Page 59 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

Fuck, I’m not ready for this, but I straighten and walk out of my bedroom and down the hallway and stairs. I don’t catch up with the girls, but that’s a good thing.

I need the time to get into the right headspace, because I’m going into battle with my father and Sidney. And I’m going to win.

CHAPTER 19

Back-rank Mate

Luke

As I walk into the dining room, Sidney straightens and flashes me a smile. Her blond hair is curled, and she’s worn makeup to emphasize her green eyes. She’s a beautiful creature. On the outside.

Penny sits across from my spot with Sidney next to her. I pull out my chair and sit, never taking my eyes off Sidney. She smiles like my attention doesn’t disturb her. I don’t smile. I don’t show any emotion.

For an awkward couple of minutes, no one speaks. Tension weaves through the air as Penny plays with the napkin in her lap and takes a sip of water.

I reach for something on the table and knock over my drink. “Oops.”

A server hurries over and towels up the water. Another takes the glass away, brings back a fresh one, and fills it with water before they both blend back into the woodwork.

I snap my fingers and a server rushes forward. “Can I get a fresh bottle of Coke please? Leave the lid on.”

The server nods and rushes away. I wait to see if Sidney thinks I thwarted anything, but she doesn’t so much as flinch.

“Children.” My father walks in and takes his seat. His gaze settles on Sidney, and he smiles. “And a pleasant surprise.”

He’s not surprised. There was an extra dinner setting, and Penny told him about her guest.

“I’ve missed seeing you at the dinner table, Sidney.” My father lifts his hand, and a flurry of motion surrounds us as our salad course is placed before us. “How’s your mother?”

Sidney smiles softly and preens. “I’ve missed being here, Mr. Foster. My mother is doing well. She’s busy working on that plan you wanted for the hospital. She’s very excited about it.”

“I’m glad to see you reached out to my daughter. She doesn’t seem to know how to be everything her brother is. But I guess she only shares some of his genes.” My father’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. Asshole. “She should be on the cheerleading squad with you. Don’t you think?”

Even I can see the cracks in Sidney’s smile. She doesn’t think that at all. The only reason she’s being friends with Penny is to get to me.

“She’s at every game.” Sidney turns and touches Penny’s hand on the table. “She supports the team well from the stands. If it weren’t so late in the season, she could have tried out, but I’m sure she’ll have other opportunities.”

How Penny doesn’t roll her eyes I’ll never know, but I’m proud of her for just smiling. This has to be hard. For someone who wanted to be popular to finally have the attention she sought. It’s why I worry our plan to use the girls as turncoats might backfire on us.

Except for Penny. Maybe she was using Harper to get closer to me, or maybe she honestly wouldn’t mind having Harper as a friend.

But right now, I’m counting on Penny’s desire for real family to, at a minimum, keep me out of the crosshairs. At least when it comes to Sidney. She can’t protect me from my father. No one can.

“I appreciate you taking her under your wing. I’m sure she’ll thrive under your mentorship.” Fuck, my father lays it on kind of thick.

“Of course.” Sidney turns to me and smiles. “I’m glad she has someone like me to look up to. I’d hate for her to have only Luke’s girlfriend to aspire to.”

“The Davidson girl?” My dad narrows his eyes on me. “She seems smart enough, but she does lack qualities we Foster men look for in a life partner.”

Fuck him. My insides churn, but I don’t make any remarks. I just sit back and let the server take away my salad plate.

“I’ve told Luke he should be looking for someone like you. Smart, cunning. An equal. Someone who won’t cry because sometimes you have to do something they don’t agree with.” My dad claps his hands and the servers bustle, taking away the others’ plates and returning with the dinner service.

Sidney smirks but doesn’t look my way. “You know how it is, Mr. Foster. He needs to experiment before he settles down with his true partner. I doubt any of them really intend to keep Harper.”

Penny’s eyes widen and meet mine. But my father already knows we’re all dating Harper. So it’s not like Sidney let anything slip, though she probably thinks she did. Especially when she turns to meet my eyes with a gotcha attitude.

I lean back in my chair and smirk. She’s not cunning enough to play this game. She may think she’s all that, but she’ll be surprised how easy it will be for us to take her down.