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“What do you know about them?”
“Just that they’re rich and mysterious. You know how rich people are. They’re deranged.”
I grinned. “You have no clue.” I told her about my first meeting with Calvin’s mom, but chose not to mention my run-ins with his brothers. She’d only get Jarrod involved, and I didn’t want that.
“See? You see? Absolutely deranged. They’re insane! Your whole plan is insane. Why are you doing this, anyway? What’s he offering you?”
I stared straight ahead. “Nothing.”
“Liar.”
“Money.”
“Double liar. You don’t care about money.”
“It’s a lot of money.”
She hesitated. “How much?”
“So much I never have to worry about working again.”
“Now I know you’re lying.” She nudged me with her hip and got in my face. “Tell me what he promised.”
“It’s about my dad.” I couldn’t meet her eyes. I kept walking faster, hoping she’d let it drop.
Of course she didn’t.
“He can’t do anything for him, you know. And besides, just because he’s innocent of murder, doesn’t mean he should be free. Your dad’s an abusive fuck. He belongs in prison.”
“I know. I agree with you.”
That surprised her. “Really?”
“Really. If this works out, nothing good is going to happen to my father.”
She went quiet and we walked in silence. I stared at the ground, not able to meet the eyes I felt staring. I hated that falling into Calvin’s orbit meant becoming popular.
I’d lived in Jarrod’s shadow for a long time. He’d always been cool. People flocked to him because he was big and strong and outgoing and good-looking. Girls swooned, guys wanted to be close. He had a natural magnetism, and when he went to Blackwoods, it was perfectly natural that he’d excel on the football team and fall in with the three other hottest, most popular guys on campus.
I didn’t mind. I kind of liked it. I was just his quiet, shy cousin, and he got to do whatever he wanted. I stayed out of his way and it worked out. Nobody bothered me, and I bothered nobody.
Except now that spotlight was shifting. I was getting sucked into that world, and I didn’t know how to handle it. I saw the way it messed with people, made them shift their priorities, get addicted to the attention and the popularity. I didn’t want to end up like that, craving more praise, more affirmation. I didn’t want to become beholden to Calvin for my fix.
This would pass. It had to pass.
“Are you at least being safe?” Cora’s voice was quiet and small. “Not just with sex, but with yourself. You’ve been through a lot.”
“I’m trying to be.”
“Just promise you won’t let yourself get hurt. Calvin cares about you, maybe a little too much, but his ideas about how to express himself are pretty warped.”
“You’re not kidding.”
“Just take care, is all I’m saying. You deserve something good in your life, not more misery.”
“Thanks, Cora. I’ll try.”
She shrugged and leaned against my shoulder. “How’s your mom doing?”
“She’s holding up.” She was a shell when I got home. She hadn’t noticed that I’d left, and didn’t see the ring on my finger.
“Good.” We reached one of the big stone buildings with its white facade and gothic style windows. “I should go to class. I’ll see you later?”
“See you then. Text me.”
“Always do.” She waved and walked off.
I watched her go. I had a class after this block and drifted toward the library. I thought of Noah’s hands around my throat, and jumped when I heard someone call out my name.
I turned, and Calvin strode toward me with Addler and Des.
I looked around and felt like a rabbit caught in a snare.
“Where are you headed?” Calvin asked as he approached.
I felt more people staring. God, I hated this.
“Hi, Calvin. Hey guys.”
“What’s up?” Des said, flashing me that boyish smile. Addler waved and scratched his head as he looked at his phone.
“I want to talk.” Calvin stared me down like stone in his shoe.
“I was headed for the library.”
“I’ll walk you.”
“I can walk myself.”
“Remember what happened last time?”
“I don’t need you to follow me around, Calvin.” I felt myself getting heated. Couldn’t he leave me alone for ten seconds?
“Lovers’ quarrel already,” Des said with a big, dramatic sigh. “I guess the marriage won’t last.”
“What was your wager? Two months?” Addler raised his eyebrows.
“Two weeks, bro.”
“Oh, that’s right. I had two months. I believe in these crazy kids, you know?”
Calvin ignored them. “Let’s go.”
But I wasn’t ready to go. I stared at him, my mouth hanging open. “You told them?”
“They’re my friends.”
“I can’t believe you told them. How could you?”
He stepped closer. “Did you tell Cora?”
“That’s different.”
He smiled savagely. “How?”
I tried to answer, but Des interrupted. “Damn, girl, he’s got you there. Sick logic, bruh.”
“Shut up, Des.” Calvin touched my elbow. “If we’re going to do this, we need to do it for real.”
I clenched my jaw and sucked in a breath. I let it out nice and slow as Des leered at me and Addler looked almost apologetic.
