AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I grip the steering wheel. “I had it under control.”Liar.For a split-second, I thought I was going to skid off the road. And then what? I’d be gone and my sisters would be left with my father?
But isn’t that what I’m going to do anyway when I take off to college?
I swallow hard, guilt creeping up on me.
Silence trickles by as I steer out onto the road, my guilt and the tension in the car growing with every mile marker we pass.
“Well, on the bright side, Rhyland was right. That kiss was hot,” Payton finally breaks the tense silence.
I can’t help smiling. At least one thing came out of this ordeal. She’d been so down when we left the house earlier, but now she seems upbeat again.
“It wasn’t hot,” I lie. “It was disgusting.”
“If you say so.” Payton snickers, and so does Bailey. “And Rhyland was watching like he wanted to kiss you too, which makes it that much hotter.”
My lips part in shock. “Payton, what the hell?”
“What?” she shrugs. “It was.”
I want to protest, but the truth is, the kiss was hot. Scorching even. And it may have been a bit hot that Rhyland was watching and thinking it was hot. But that’s not anything I’m going to admit aloud.
Londyn’s expression fills with sympathy. “It’s okay to like the kiss, Had. It doesn’t mean you like him.”
“I didn’t like the kiss,” I lie again, frustrated I’m not hiding my feelings very well.
“Okay.” She squeezes my hand. A pity squeeze, I’m sure. Then she retrieves her phone and checks her texts, giggling at something on the screen.
Bailey and Payton start chatting in the back seat, Bailey telling Payton about all the cute boys she saw in school and how there was a flyer for an afterschool art program that Payton should totally check out.
Their laughter and smiles make whatever tomorrow holds, good or bad—but I’m positive it’s going to be bad—worth it.
15
HADLEY
By the timewe get home, the sun is setting behind the hills and my head is still stuck in worry mode over tomorrow morning. Since Dad isn’t home yet, I decide to take the opportunity to distract my worried thoughts by digging up the bag he buried.
Through all the chaos of the duel, Payton and I forgot to mention the bag incident to Bailey and Londyn, which is a good thing. It gives me time to see what’s in it so I can decide whether to keep it a secret or not.
After double-checking that my sisters are all busy and distracted, I slip outside and into the garage/shed to grab the shovel. As I’m headed back out, though, I pause as I hear Blaise and Alex talking nearby.
“You have to back off,” Blaise hisses. “I made a deal with her.”
“Yeah, so what? I didn’t,” Alex retorts. “And you should’ve talked to all of us first before you decided on the terms of that bet.”
“The terms aren’t a bad thing,” Blaise replies lowly. “You need to leave the Harlyton sisters alone anyway now that their dad is working for ours.”
Wait. My dad is working for their dad? The man who, from the research I found online, owns a bunch of illegal underground gambling clubs?
I shake my head.Nice job choice, Dad.
Alex laughs darkly. “Don’t even get me started on that.”
“Is that what this is about?” Blaise asks, sounding astounded. “Because, if so, you need to get over it.”
“I’m not going to get over it,” Alex growls out. “And you shouldn’t either. He screwed us over.”
Huh? Who screwed them over? Their dad or mine?
