Page 7 of The White Enchantress

I sink my head in defeat, piling the rest of my breakfast into my mouth as I think about everything Josh had just told me. I know I’m stubborn, but mostly I’m scared of this life I was brought into. “I’ll call Ed tonight,” I say into my empty plate.

“Are you mad at me?”

Looking up at Josh, I see the hurt in his eyes. Josh cares so much for me. Our friendship means everything to him as it does to me. “How could I ever be mad at you? Josh, you are my person. The only person in the whole world who knows me. Except for maybe my dad. I just didn’t realize he was also my person.”

“I’m glad we are finally on the same page.” Josh stands up. “And now I’m going to pass back out on my luxurious bed upstairs. You are exhausting, Guin.”

“Sleep tight!”

After hearing Josh’s harsh truths, I feel like I finally have the courage to talk to my dad and tell him everything that happened with Wesley. I think of what to say as I replay the scene in my mind.

I had been sitting at the table waiting for Wesley to bring me a cup of tea when the realization hit me. We weren’t in a real relationship, at least not one I wanted. Suddenly I couldn’t even stand the idea of Wesley’s lips on mine anymore. As I fell into a whirlwind of questions, I could hear Wesley’s voice, but I didn’t register what he had asked me, as this epiphany was all I could hear.

Looking up at him, a cuppa in his hands, I said, “Wesley, look, I’m sorry. I don’t think this is what I want.”

“Tea?”

“No, you. Us. I don’t want to marry you.”

“I haven’t even asked you yet, Guinevere.”

“I know. But we both know where this is going if we keep up the charade.”

“Maybe you just need time to think about things. I can wait for you.”

“Wesley, do you love me?”

“Yes.”

“Yes? Why haven’t you told me before now?”

He shrugged, that deadpan look on his face that I didn’t realize I hated.

“You don’t love me, Wesley. Let’s end this now before our parents get too excited.”

I got up to leave then, but Wesley grabbed my shoulder, sitting me back down. “You don’t want me, Guinevere? After nine months, all of a sudden, now you don’t want this anymore? I don’t think that’s very fair to me.”

“Let go of me, Wesley.” I tried to throw him off me, but his grip tightened.

“No, I don’t think so. You are going to give me what I want.”

“Get the fuck off me!” I screamed as loud as I could, hoping that Leo was close enough to hear me. He was supposed to pick me up mid-morning.

Before I could yell again, Wesley slapped my face with his right hand, then covered my mouth with his other. “You don’t get to walk away from me as if I am nothing. I have given you nine months of my life. Wasted my precious time just to make you happy. This was never about falling in love, Guinevere. What a silly notion. You must truly think that you will take the earldom from your father when he is dead. Stupid woman. Only men can be earls,Guin. Your father wants me to become Earl. This American dream you are picturing, it will never be true for you.”

“Fuck you,” I spit in his hand.

“So unladylike. What would your father say?”

I pushed his hand away from my mouth but he kept a firm grip on my shoulder. “My father would never do that to me. Ed made me his heir. I am his eldest.”

“Guinevere, you are so naive. No wonder it was this easy to charm you.”

My opportunity came as he loosened his grip, thinking I was not a threat. I took aim, smashing my head into his nose. There was a horrible crunching sound, much louder than when I had broken Cecily’s nose. Wesley jumped back, screaming as blood began to pour down his perfectly symmetrical face. Wasting no time, I kicked him off me and ran straight for the door.

I shiver at the memory. But I can’t keep it hidden any longer. I pull my phone out of my pocket, open my favorites and call my dad’s cell. It goes straight to voicemail.Of fucking course!I always get so anxious when leaving a voicemail. And the content of what I want to say is way too much for a voicemail. Instead, I hang up immediately and send Ed a text telling him to call me back.

Chapter 3

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