Page 56 of Trustfall

I rear back at him, fire in my eyes.

“Does your father know that you’re fucking that trashy neighbor of yours? How about your brother?”

“W-what? How…”

“You think just because I left, I haven’t been watching your every move? Took you a while to get over me, I’ll give you that. You wouldn’t let anyone touch you for years. Until none other than Lucas Collins comes waltzing in. One of Nate’s best friends, no? Wonder what Nate would think about Luke fucking his little sister. It would also be a shame for something to happen to that little construction business he’s trying to keep afloat. So sad about his father. Mental illness can be hard for family members to accept,” he says with mock concern.

My blood is boiling. He’s been keeping tabs on me. He knows about Luke. He used my fucking father to get to me.

“Are—are you threatening him?” I hate that I can’t help the shaking of my voice.

He chuckles. “Of course not. As I said, I don’t want. I don’t threaten. I just get.”

I know I don’t want to know the answer to this question. Mostly, because I already know it, but he’s threatening Luke. His family business. His dad. I can’t let him get caught up in this. This is my battle.

“What then? What will you get?” I shout as I throw my hands up.

“You, of course, but you already knew that. Unblock my number and call me when you want to go over the specifics. It’s the first one I texted you from,” he says. “And tell your father thank you for having me. Dinner was delicious.” He places his napkin down gingerly and stands up before walking out of the room.

I look down at all the uneaten food still sitting on the table where Maeve left it. It’s been way longer than ten minutes, and my dad hasn’t come back. I start dishing food onto both of our plates, moving it around and eating nibbles from each plate to make it look like we both attempted to eat dinner. I’m not sure why I do it. I just don’t have it in me to explain anything to my dad. I call for Maeve and ask her to let my dad know that Jaxon got called away and that I’m tired and going to head home. She nods her head and gets to work clearing the table.

As I head out to my car, all the emotions from the past hour catch up to me at once. The nausea I've been holding back all night finally hits me, and I run to a bush by the house and heave into it, spilling everything I just ate and drank. Tears dot my cheeks as I wipe my mouth and open the door to my car. This day went from one of the best I’ve had in years to one of the worst in a matter of minutes.

On the drive home, the reality of Jaxon’s words hit me like a head-on collision.

Why not start molding the perfect, obedient trophy wife while in college?

I broke you in.

I missed the little bit of fight you had in you.

He doesn’t want to punish me. He wants to tie me to him forever. He wants tomarryme.

20

LUKE

I head backto the couch from the fridge, uncapping my fourth beer of the night. I know I shouldn’t self-medicate, but every sip helps me forget about the voicemail waiting on my phone. The one I haven’t listened to yet. Well, not all of it. I listened to the first two seconds but stopped it as soon as I heard my dad’s rough voice come through the speaker. My dad called me. He reached out. And I’m a fucking coward because I can’t even listen to the damn message. I take a sip of my beer, and my head starts to swim with the memories of that night.

“You’re throwing your life away, Lucas,” Dad yells. He stands with his hands pressed against the kitchen table, his dinner forgotten.

“Just because you were a fuck-up, doesn’t mean that’s going to happen to me,” I throw back.

Mom puts a hand on my arm. “Luke, honey. That’s not fair.”

“I don’t care, Mom. He’s been on my ass for months about this. I’m not going to college. I didn’t even fucking apply. Graduation is tomorrow. It’s done. I’m spending one last summer with my friends, and then I’m traveling the country. I saved up enough money to last me for six months before I even have to get a job.”

“And what are you going to do for work, huh?” Dad spits out.

“I’ll find something.”

His jaw clicks. “Sounds like a great plan.” The sarcasm rolls off his tongue, slithering around the two of us like a serpent.

“It’s my life. I’m eighteen. I don’t need your approval or your money. I don’t need anything from you anymore.” I kick my feet out in front of me crossing them at the ankles.

“You’re making a mistake. I want you to have a proper education first, but if you refuse, then at least come work for me.”

“Don’t even start that shit again. I don’t want to work in construction. I’ve told you a hundred times.”

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