The Punk and the Plaything (When Rivals Play #3) - B.B. Reid Page 0,33
you doing here with your mom?” I clarified. “Does this mean you’ve forgiven her?” I tried to fight back the hope swelling in my chest, but it was impossible. I remembered how devastated Ever was when his mother left and how he blamed himself. She was back now, and even though I didn’t know the hows or whys, I was hoping they could reconcile.
Blowing out air, he looked away before responding. “My dad said he’d consider letting me move back in for the summer if I spent time with her today, okay?”
I glared at the asshat I called my best friend. The only thing keeping me from punching him in the nose was the fact that he at least appeared contrite.
“You’re both idiots,” I spat.
Pushing his hair back from his forehead, he sighed. “I know.”
“You’ll have to talk to her eventually, you know.”
“Debatable.”
“She loves you, Ever.”
He finally looked at me, and the sadness in his eyes made me want to wrap him in a warm blanket. “Then why did she leave?”
I didn’t have an answer for him, so I said nothing. Sometimes it was best to let people feel whatever the hell they wanted until they were ready to listen to reason.
“What do you two think of having a September wedding?” my mother questioned.
Ever and I both offered distracted shrugs, earning our parents’ displeased frowns. The only one who seemed truly disturbed by our lack of excitement was Evelyn. My parents didn’t give a shit about my happiness.
“Is everything okay?” Mrs. McNamara inquired. She placed her palm over my mine, and her warmth spread through me. My own mother was busy clutching the pearls she refused to let my father sell.
“Kids,” my father said with a chuckle. “They’re probably more eager to plan their summer than their wedding.”
“We were hoping we could just elope and get it over with,” Ever said with a smirk.
The table suddenly rattling distracted our parents from the pain that twisted Ever’s features when I brought my heel down on his shin.
“Get it over with?” his mother echoed slowly. Her concern and confusion couldn’t be masked, and who could blame her? She’d blown back into town to find her husband had started a new family, and her son was engaged at eighteen. Her world wasn’t simply turned upside down. It was mangled to hell.
“Oh, dear,” my mother teased with a wavering smile. “I think he’s just eager for the honeymoon.” It sounded more like a question.
Ever was still grimacing as he nodded. “Yeah, that’s it.” He then shot an evil look my way as I primly took a sip of my water.
“I think I’ll have that massage,” I announced as I stood from the table without asking my father’s permission to leave. I didn’t miss his frown, but for once, I didn’t care. Let him make a scene. I dared him.
I floated from the room, feeling their eyes on me. It wasn’t until I was alone in the antechamber leading to the rest of the club that I shed my armor. As if I really had emerged from a long and bloody battle, I placed my hands on my knees and took huge gulping breaths. I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d last. My birthday was only six weeks away. I could run now, but as long as I was still a ward of my father, I didn’t have a legal leg to stand on. And then there was my other issue. When the cops refused to step in, my father would no doubt send others after me—men who weren’t bound by the law. I’d need every advantage I could get. Taking a deep breath, I straightened. I could do this. I had no choice because the only alternative was to become some rich asshole’s collector’s item. A pretty figurine.
Feeling as if someone was watching me, my head whipped toward the balcony doors I hadn’t noticed were open. There Jamie stood, leaning against the balcony railing with his ankles crossed and a lit cigarette resting between his fingers. Despite the chill running down my spine, I felt like a ball of flame had engulfed me. I didn’t allow myself to consider why as I turned away.
“I’m not going to chase you,” he called out when I started for the door without speaking a word. I had every intention of pretending I hadn’t noticed him, even though our gazes had connected and held for what seemed like an eternity.