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A flash of pain haunts Dalton’s stare right before he runs out the door. I move to chase after him, but Bobby halts my movement and pulls me closer to him.
“Don’t think your little friend liked the news,” he whispers next to my ear.
I turn to him while Dad’s speech fades to background noise.
“Oh, you didn’t think I was stupid, did you?” His eyes grow cold, calculating. “I know all about your secret.”
My heart skips a beat. Did Bobby find out about me taking Dalton to my spot? He doesn’t know about my place. Did he follow us? Or did he see Dalton and me in the hallway? Or the overall secret that Dalton and I met three years ago?
“What secret?” I manage to squeak out.
There’s a calculated response to his laugh. “Smile, Cassie. The congregation is watching.”
No!I’m done being manipulated by him and my dad. If Dad doesn’t want to pay for my college, so be it. I’ll be like everyone else and take out more loans. It will be worth it. What I won’t do is agree to be married off to this manipulative bastard.
“I willnevermarry you,” I spit out between clenched teeth.
“We’ll see about that.”
Yes, we will.
And as soon as the last person leaves, these two men who have controlled every minute of my life get an earful.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
DALTON
The front door slams shut,followed by shouts. I step out of the bathroom and stare at my bedroom door, contemplating what I should do. If I duck inside, I won’t have the chance to talk to Cassie. And Ineedto speak to her. I thought about her reaction to Bobby’s bullshit announcement during my run. The lack of her warm smile that she usually wears was proof enough that she hadn’t known what he was going to do. She shut down and became that shell of a person she is when he’s around. Once I got out of that stuffy room and pounded the pavement with my loafers, it was evident to me.
“You’re being irrational. That boy is going places. He’ll take care of you.”
“I don’t need someone to take care of me, especially if that someone is Bobby Pickler.”
I glance at her door and think about waiting for her in there. Coach never checks on me. But if I get caught in Cassie’s room, it’ll be disastrous. Although thinking about it, he hasn’t once come to her room since I’ve been here. They hardly interact at all.
Bellow’s barking cuts through my thoughts. He’s not used to hearing this kind of ruckus.
Their argument reinforces my early assessment—they blindsided her. She doesn’t want to marry Bobby. That realization should make me happy, but it doesn’t. It only fuels my anger. They treat her like a piece of property. That’s just wrong.
“Don’t be ridiculous. A woman’s place is—”
“Don’t preach to me. For once, can you just be a regular dad?”
“It doesn’t work that way. I’m head of the church.”
“Regardless of what you think, I can and will take care of myself. I broke up with Bobby over a week ago. Is that who you want as a son-in-law—some deranged psycho who can’t take no for an answer?”
“Bobby isn’t like that. You had plans. You need to honor them.”
“No, Dad. You and he had plans. I never wanted to go to Peru. That has never been my dream. And I told him that multiple times. He just doesn’t listen. Apparently, controlling women is a dominant trait among males.”
“I have spoken!”
A hush descends over the house from Coach’s outburst. Even Bellow’s barking stops. He lets out a small whimper before retreating to his corner.
“I may be your daughter, but I’m not like Mom. I don’t have to listen. I’m twenty-one years old. I can move out.”
“You have no money. Where on earth would you live?”
