“Don’t play dumb. You know I’m referring to this mix-up with Weston.”
“Mix-up?” My voice oozes disbelief. “It’s no mix-up, Mother. He is everything those reports say he is.” She stares blankly at me, and I’m disgusted.I know she’s an unfeeling bitch, but she’s the fucking president of the college! And she’s a woman! Where is her empathy?I didn’t think it was possible to hate my mother any more than I already do, but I guess I’m learning something new today. Because her reaction sickens me.
“I’ve told you what he’s like, but you refused to listen to your own daughter,” I hiss, on a roll. “You’ve had a monster preying on women on this campus. Monsters, actually, as in plural, because his buddies are every bit as perverted as he is, and yet you did nothing.” My gaze challenges her as much as my words.
“It’s just a misunderstanding.” She continues to deny the truth.
I fist my hands at my side as red coats my vision. “You’re kidding, right? Three girls have come forward, Mom.Three. Victims.And I’m betting more will make statements in the coming days. He is a predator, Mom. A sick, disgusting, vile, pathetic excuse of a human being.”
She glares daggers at me. “Just because you’ve never liked him doesn’t mean you get to throw stones. He will be exonerated.”
“Don’t you even care about how this will impact CU? How it will impact your job?” Because the fact she hasn’t considered that angle is really odd.Mom lives and breathes her job, so why isn’t she more concerned?This case is already garnering international attention and there’s no denying enrollment will drop.She’s going to come under severe pressure from the board, so why isn’t she worried? What the hell is going on with her?
A low growl erupts from Dad. “Open your ears, Carole. Listen to what your daughter is saying. And if you won’t do it for Emily, I know you’ll do the right thing for your position.” Dad’s thinking is in line with mine. “After all, that is all you care about.” Usually, Dad would bark those words at Mom, but his voice is even-keeled, and it doesn’t appear he’s trying to cause an argument.
“Don’t talk about stuff you know nothing about,” she fumes, wringing her hands. “Ensuring Weston avoids prosecution is what’s best for my position,” she murmurs, more to herself than us.
Dad and I exchange suspicious expressions.
“What exactly do you mean by that?” Dad asks, taking a step toward her.
“Nothing that concerns you.” She turns on her heel.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“Back to my office for an emergency meeting. We need to do damage control and come up with some new policies and procedures that will keep everyone happy until this is resolved.”
“That can wait.” Dad folds his arms across his toned chest. “We need to listen to what Emily has to say.”
She lingers in the doorway for a split second with her back to us. “Don’t wait up.” Then she stalks off, the tap-tap of her stiletto heels echoing along the hallway until she slams the front door shut and we’re met with dead silence.
“I want to know what happened, honey.” Dad circles his arm around my shoulder.
“And I want to tell you.” I will have to be circumspect. To hide Adam and Sam’s part in all this because Adam isn’t ready to admit our relationship to him, and Sam is virtually afraid of his own shadow. “We need to be sitting,” I explain, dropping onto the couch again. “And you need to prepare yourself because some of this will be hard to hear.”
* * *
A coupleof blissful weeks pass, and it’s incredible how much my mood has improved now Wes is no longer lurking around campus, waiting to pounce. Of course, I also feel considerably lighter after unburdening to Dad. He doesn’t know all of it, and I haven’t plucked up the courage to tell either him or Adam what happened that awful night when I was fifteen, but it’s one step at a time.
Right now, I’m celebrating the positive turn my life has taken lately. Dad’s newfound support has done wonders to ease the constant ache in my chest. Being sober and drug-free for one month is something I never thought I’d achieve or feel proud of, but I have and I am. And having an incredible guy by my side is the icing on the cake. While Adam and I continue to sneak around behind Dad’s back, something I’m growing increasingly unhappy about, I can’t deny how deliriously happy he makes me.
“Penny for your thoughts, babe.” Adam tucks me in tighter under his arm as we walk away from the restaurant, waving one last time at Rachel and Carter as they head in the opposite direction.
We’d settled on a hole in the wall Mexican place miles from campus just to ensure we wouldn’t be seen.
“I’m just reflecting on how great my life is right now.” It’s not perfect. Not by a long shot, but I’ve made great strides, and it feels good. Feels epic. The only downside is that I’m drifting apart from Zach and Scar. Just like she predicted. But I’m not strong enough to go out with them when Molly is around. And I don’t want to test my limits just yet.
“Ditto, babe.” He stops, pushing me up against the nearest wall, caging me in with his big arms. Leaning down, he presses his hot lips to that sensitive spot just under my ear, and delicious shivers ripple along my skin. “And that’s all thanks to you.” He captures my lips in a feather-soft kiss, and I melt against him.
I caress his cheek. “You make me very happy, Adam.” I peer into his beautiful emerald eyes. “More than I ever thought it was possible to feel with a guy.”
He lowers his hands to my hips, tugging me in close. “I love how in sync we are with everything, because I feel the same way, Em.” He worries his lower lip between his teeth for a second before adding, “And I think it’s time we told your father about us.”
I smother a gasp. “Really?”
He bundles me into his arms. “I’m serious about you, Emily. More serious than I’ve ever been with any girl.” He presses his chin to the top of my head as I rest my face on his broad chest. His arms tighten around me. “I want to hold on to you forever, Emily. I’m in this for the long haul, and I can’t promise you that and keep expecting you to lie to your father.” He tips my chin up with one finger. “It’s time to man up and fess up. Even though I’m fucking terrified of his reaction.”
I press my body closer to his, smiling at him. “He’ll probably throw a hissy fit at first. Say you’re not good enough for his little girl, blah, blah.” His face leaches of color, and I giggle. “But he’ll be cool with it because he’s making a huge effort to repair our relationship and he’s already told me he wants me healthy and happy. I’m both of those things, thanks to you.”
