“Then it’s settled,” she said. “I’m glad you’re home safe and that your friend,Harper, was such a help. But next time, at least send a text if you’re going to be out all night.”
Dad and I watched her walk out, leaving us in icy silence. Then heturned to me, his tone as flat as ever. “It would be a mistake to believe you’re in the clear, here. Fix your math grade, Emery, or there will be consequences.”
He started to go but I couldn’t help myself from blurting, “Aren’t you sad for me that I broke up with Tucker? I know how happy you were when we got together.”
Oh my God…
I couldn’t believe I’d said that—insinuations about the Hills’ usefulness to him ringing loud and clear in our spacious, immaculate kitchen.
But Dad was scarily matter-of-fact.
“Tucker’s father lost his bid for reelection. He’s a loser. We don’t associate with losers.” He started to go, then stopped, his gaze dropping noticeably to my borrowed sweatshirt. “And Emery, if I were to hear that you broke things off with Tucker only to take up with someone of poor standing in the community, Iwillrevoke your prom committee privileges. Is that clear?”
I nodded mutely. When he was gone, I sagged against the island, my legs shaking, then nearly jumped out of my skin at a voice at the door.
“How does it feel?”
Jack leaned in the entry to the kitchen, dressed in a faded black T-shirt and black sweatpants.
“How does what feel?” I asked dully.
“Standing up to the Munsters.”
“Pretty terrible,” I said. “But also kind of good. Mom defended me, at least.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Jack said, pushing himself off the wall. “She always caves, eventually. Just ask Grant. Oh, that’s right,” he said bitterly. “We can’t.”
“What does that mean, Jack?Jack…?”
But he’d already walked away.
Chapter 24
Xander
The rowing season was on hold until spring, but that didn’t mean we were allowed to slack off. Coach Daniels set up a punishing schedule with constant weight training and long hours logged on the ergometer.
Monday afternoon, I finished with my classes and headed to the Academy gym. Inside, the men’s gymnasts were training, straddling pommel horses and doing insane tumbling runs on the mat. Gideon Foster was on the horizontal bar, Declan McConnell on the rings.
In the weight room, I spotted Tucker doing curls between benches and racks of dumbbells.
My jaw clenched. I wasn’t a violent person, but Emery had been left shivering in the dark by the side of the road, and that was un-fucking-acceptable.
I strode up to Tucker and tapped him on the shoulder. “Hill. We need to talk.”
“I got nothing to say to you, Ford,” he said, grunting with each hammer curl.
“I have something to say to you.”
He set down his dumbbells and turned, then jumped back to see me standing not one inch from his face, my arms at my side, still.
“Jesus! The hell?”
“You left her,” I said, my voice deadly calm. “You fucking left her in the pouring rain.”
For a fraction of a second, remorse flitted across Tucker’s features. He glanced around as Rhett and Orion drew closer. Then he sneered. “Back off, Ford, if you know what’s good for you.”
He pretended to turn away, but I sensed the feint, and this time I was ready. Tucker whipped around, right fist leading. I ducked the blow and brought my left elbow up in a quick jab that struck him squarely on the nose.
