Panic zipped through me. “My what?!” I shot to my feet. “He wasn’t supposed to come here.” He couldn’t—she was messing with me. My lungs tightened.
The door opened and Alba strolled in. “Kaia! I didn’t think you were back.” She paused, eyes shifting from me to Teagan. “What’s going on?”
“My father was here,” I whispered.
Alba’s eyes went wide. “Oh, shit. And I wasn’t here.”
Teagan snorted. “What would you have done if you had been? Lie? You say your father doesn’t care, Kaia, but he clearly does. Does he know you’re sneaking around with your brother?”
“Stop it.” Alba dropped her purse by the bed; the thunk made Teagan flinch. “First—he’s not related. Second—”
“Alba,” I said softly.
She fell quiet, but her look toward me was soft. I was glad she’d stood up for me, but I could handle Teagan. She wasn’t the first judgmental person to poke her nose into my life.
“He’s the son of the woman my father’s dating, like I said,” I told Teagan. I didn’t owe explanations, but I didn’t want false rumors. “He’s not my brother. The school would have problems if a nonrelative picked me up, so I lied.”
Teagan snorted. “And you think that’s normal? Lying and sneaking around to be with someone? Those relationships never go anywhere.”
I never wanted to lie, but what choice did I have? My father would never accept that Asher and I were dating—he’d ruin Asher’s career. And he’d been here today. My insides chilled. “What did you tell my father?”
“That you were with your brother. I know better than to lie. I’m sure your dad taught you better than that, too.”
The enormity of it crushed me. The air thickened; I sank to the floor beside the bed and rubbed my face with my palms.
I would deny everything: say I’d asked Asher to take me shopping or to see the girls from dancing. Him picking me up wasn’t a crime. But my father might not believe me. If he learned the truth… he wouldn’t let it slide. He’d destroy everything.
I clamped a hand over my mouth to stifle a sob. It ripped through my chest anyway; tears leaked out.
“You’re such a bitch, Teagan,” Alba snapped, sliding down to the floor beside me.
“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, wrapping me in her arms. “I’ll tell them you were with me and my dad. They won’t prove shit.”
Teagan snorted. “More lies? Amazing.”
“Shut up, Teagan,” I said, wiping my nose with my forearm.
Even if Alba covered for me, the damage was done. I didn’t have the slightest clue what to do next.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Asher
Russell’s car sat in the driveway when I pulled in. I’d been avoiding him ever since he sent Kaia to boarding school, but I still lived here—hopefully not for much longer.
I left my helmet on the handlebar, took out my phone, and texted Kaia that I’d made it to Stetbourg in one piece, ending the message with “I love you.” My chances of sleeping tonight were nil. I’d already replayed the weekend in my head: the way she felt in my arms, her moans, her kisses, our conversations.
It was dark downstairs, which was a relief, but as I climbed the stairs voices drifted from Russell’s office. He was up. So was my mother. Shit.
“Asher.” The door cracked open, and she peered into the hallway. “We need to talk.”
What now? I walked toward her, already thinking about whatever conversation she wanted after barely acknowledging me for months. If she tried to avoid me, she did a pretty good job—probably because I reminded her of Dad, or because dealing with me complicated her life.
“Hi,” I said.
She opened the door wider and stepped aside, revealing Russell behind his desk; then she scurried out. So much for talking.
The door shut. Despite the room’s decent size, I felt caged. The hatred in Russell’s eyes pinned me in place. He’d never liked me, but this was the first time he’d shown it outright.
