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“Holy fuck balls, what the hell is that thing!?” She stared, mouth agape.
I waggled it in the air, trying not to smile. “This old thing?”
She snatched my hand and stared, gasping in shock. “Robyn!”
“I know, it’s absurd.”
“It’s the size of a freaking dinosaur egg. You could start Jurassic Park with this thing.”
“I hope there isn’t fossilized DNA locked away.” I frowned. It was possible. Calvin could make a lot of things happen.
“I guess you’re serious about this then.” She released me and I pulled it back, feeling defensive for the first time. Even that jerk earlier hadn’t made me feel like I needed to explain myself.
“It’s part of the deal.”
“I get that you need to play the part, but does he really get to claim you like that?”
I looked down at my lap. She was right. I’d been thinking the same thing.
Did Calvin really get to mark his territory like this?
“It’s supposed to be real.”
“Come on, Robyn. He could’ve given you a normal engagement ring, but instead he plastered Mt. Rushmore onto your hand just to make sure everyone on campus knows that you’re claimed.”
“I am not claimed.” I glared at her, feeling heat in my cheeks.
She looked back softly and sighed. “I know you’re not, but try explaining that to him.”
I ground my teeth. I hated justifying myself to Cora, especially when I agreed with her, and yet I didn’t want to take off the ring. I liked wearing it. I liked the way it looked and the way it felt and yes, yes, okay, I liked what it symbolized.
I was sick, but still. I liked it.
“This is my decision, okay? He didn’t force me into this.”
“I’m worried it’s going too far. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“What makes you think I’ll be the one who gets hurt?”
“It’s Calvin. I’m pretty sure he’s incapable of feeling.”
I shook my head hard. “You don’t know him.”
“Seriously? I know him better than you do.”
“No, you don’t, not if you think there’s nothing going on inside. Calvin’s been through a lot. He suffered way more than you’d think.”
“Rich boy Calvin? Are we talking about the same guy here?”
“Just stop it, okay? I know how you feel about him and I don’t even disagree. It’s just that he’s a lot more than some quiet, unfeeling rich psychopath or whatever you think. His family fucked him up more than you’d think.”
She was quiet as she studied me. I felt hot, stifled. I wanted to get the hell out of this car, but first I needed her to leave.
“I never thought I’d see the day when you’d defend him.”
“Yeah, well, neither did I, but here we are. Can you just go? I have a lot of studying to do.”
She didn’t look angry. I hated myself for that. She opened her mouth to say something, but shook her head and pushed open the door. A blast of cold air flooded inside.
“I love you, okay?” she said, leaning in. “I’m just looking out for you. That’s all.”
“I know. But please trust me.”
She shut the door and went inside.
I drove back home, cursing the whole way. That didn’t go the way I’d hoped. I wanted to laugh about the ring, to make fun of it. I wanted to tell her how stupid it made me feel, and maybe admit that I liked it, a little bit anyway. Girls I thought would always ignore me were suddenly staring with blatant, crazy envy in their eyes, and I know that’s such a stupid and shallow thing to care about, but I’d never been popular, never been cool, never been anything more than Jarrod’s quiet little cousin, and now suddenly all their eyes were on me.
It was intoxicating. It was dangerous.
It was all because of Calvin.
I saw my future with him in those interactions. He could bring me a life I’d never dreamed of before. Fame, fortune, excitement. It was all possible, if only I could give myself to him.
And yet I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I parked out front. There was another car in the driveway, one I’d never seen before. A Bentley, big and black and nice, with shiny chrome wheels and a Maine license plate.
What the heck was a car like that doing at my house?
My heart rate doubled as I hurried inside. Maine, a Bentley, it could only mean one thing, and my mother was in danger. I pushed open the door and strode toward the kitchen.
“Mom! Where are you? Is everything—”
I stopped when the table came into view.
The good china was out. Tea was served in tiny cups on tiny saucers. Mom was sitting up straight, her hair in a tasteful bun, her clothes straightened and clean. Her eyes looked focused for the first time in weeks.
And sitting across from her was Calvin’s mother.
I didn’t know what to do. I felt trapped and terrified. This was so much worse than I’d imagined. I could face down Noah or Raymond. I could let them beat me to a pulp if it meant defending my mother.
