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“Talk about what? What is that creep doing to you?”
“Aidan isn’t a creep,” I said. “He’s a Dom.”
She blinked. “What?”
“You were right about the sounds I heard. He’s into BDSM. But we aren’t having sex...” I sighed. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Can you please try?” She sat beside me on the bed. “If he’s hurting you, we can tell my parents. They’ll call the police.”
“That’s just it,” I said. “He’s not hurting me.”
I told her everything. About the party I crashed and how I got down on my knees and begged him to train me. How he’s been making me do my homework and helping me work through my anxiety.
After the initial shock wore off, she seemed reassured. But I can tell she’s still distrustful.
Setting my own small stack of books into the Donate box, I tell her, “I appreciate the offer, Jas. But I’m looking forward to going back to Aidan’s.” I offer her a smile. “I’m going to miss you so much, though. Promise we’ll text every day, and Facetime at least once a week.”
“Of course.” She throws her arms around me and squeezes. “I can’t wait to be your roomie again at Jost.”
Jas and I grab breakfast down in the commons. Most of the underclassmen have already moved out, giving the large space a sense of vacancy. Those of us who remain are all but vibrating with anticipation.
After breakfast, we don our gowns and caps and make our way to the gymnasium, our temporary holding area before we all head, single-file and in alphabetical order, to the big outdoor tent.
The ceremony commences. Some speeches inspire while others drag. Principal Connors states my name, Grace Evelyn Whittaker, and it’s time for me to cross the stage.
My pulse dances. I glance out at the audience and spot Aidan and Jen in the first row behind the graduates. Jen waves to me, while Aidan simply watches, a proud, closed-lipped smile adorning his handsome face. I beam at them as I accept my diploma and then return to my seat. Jasmine’s last name—Hill—falls before mine, so she’s already back in her chair one row ahead of me when I get there.
She pivots to talk to me. “I guess, if he makes you smile like that, I could be persuaded not to hate him.”
I squeeze her shoulder.
As soon as the ceremony’s over, I find Jen and Aidan in the crowd. Jen hugs me tightly, the way my mother used to, and I have to pinch my eyes shut to stem the tears.
Aidan congratulates me, taking my hand and holding it.
“Do you need help packing?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Jasmine and I finished early this morning.” I wet my lips. “I’m ready to go home.”
The three of us head to the dorm to gather my things. On the way out of the building, I pause to say goodbye to friends and classmates.
Jen gushes about the ceremony the entire ride home. I realize this is the second time today that I’ve referred to Aidan’s house as home, but that’s how it feels. Like all this time I’ve been flapping my wings above the trees, and I’m finally coming down to roost.
At the house, Benjamin carries my bags up to my room. I unpack my clothes right away, hanging my shirts and dresses in the closet so that they don’t hold their wrinkles. I’m in the process of arranging my shoes on the racks when I notice Aidan standing in the doorway. He’s so tall and broad that he almost fills the frame.
“We haven’t talked much in detail about your plans for the summer,” he says. “Is there anything you were hoping to accomplish?”
“Not really,” I say, though I’m convinced he can see straight through my nonchalance to the filthy, depraved yearnings I’ve been nurturing for months. “I plan to stay in shape, dance as much as I can, and I guess, deal with my family’s estate. I may need help with that last part. Especially the house, or what’s left of it.”
“I’ll assist you in any way I can.” He takes a few steps toward me, arms crossed and spine rigid, as if he’s steeling himself for something potentially difficult or unpleasant. “Once your family’s estate has been turned over to you, you’ll be a very wealthy young woman.”
Since my parents’ deaths, I’ve been living off the money they gave me at the start of the schoolyear, plus my own savings, and occasional surprise transfers from Aidan. I currently have more money at my fingertips than I know what to do with.
“With that kind of wealth, you’ll be free to travel and live anywhere you wish,” he says.
It hadn’t occurred to me to consider living anywhere else. Does Aidan want me to leave?
