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“No, it’s present tense,” I said.

My dad shook his head. “No one calls my daughter a slut and gets away with it. And I’m going to give Matt a call. He should know what his son just called my daughter.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“Don’t call Uncle Matt! Jacob didn’t call me a slut.”

“That’s not what West said.”

“So you believe Mr. Halifax when it comes to things Jacob hasn’t said, but not when it comes to Mr. Halifax sleeping with me?!”

My dad made a face as my mom blotted one of his cuts. “Penny.” He grabbed her hand. “I’m fine.”

“You always say that when you get into fights, but you’re not young anymore, James! You could have gotten really hurt.”

How many fist fights had my dad gotten into exactly?

My dad smiled at her. “I’m still young enough to kick someone’s ass.”

The tension finally seemed to ease off my mom and she laughed.

My dad put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

I didn’t know what the heck I was witnessing right now... But it felt gross. “Dad, Jacob didn’t call me a slut.”

“This isn’t up for negotiation.”

“Yes it is! This is my life!”

“Which is why you’re going to be grounded for the rest of it.”

That transition didn’t make any sense. “You know, if you’re so worried about a slut living under your roof, you should be concerned with Liam...”

“Scarlett...”

“He’s the only slut in this household. He’s probably in a hotel room right now with his old Russian girlfriend.” Throwing my brother under the bus to get myself out of trouble wasn’t my finest moment. But this double standard was ridiculous.

“Scarlett, for the last time, stop calling your brother a slut.”

“Then he should stop acting like a slut.”

My dad exhaled slowly. “Scarlett, go to your room. And get used to it. Because that’s the only place you’ll be allowed for the foreseeable future. I’ll be homeschooling you for the rest of the semester.”

Homeschool? What? Had he lost his mind?! I turned to my mom for help. “Mom.”

She ignored me. And maybe I deserved that after I said I wasn’t her in relation to banging teachers. I turned back to my dad. “Dad, please. There is nothing going on between me and Mr. Halifax. And Jacob didn’t call me a slut. It was...it...” What was I supposed to say? That Sophie was trying to seduce Mr. Halifax? And that I was just helping her? Because that sounded terrible too.

“This conversation is over.”

“But I love him.” My voice cracked.

“You love Mr. Halifax?!”

“No! Jacob!”

“Well, he clearly doesn’t love you.”

And just like that, I burst into tears again. Because half an hour ago, I thought that was true. That Jacob didn’t love me back. I knew the truth now. But the up and down of it all felt too real. And I was losing him all over again. My dad had just forbidden me from seeing him. My first real relationship had lasted all but half of one night.

“Scarlett,” my mom said and lightly touched my shoulder.