Page 95 of Between Now and Forever

The door that connects to the room next to mine, the one I assumed was locked, bursts open.

A huge man I’ve never seen before steps into the room and puts himself between my grandmother and me. I skid to a stop. My heart is thundering in my chest as he and I face each other. He crosses his arms over his chest, his eyebrows are drawn low over his dark, menacing eyes.

I see the first painting go into the fire and I forget him and dart toward her. He catches me before I can take more than three steps. His hands close around my biceps like a vice. I struggle, to no avail.

I’m not crying and I can find a second to be grateful for that small mercy in the midst of what feels like being stripped naked in public.

“Please don’t,” I shout, even though I know it’s futile. With Tobias no longer blocking my view, I can see that she had already burned several of them before I came in. My blood is a river of anguish inside me as I watch her burn my hope, my future, my salvation like it’s nothing.

“Suffering is a cornerstone of building a woman’s character, Elisabeth. You can’t escape it. Learn from it. I have heard of your shameful display in the library. Next time, I’ll send Tobias in to hold you down if you refuse him again.”

* * *

By the endof the next evening, I’m desperate. My grandmother made good on her promise and the only reason Mr. Westfall didn’t have his way is because I got a leg loose and crippled him.

Back in my room, I tear it to shreds looking for the phone. Even though I know the minute I open my drawer and see it’s not where I left it that I’ll never find it.

Defeated, and tired, I’m powerless in ways that scare me. I’ve been playing dress-up and they’ve been bargaining away my future.

Today took me completely by surprise; I completely underestimated them.

But, they also underestimated me.

I’m not going to let them force me into a life that will be filled with days like today.

I’d rather die.

I stare into the mirror until the woman in it is nothing but a blur. Then, I shatter it with my fist.

I use a large shard of glass to hack my hair off. I cut it as short as possible, drawing blood from my scalp in a few places. Blood trickles onto my forehead. I leave it there to dry and imagine my grandmother’s horror in the morning.

19

DONE

CARTER

“Carter, wait,”my brother calls, and I walk faster. I’ve said everything I came to say. The rest is not any of his business. And despite the placid calm I’m exhibiting now, on the inside, I feel like I’ve been hollowed out.

“I don’t expect you to understand. But this is not your choice.”

I walk out of the meeting room where I’ve been sitting with my now ex-agent Dean and my brother.

I reach the elevator and press the button. The doors open quickly.

Jack’s hand slides between the elevator doors and they pop open.

I close my eyes and bang my head on the back of the elevator as he steps on with me.

“What in the world was that, Carter?” he asks as soon as the doors close.

“I don’t want that life.”

“Is this about the NDA before sex? It’s a small price to pay. I’d give up pussy entirely for the contract you just turned down.”

“Well, maybe your pious little act would actually be true,” I mutter darkly without looking at him.

“You’re an idiot. You’rebrokeand given your current state of affairs, you’re destined to stay that way. If you would stop fucking random women you wouldn’t need an NDA.”

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