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I nod, looking out the window. It’s quiet for a while as we ponder the conversation.
“Callum.” I look over to him. He swallows, looking vulnerable. I can’t see his eyes, but if I could, I know it would be twin storm clouds staring back at me. His hand flexes on the steering wheel. “Don’t become one of my ravens.”
My chest squeezes as I grip his hand harder. “I won’t.” I plant a small kiss to his knuckles.
* * *
“Callum, honey. Come here, please.”I groan into my pillow. Wishing the silk would split its seams and swallow me whole. I’m tired from my trip with Lincoln. We didn’t really sleep…
I drag myself out of bed, padding barefoot to the living room where Mom and Richard sit all cozy on the couch, a fire already blaring on this cold fall morning. I fall into the recliner, rubbing my temples. “What’s so important you woke me up before lunchtime?”
My mom laughs and I look up in time to see Richard smiling. I almost grin but then my mom does something horrifying. She holds up her hand, a massive diamond ring glittering, a matching band to match. Her smile is bright and filled with so much happiness I feel like I want to throw up. “We got married,” she squeals, kissing Richard’s cheek.
At first, I feel hurt, like whatever threads Lincoln sewed, snapped. Falling at the ends until they slowly unwind, leaving me in pieces. But then I get mad. My body feels as if it’s tipping off a cliff, free-falling into nothing. “You what? When?”
Her smile falls away, she nibbles on her lip. A sign she’s nervous. “While we went on vacation.”
“You got married without me there?”
“I— We asked if you wanted to go, but you said no. So, I thought—”
I cut her off, “So, you thought you’d, what? Exclude me? Maybe if you would have said something—”
“Callum, it’s not like that,” Richard speaks softly.
“I’m sorry, but this is betweenmymother and me,” I snap at him. I turn to look back over to my mother, tears burning like acid in my eyes. “You’re going to do it too,” I whisper.
She looks confused. “Do what, honey?”
“You’re going to choose him over me, them over me. You’ve always said it’s you and me, forever and always. But as soon as he comes back into your life, I’m nothing.” I rise to my feet, my head pounding. A pain slamming into my chest. “You know,” I look at both of them, “I never chose to be here. That was your mistake. You want the other family, Mom? The perfect boys he actually wanted. Fine. Go get them.”
“Callum.” My mom’s voice breaks.
“I’m done being second best. Done being everyone’s last choice. Done trying to prove I’m worthy of love.” A sad laugh spills from my lips. “Out of everyone, I thought you’d always be on my side. Funny how wrong I was, isn’t it, Mom?” She goes to speak, but I raise my hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll be at the gala to support both of you tonight.”
I turn, taking off up the stairs and into my bedroom, locking my door. I sink to the floor, allowing the acid tears to fall and burn my cheeks.
My mom has been my one and only. I never dreamed she’d do something so malicious. That she’d get married, the very people who have never accepted me as her witnesses. I’m sure they have family photos, everyone smiling lovingly at one another. Again, never knowing they’re missing a piece of them. Only this time, they stole my mom too.
* * *
The door swings open,woodsmoke eyes connecting with mine. His eyes quickly narrowing on me. “Callum?”
I roll my shoulders back, taking a deep breath and painting a smile on my face. “Can I get ready here? I have this event tonight and my house is having some plumbing work done so the water is shut off for a little bit.” I shuffle nervously on my feet. Hoping he doesn’t turn me away because I can’t go home, and I can’t take the rejection right now.
He pushes the door open. “Of course.” I go to walk past him when his hand slips around my throat, gently tilting my head back to look up at him. “What’s wrong?”
I bit my lip. “Nothing, just stressed.” I smile.
He studies me, looking between my eyes, over the curve of my smile, knowing something is wrong, but allowing me to lie. Instead, he leans down, planting a long gentle kiss to my lips. He releases my neck, shutting the door as I walk through. He places a hand on the small of my back and God… I feel so safe with him. Like all my problems evaporate with his touch. He leads me up the stairs and into his room.
Lincoln leans back in the leather chair, bringing his scotch to his lips as his eyes darken, dragging over my body as I strip from my sweats and t-shirt. I leave him in the chair as I walk to the bathroom. It’s not that I don’t want him to shower with me, it’s that I need a moment to myself. To wash the abuse to my mind away. Shave the self-doubt away, watching it disappear down the drain. Scrub away the acid tears that seem to burn my body with emotion. To breathe on my own.
* * *
After blow-dryingmy hair and curling it, I move on to my makeup. Covering the freckles to hide my youth. Paint my lashes black as night, bringing the blue in my eyes out to shine like the stars. I put on my armor, my favorite red lipstick, making it the focal point of my face. I arch my eyebrows, then blend the contour and highlighter on my face. Aging myself by two years.
I rise, slipping on my evening gown. The black lace lays over the cluster of champaign-colored sparkles. Stitched together to create a double layer affect. The sweetheart neckline leads to lace sleeves. It’s a long mermaid cut, with a long slit on one of my thighs.
