dismissal has my heart crashing to the bottom of my toes.
It’s like I don’t exist.
For a moment, I hesitate, staring at the doorway. I’m tempted to ignore her and go after him. Except...I already know that it won’t be worth the trouble I’ll find myself in. My feet drag as I head to the front of the room where Ms. Pettijohn waits with her arms folded across her chest.
“Can I assume there was a problem today with your attention span, Ms. Hawthorne?”
I dip my head. “Sorry, ma’am.”
She arches a severely penciled in brow. “Let’s not make a habit of woolgathering in my class.”
“I won’t.”
“Very well then.” By way of dismissal, she shoos me away with a flick of her fingers.
I don’t need to be told twice. Her hand hasn’t even fallen to her side and I’m shooting out the door and swinging into the hallway. Even though I search the immediate vicinity, I don’t see Kingsley anywhere.
Not that I thought he would wait...
Okay, so maybe I did.
Everything in me deflates as I expel a breath and head to my locker before gathering my books for second and third hour. The rest of the morning passes by is if in slow motion. I feel the tick of every second. Every millisecond. It’s excruciating. I sit in class, foot tapping, staring at the clock, waiting for the fifty-minute period to draw to a close. And then I spend the next five minutes scouring the halls for Kingsley. Normally, I see him in between classes, but so far this morning, he remains elusive, almost as if he’s deliberately avoiding me.
By the end of fourth hour, I’m a complete mess. The thought of trying to choke down my lunch makes me want to hurl. Out of habit, I grab the bag from my locker before meeting up with Everly. Not wanting her to suspect there’s anything wrong, I plaster a smile across my face. This isn’t a situation I can delve into with my new friend.
Queen of Hawthorne Prep Page 7