“What is this?” I grab the brochure from his hand.
“You told me you wanted to study abroad for a semester. There’s still time to apply, and the lady at the administration office told me you would be a shoo-in.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I want us to see the world together, Charlie. We’ll start with Europe while you’re in London. We can travel on weekends. I don’t want to go anywhere without you, babe. Those miserable six weeks we were apart were enough.”
I’m on the verge of crying, but I keep the tears at bay for the moment. I gave up on the idea because of Ben before, but my brother has proven to me over and over again that he doesn’t need me to be his champion. He can fight his own battles.
I want Troy to come to a realization of his own as well. Jane told me what today is, and the haunted glints I caught in his eyes a few times when he thought I wasn’t looking killed me. I don’t want Troy to keep carrying this immense guilt.
“I will apply under one condition.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“I want you to stop blaming yourself for what happened to your brother.”
He recoils, closing off his expression in an instant. Facing away from me, he breathes out heavily. “I wish it were that simple, Charlie. My own parents told me it was my fault.”
“No offense, babe, but your parents are vile. Ophelia told me what happened. Your parents got distracted, socializing, and didn’t see when Robbie removed his water wings. She was the one who raised the alarm when she got near the pool. Do you remember that?”
“No, not really.” He presses a closed fist against his chest. “My memories of the pool are blurry at best. My only vivid memory is of my mother shaking me in a rage, screaming it was my fault.”
“Oh, Troy.” I throw my arm around his shoulders and hug him tight. “I’m so sorry.”
He leans into me. “How come Grandma never told me that story?”
“She did, many times over. But I think you just blocked her out.”
Troy turns to me. “Thank you for telling me again.”
His eyes are so damn sad, but at least the anguish is gone.
“I couldn’t let you keep believing that lie. You’re a good person, Troy, better than anyone I know. You deserve to be free of that awful guilt.”
He cups my cheek. “You’re so good to me, Charlie. Sometimes, I think I’m dreaming.”
“Not a dream, I promise.” I place a featherlight kiss on his lips. “So, do we have a deal?”
“If that means I get to see the world with you by my side, yes, that’s a deal.”
*** THE END ***
Not ready to say goodbye to this world yet? Make sure to pre-order Heart Breaker, book two in the Rebels of Rushmore series.
PRE-ORDER HEART BREAKER
Heart Breaker
Player.
Casanova.
Heartbreaker.
I’ve heard it all. But the truth is, I’m the king of wanting what I can’t have.
Jane is a beacon of light I didn’t expect to find. Her innocence and joy call to my dark soul.
But she’s off-limits, my best friend’s kid sister. And I’m a damaged jerk with enough baggage to fill a jet plane.
All it took was one taste for my resolve to stay away to crumble. Now I can’t get her out of my head, out of my mangled heart.
If her brother finds out about us, he might kill me. If Jane finds out about my past, she’ll never speak to me again.
This love is a disaster waiting to happen, and yet, I can’t help going back for more.
PRE-ORDER HEART BREAKER
Also by Michelle Hercules
Paranormal Romance:
Dark Prince (Blueblood Vampires #1)
Wild Thing (Blueblood Vampires #2)
Forgotten Heir (Blueblood Vampires #3)
Reckless Times (Gifted Academy #5)
Contemporary Romance:
Wonderwall (Love Me, I’m Famous #1)
Sugar, We’re Going Down (Love Me, I’m Famous #2)
Wreck of the Day (Love Me, I’m Famous #3)
Devils Don’t Fly (Love Me, I’m Famous #4)
Love Me Like You Do (Love Me, I’m Famous #5)
Catch You (Love Me, I’m Famous #6)
All The Right Moves
Heart Stopper (Rebels of Rushmore #1)
Reverse Harem Romance:
Wicked Gods (Gifted Academy #1)
Ruthless Idols (Gifted Academy #2)
Hateful Heroes (Gifted Academy #3)
Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4)
Lost Horizon (Oz in Space #1)
Magic Void (Oz in Space #2)
Red’s Alphas (Wolves of Crimson Hollow #1)
Wolf’s Calling (Wolves of Crimson Hollow #2)
Pack’s Queen (Wolves of Crimson Hollow #3)
Mother of Wolves (Wolves of Crimson Hollow #4)
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Michelle Hercules always knew creative arts were her calling but not in a million years did she think she would become an author. With a background in fashion design she thought she would follow that path. But one day, out of the blue, she had an idea for a book. One page turned into ten pages, ten pages turned into a hundred, and before she knew, her first novel, The Prophecy of Arcadia, was born.
Michelle Hercules resides in The Netherlands with her husband and daughter. She is currently working on the Blueblood Vampires series and the Rebels of Rushmore series.
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