Page 80 of Between Now and Forever

“Who called?” I ask when he doesn’t continue.

His eyes are full of animus when he looks at me and I shrink away from him.

“According to Will, James clicked back over to say that his little sister was in trouble at some party and he was going to get her.”

The blood drains from my face and my blood rushes so fast and loud in my ears I’m sure they’ll burst.

“What? No.” I shake my head. I didn’t call James.

“I told James that was impossible. My daughter wouldn’t dare go to a party. And then he informed that it was common knowledge that when my police escorts came to the house to bring you to the hospital, you were straddling a boy in his car and kissing him.”

I groan and cover my face. It’s as hot as it was when I had that fever, but this is all mortification and panic. My blood is boiling; I’m hot and I’m trapped.

“Did you have me followed?”

“Of course, I did. And thank God, because now I know that I must take a firmer hand with you.”

He yanks the phone from me and starts to pace.

It’s only then that I notice my stepmother is in my room, too. She’s in the corner, her eyes are pressed tightly shut and her lips moving in what I know are her fake prayers.

“Who is that boy?” he roars and I jump and look back at him.

“I don’t know—” I’m confused. How does he have this?

“His name. Now,” my father roars and I know I’ve got to give him something. But not Carter’s name.

“I went to the lake with Duke,” I blurt.

“Duke Tremaine?” he looks at me disbelieving.

“Yes, he took me home after your party—”

“Why would Duke takeyouhome?” he asks and scoffs out a laugh.

Irritation at his dismissal pricks, but I push it and my pride aside.

“I don’t know,” I quietly admit.

“But who isthis?” He asks the questions in a rapid fire, angry voice, and I’m trembling as I try to think. James was coming to get me? Why would he do that? I called him and told him I was fine hours before he would have started to worry.

“Well, who is it?” He shakes me.

“No one from East Winsome. It doesn’t matter, he’s gone.”

I’m on sensory overload, and I can’t think straight. But I do know that I don’t want him to know Carter evenexists.I force my mind to be still and suck in a couple quick breaths.

“You are out of control.”

“I’m not. It was just once,” I say, desperate for him to believe me.

Instead, his face reddens and he explodes.

He slaps me again, and I jump off the bed. He stands and stalks me across the room. My back hits a wall, and he stops a few feet from me.

“Youare your mother’s daughter. And I can tell you that she bewitched me and I didn’t see her true nature until it was too late. But I see it in you. And it isfoul.” His voice is hushed with righteous indignation.

Normally, when he says thing like this, they’re about as painful as shallow pricks with a dull knife. The slight sting of them usually fades quickly. But now, with both of my brothers gone, with this tape in front of me, with my world tilting perilously, I feel each one of those prickskeenly.

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