Page 23 of Between Now & Heartbreak

Good.

“Clover, we’re waiting. If you could finish up your chat and join us.” He says to Beth, but stands there waiting instead of going back into the room.

I can’t look at her.

“I’m just leaving. We’re done. She’s all yours,” I say with all the detachment I don’t feel.

My stomach churns and bile rises in my throat as I walk away. It takes all my self-control not to look back at them.

“I was about to leave. What took you so long?” Etta as I climb into the car.

The sharp bite of anger in her voice yanks me out of my dark thoughts.

“I’m sorry I made you wait. You could have gone ahead.” I grumble and buckle my seatbelt.

“So, what’s up with you Princess Elisabeth?”

I frown. I don’t like her questioning me. And I don’t like the contempt in her voice when she says Beth’s name. But, I realize that this might be my chance to get the scoop on her engagement to Duke.

So, I swallow my annoyance and shrug. “My dad knows hers. Just saying hi. You guys have a history, huh?”

She scoffs, it’s a hard, bitter sound. “Oh yeah, I know her, alright. There’s nothing but trouble in that direction. Her father is a wolf in a savior’s clothing, and she’s his biggest fan and a total fake.”

Why do you say that?” I ask her when she doesn’t elaborate on her declaration.

She laughs as if I’m an idiot for even asking.

“When her parents got divorced, she stayed with her father. Even though they got divorced becausehewas having an affair. She’s one of those women who will put up with, or do anything for money.”

“Maybe she just loves her dad,” I say, surprised by her answer.

“That would be even worse. That man is proof that beautiful shells can mask the ugliest hearts. He’s a monster.” Her voice is almost reverent in its loathing and her shudder is dramatic, but real.

“That’s harsh,” I say it with an air of disbelief in the hopes that she’ll elaborate in an effort to convince me.

She proves true to type.

“It’s not harsh enough. You don’t know that man. And she’s just like him. They call her Clover, you know? Like she was precious.”

I almost tell her that it’s because of her birthmarks, the one on her arm and the one on her face – the ones that I thought were good luck. But I catch myself and just nod instead.

“Turns outCloveris a regular old slut like the rest of us. And when her Daddy found out, he took it out on people who couldn’t fight back.”

“What?” I ask. The girl I met said she’d never been kissed before. This reeks of bitterness.

“She got fucking someone. But she wouldn’t give up his name. Drew Wolfe went on a mission to find the, how’d he put it…” she rolls her eyes skyward and her sneer deepens. “The little prick that thought his dick was good enough for his daughter’s pussy?”

“He actuallysaidthat? Her father?” I remember the casual cruelty he displayed that day at their house. But, she’s his kid. Monster was right. My mom has caught me with --- my thoughts come to a screeching halt as the rest of what she said sinks in. She was fucking someone in East Winsome?

“Not himself. He sent his goons to do his dirty work. Beat up a couple of the boys he managed to get his hands on. Just to drive his message home. And to think he wants to be governor. God help us. The corruption in this town, you wouldn’t believe.”

“Who was it? The guy she was with?”

“God only knows. I only saw her in East Winsome once. The night before her brother died. Must have been someone she met then.”

She’s talking about me. Her dad found out.

My stomach drops. Her eyes had been hauntingly grave when she’d warned me about this that day in the church.

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