The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play #1) - B.B. Reid Page 0,138
person Jamie will listen to right now is you. Just let him go. He’ll be alright.”
“He better be.” I may be fucking Jamie over, but he was still my cousin, and Franklin was a slimy bastard. Vaughn simply nodded before leaving to get an ice pack. I sank down onto the floor, closed my eyes, and in a moment of weakness, I pictured Four.
My father, all dressed for work, showed up at Vaughn’s early the next morning. He ordered me inside his car and threatened to put me out on my ass if I disobeyed. Once inside his car, he interrogated me about Jamie’s whereabouts. Apparently, he didn’t go home last night.
“Would you like to tell me what’s going on between you, Jamie, and that girl?”
“Not really.”
“It wasn’t a request.”
“I asked Barbette to marry me, and Jamie got pissed about it.”
“Why would he care about you proposing to your girlfriend?”
I shrugged while staring out the window.
“If you want this to end, don’t stonewall me, son.”
“He’s in love with her.”
I waited for the lecture, but he was silent as he drove up the driveway. “Is she pregnant, son?”
My head whipped toward him. “What? No!”
“I had to ask. I certainly don’t agree with your choice to marry so young. I think you’re making a huge mistake, and while I can’t actually stop you, I’ll do everything in my power to persuade you. Just don’t set any dates before you graduate. Give it some time. Please.” When I didn’t respond, he sighed and drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. “If you truly love her, Jamie will just have to accept that she chose you, but I don’t want you to forget that he’s family. Talk to him, and in time, he will forgive you.” He cut the engine and chuckled. “To be honest, I’m surprised by all of this for a different reason.”
“What reason?”
“I was afraid that it was Four one of you boys were sweet on.”
It was all I could do not to show my father how close to the mark he’d come.
“What made you think that?”
“I had my suspicions when she came home marked up after being out all night with the two of you.” His eyes sharpened as he stared me down. “Know anything about that?”
I shook my head when I couldn’t find my voice.
“Good. I’m not sure I would approve of a scandal like that happening under my roof.”
“Did you tell her mom?” Four may not ever speak to me again, but I’d warn her anyway.
“I considered it, but she’s eighteen and having a hard enough time adjusting. I’m just glad you’re getting along after what happened last year.”
“She turned out to be pretty cool.” And my everything.
“I knew you two would just need to get to know each other.” He ruffled my hair like he often did when I was a kid. When I mean mugged him, he chuckled, and I reluctantly gave into a grin. We haven’t had a lot of moment like these. “Now get upstairs and get your uniform on. You’ve missed enough days.”
My eyes bucked. I didn’t think he knew about that, but I’d obviously underestimated how tight his leash was.
“Don’t look so surprised. I may run a multi-billion dollar company, but you’re my son. My only son. I know you sneak out at night, and I know you skip school. The only reason I haven’t tagged your ass is that I was once your age…but don’t push it.” He nodded his head toward the house—a silent order to get moving, so I did.
Upstairs, I heard Four moving around in her room and Jay D making a ruckus. I wanted to go to her, but what would I say? The way she looked at me last night…there was no coming back from that. I showered and dressed in record time, and when I grabbed my notebook from my nightstand, my gaze fell on the phone. Not giving pride time to catch up, I grabbed the phone and headed to Four’s room. Figuring she’d shut the door in my face when she answered, I barged inside only to be disappointed when I found the room empty.
I somberly trudged across the room and placed the phone on the nightstand.
“What are you doing here?”
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Four standing in her doorway holding Jay D’s leash. She must have been taking the mutt for a walk. When I turned to face her, however, I felt kicked in the gut. Her eyes were red and