For The Love of Easton (For the Love Of #2) - A.M. Hargrove Page 0,55
by Geepa.
“Can I remind you of something?” she asked.
“What?”
“Do you remember when you begged for Boonior and your father refused? Geepa was the one who caved and we took care of that puppy for you until he was trained. We thought we’d do you the same favor. You loved that dog. Can you deny it?”
I crumbled like a cookie. Boonior had been my companion for as long as I could remember and when he’d died, a piece of me had died too. I’d cried for weeks—no, months. Every time I thought of him, I’d sob. Nothing had cheered me up until the cloud of grief lifted. I broke down in tears just thinking about it.
“Ah, sweetheart, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Banana wrapped her warm and cuddly arms around me.
“I don’t want to love that hard again.”
Banana chuckled. “You already do. And don’t you think Easton deserves to have the joy of owning a pet?”
“Not if it’s gonna die on her.”
“But you had Boonior for sixteen long years.”
“It wasn’t long enough.”
“It never is, but he had the best life with you. And dogs aren’t supposed to live forever.”
The more she spoke the harder I wept. Emotion clutched my heart and clogged all my senses. Misery enfolded me in its cruel arms and threatened to crush me in its prison. What the hell was wrong with me?
“English? Come here.” Banana tugged me to the couch and stuffed tissues into my hand. “This isn’t about a dog at all, is it?”
Digging into my head for an answer, I sniffled. “Things are so messed up.”
“Tell me.” Banana was easy to talk to. She never judged.
“Mom and Dad want to sell me off to the highest bidder. He’s already got Easton on his side with Bucker, and Stuart and his dad are freaking me out.”
Geepa was seated across from us and asked, “What’s this about your parents selling you off?”
My normal inner self sparked back to life. I sniffed, wiped my leaky nose and answered, “Can you believe it? They’re treating me like a breed horse. A mare.”
“Who are they selling you to?” Geepa asked.
“Tristian.”
“Uh-huh. I see. And how much is this Tristian paying?”
“Well, I don’t know that part yet. We didn’t get that far before I walked out and came here.”
“Hmm. If I were you, I’d get back over there and discuss the price. Up the ante and throw in a huge diamond too.”
“Geepa! I can’t believe you!”
He chuckled. “Honey, do you honestly believe they’d sell you off?”
“Oh, my God! You don’t believe me, do you?”
Banana’s arm circled my shoulders. “Now, sweetheart, your parents adore you. I can’t imagine them selling you off like that.”
I was standing before either of them could blink. “You two have always had my back and what? Are you abandoning me now in my time of greatest need?”
“Of course not. We only think your parents love you too much to sell you off to some man.”
“You should’ve heard them. If you don’t believe me, just go there and ask them.” I didn’t wait for an answer. I hoofed it back to my parents’ house. The world was against me tonight so I was going to put up a fight… and not with one but with two fists.
I stormed into the front door, ready to take them on, but no one was there. Dammit, wouldn’t you know it. They weren’t in the kitchen either. I finally found everyone outside. Tristian had implanted himself smack dab into the middle of my family. He was playing soccer with Rey and Easton while Mom and Dad watched. He gave the girls pointers as he defended the goal. I was silent as I observed the scene before me. Rey was fairly skilled with the ball, but she was no match for him. It was nice seeing him allow Easton to pop balls past him, but he didn’t let Rey get away with that. He taught her a few tricks and she picked them up easily. I relaxed as I watched. That was until Dad noticed I was there.
“Nice to see you join us.”
My hackles rose at his comment. I sneered at him. “Never thought my dad would sell me off to some man like that.”
“Jesus, English, is that how you see it?”
“Damn right I do.”
“Then you are dead wrong. I see it as spending time with someone who cares for you and your daughter, not to mention having his protection as well.”
“Thank you for that, but I prefer my own conclusions.”