Page 22 of Rebellious

“Bennett doesn’t know about Thad,” I correct her.

“Does he know you’re considering forfeiting your own dream in order to stay in a relationship that will never be everything you want?”

I sigh and run my hands through my hair. “I’m not giving anything up for him.”

“It sounds like you’re considering it.”

I roll my eyes and she cuts me a stern look. “I’m sorry.” I sigh. “I just need more time with Bennett, Mom.”

Anniston Von Bremen, the queen of our castle, nods her head. “Take the time, Aspen, but when that time ends, make sure you do what makesyouhappy.”

“And if Bennett is what makes me happy?”

She frowns. “Then—”

“Why the fuck is Aspen crying?” My dad’s face appears, pressed up against the glass behind Mom. “Open the door, Anniston. Right this second.”

My mom grins, ignoring my father’s demands.

Their relationship hits me straight in the chest. What if Bennett never changes his rules? What if he can never love me like my dad loves my mom?

“Mom,” I whisper, hoping she hears it over my dad’s banging. “Am I a fool for loving someone who can never love me back?”

My father’s fist beats on the glass. “Swear to God, Anniston, I will break the window. Unlock the door. Tell me what’s wrong with Aspen!”

My mom reaches for my face. “No. You’re not a fool for loving someone more than you love yourself. But you might have to give Bennett the space to realize he feels the same way about you.”

I shake my head. “He’ll never break his rules.” Inhaling, I drop my head. “And I can’t ask him to.” One night I broke down and told my mother about Bennett’s rules. I needed to confide in someone, and she was the lucky winner.

“Who has a flashlight?” My dad still isn’t stopping. He’s determined to get in this car.

“No, you can’t ask Bennett to break his rules. Trust me, the Jamesons are stubborn men when they want to be, but you can give him the space to change the rules in his own time.” She kisses my cheek. “Now, we need to go before your father really breaks my window.”

No checking if I’m hard

Bennett

Aspen’s eyes are red.

Even if I hadn’t heard Theo yelling through the window, I would have known she’d been crying as soon as she got out of the car.

“You want my shrimp?” I glance sideways at my brother. He’s been bored ever since our parents made everyone put their phones in the middle of the table. Now I can’t even text Aspen to meet me in the bathroom to see what’s wrong. All I can do is stare at her puffy face across the table.

“No,” I tell him. “I don’t want your shrimp.”

His head cocks to the side. “What crawled up your ass in the past fifteen minutes?” He looks around me as if he’s looking for said ass-crawler.

“Nothing,” I snap, pushing around the green beans on my plate. As much as I love seeing my family all together, I’d very much like for them to disappear and give me some space with Aspen.

“Whatever,” he says in a stupid voice. “Pout away then.”

“I’m not pouting,” I clarify, for no other reason than to convince myself.

“Could have fooled me.”

I’m in no mood to deal with Drew’s shit. It was hard enough dealing with the eight million questions from my mom: “What’s wrong with Aspen? Are you two fighting? Is she pregnant?”

The pregnant question sent a flurry of gasps and a harsh look from my father. Fortunately, my brother and Fenn doubled over laughing, wheezing out between breaths that I wouldn’t even know how to impregnate Aspen.

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