CHAPTER TWO
THE PAST
My parents and I were watching a movie we’d seen a thousand times before. Cable was a luxury we couldn’t afford, so replaying old DVDs was our nightly entertainment. A knock on our door made us all stand at attention and look to each other for answers.
“I’ll get it,” I announced and walked to the door. “Who is it?”
“Wyatt Weston,” the male voice called back.
I froze in place, certain my ears had deceived me. There was no way Wyatt Weston had knocked on my door after nine o’clock at night.
“Megan, open the door,” my father pressed.
While gripping the knob tightly, I twisted it and pulled the door toward me. Standing there in his jeans that hugged his muscular legs and a T-shirt with our school name sprawled across his defined chest was the Wyatt Weston.He must be lost, I thought.
“What do you want?”
“Megan!” My mother appeared behind me. “Where are your manners? Hello, Wyatt. I’m Norma, Megan’s mother. Would you like to come in?”
“Umm…sure.” Wyatt glanced nervously at me, unsure if he should accept my mother’s invitation. I extended my arm and gestured for him to come in. Funny, he didn’t seem quite as sure of himself while standing in our run-down home. “Thank you, Mrs. King.”
“Of course. How can we help you?”
“Uh. I, uh. I actually stopped by to talk to Megan. I’m sorry I didn’t call before just showing up unannounced, but I don’t have Megan’s cell phone number.”
“Oh, well, that would be because I don’t have a cell phone to have a cell phone number.”
“Megan, why don’t you and Wyatt sit on the front porch swing and talk? You’ll have more privacy out there.” My mother furrowed her brows and slightly inclined her head toward the door, ordering me to walk outside with our guest.
“Okay, Mom. Come on, Wyatt. I’ll show you to the swing.”
“Good night, Mr. and Mrs. King. It was very nice to meet you.”
I closed the door behind us before they could reply. As it stood, I’d never hear the end of what a well-mannered young man Wyatt was. My mother would never know any different. Her heart would be broken if she knew how he shunned me at school because I wasn’t good enough to be part of his crowd. She’d blame herself, and she had too much on her already. She’d lost weight over the past several months, and the strain of my father’s unemployment took a toll on her health.
“Have a seat.” I sat on the swing first and turned toward Wyatt when he took the seat beside me. “Why are you here?”
“You’re not going to make this easy for me at all, huh?” His lopsided grin made my stomach turn somersaults, but I held onto my unaffected façade. The most popular and best-looking guy in school wasn’t without his share of willing conquests. I wasn’t about to be his next hookup.
With a sardonic laugh, I met his gaze full on. “Every other girl has made it easy for you, Wyatt. Not me, though. I’m immune to your charm.”
His smile fell, and he looked at me thoughtfully. “I believe you, but I’m here anyway. I’m here to,” he paused and took a deep breath. “I wanted to ask if you’ll go to the homecoming dance with me.”
In stunned silence, I waited for the punch line to his stupid joke. After several long and uncomfortable seconds of silence, I finally replied. “Are you kidding? Is this some kind of joke?”
“Not at all. I’m serious, Megan. I want to go out with you, get to know you, take you to the dance. What do you say?”
My lungs burned from holding my breath, but my body forgot how to breathe. The sincerity shone in his eyes, and I didn’t like the hope that attempted to bloom in my chest. For years, I’d carried a secret flame for Wyatt. While his family didn’t own Montague Manor, they were distantly related and thick as thieves when it came to business. Wyatt’s family millions started with commercial real estate development decades ago, passing down from generation to generation. Just as everyone expected me to join the servant rank, Wyatt was expected to join the business executive order and grow his family’s wealth even more.
I felt like a traitor wishing I could say yes to his offer. I felt like a hypocrite for feeling like a traitor. How long had I preached equality? Yet when the opportunity fell into my lap, I was hesitant to take it.
“Megan?”
“Okay, Wyatt. I’ll go to the dance with you.”
His smile lit up his face. His eyes sparkled in the moonlight, his relief palpable. “Great. I’m so glad you said yes.”
“Does your sister know you’re here?” I had to know the answer. She’d been the thorn in my side for years. If she knew of his plans to ask me, she’d make sure to rain on my parade every chance she got.
