AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Fucking sneak. She’s always been like that, ever since we were little kids.
“No one.” I send her a look that hopefully says,leave it alone.
“Does her name start with a C?” Edie’s eyebrows shoot up.
Guess my look didn’t translate.
“She won’t stop texting me.” I shove my phone into my pocket.
“She still believes she has a shot with you, Arch,” Edie says, her tone wry. “You need to tell her you’re done.”
“I’ve told her that. Multiple times. She doesn’t listen.”
“Why is she sending you tit photos?”
Nothing is sacred when Edie is around, I’m telling you.
“Because she’s still hot for me.”
“I don’t get why. You treat her like garbage. And it’s really obvious, who you’re into,” Edie says.
“Right? Yet Cadence still doesn’t get it.” I’m already bored with this conversation. I don’t want to talk about Cadence.
Ever again, if I had the choice.
“Exactly. Everyone knows you and Daisy Albright are together. Except our parents.” Edie shakes her head, making a tsking noise. “When are you going to tell them?”
Like I want to tell my parents about my girlfriend. They probably wouldn’t approve of her, yet they’d still force me to invite her over for Sunday dinner so they could silently pick her apart and mentally track all of her faults.
No one could possibly live up to my mother’s expectations. Her question always is: is she good enough for my Arch?
It’s true. I’ve heard those very words come out of her mouth before. And while Daisy is nice and polite and quiet, all qualities my parents would find acceptable, once they found out she comes from nothing and her dad is the groundskeeper at Lancaster Prep? Forget it.
They’d never approve.
“Arch, please go get a jacket and tie on. We’re leaving soon,” Mother says.
“Where are we going anyway?” I rise from the awful expensive chair and start to exit the living room.
“To a dinner, darling. There’s a girl there I want you to meet.”
I stop in my tracks, slowly turning to face my mother, who’s already watching me, a smile curling her thin lips. “What girl?” I ask carefully.
“She’s a lovely thing. From a good family. Graduating this year just like you and smart as can be. You’re a good match.” Mother touches her pearls, her fingers tapping against them lightly. “Her name is Leslie O’Connor.”
The name doesn’t ring a bell and I glance over at Edie, who shrugs.
“She has red hair, Arch. Like that one girl you were seeing. What was her name?” Mother frowns.
“Cadence?”
She wrinkles her nose. “Yes. That girl. God, I could never stand her. So obvious. Always hanging all over you as if she had no control of herself. Not even an ounce of decorum in that one.”
I can’t disagree with her. Cadence is the worst. But I’m not looking for anyone else.
I only care about Daisy.
“Maybe I’m seeing someone else,” I start, but Mother waves a hand, dismissing what I’m saying.
