I lick my lips as I look in the bathroom mirror. My hair is down in big waves. Placing my hands in it, I bend over and fluff it, giving it some volume. Standing, I run my hands down the front of my holey jeans.
We’re having dinner tonight with my mother.
I asked her if I could have some friends over for dinner, and she looked at me like I was someone she’s never met. I know it’s not a good idea, but at this point, I don’t care. I want her to see that Seth is long gone. And that her lovely plan she had for my life is crumbling. ’Cause Deke sure as hell isn’t what she wants for my future.
I hear the doorbell ring, and I run out of my bathroom and down the stairs, yelling, “I’ll get it.”
Opening the door, I smile up at the prettiest man I’ve ever seen. I hate how he makes me feel, yet I can’t push him away. I can’t deny that Deke has gotten under my skin in the worst way.
“Hey, princess.” He steps into the house and wraps his arms around me, picking my feet off the floor. His lips crash down on mine, and I wrap my arms around his neck, kissing him like I’m desperate for him. I just saw him last night for a couple of hours, but it doesn’t feel like enough.
I don’t know how my sister ever thought he wasn’t enough for her. He would have given her the world, but he’s going to destroy mine.
I’m just waiting for that other shoe to drop. For everything to come crashing down and kill whatever this is that we have.
“Oh, get a room,” I hear Cole grumble.
I pull away from Deke’s lips and giggle. That’s another thing I do lately. I used to be disgusted with the girls at school who went all happily stupid over boys. And now I’m there.
I see Austin enter the house, and she holds a dish in her hands. “You didn’t have to bring anything.”
“I figured I could at least bring dessert.” She shrugs, and Cole pulls her into his side, kissing her head. I don’t know what all happened last week, but whatever it was, it’s like they’re finally breathing fresh air. They both seem very happy. And I can’t be more thrilled for them.
“Thank you,” I say, taking it from her, and then ask, “Where’s Lilly?”
“She’s at home with Misty,” Cole answers.
“Deke?”
We all turn to see my mother standing in the foyer. She’s wearing a pair of black slacks with a red silk top. She has her blond hair up in a tight bun and her black rimmed glasses hanging from her neck.
“Becky isn’t here,” she tells him.
I swallow the anger at her words, and say, “Deke is here to have dinner with us tonight, Mom.”
She tilts her head to the side as if she doesn’t understand my meaning. So I reach out, grab his hand, and place it in mine. Looking up at him, I give him a big smile. “We’re dating,” I say in case my show of affection wasn’t enough. I’m not sure what the hell we are exactly, and I don’t care. I’m not one of those girls who has to put a label on things. I just wanna piss her off.
I hear Cole cover a small laugh with a cough. He fails.
“I see.” She grabs her pearls and then turns, giving us her back and walking toward the formal dining room.
“This’ll be fun,” Cole mumbles. “Like that one time I had dinner with your father,” he tells Austin, and she sighs.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
DEKE
“THIS LOOKS AMAZING,” Austin says, looking over the table covered with food.
Angelica had her chefs make a variety from escargot to a kale salad and blackened salmon. Just to name a few things. It’s like they couldn’t decide exactly what they were in the mood for.
“So.” Her mother starts before I can even get a piece of bread on my plate. “When did you two start dating? You were just here a few weeks ago to take out my other daughter.”
“Does it matter?” Demi challenges her mother.
She arches a brow. “I’m guessing this has to do with the reason your sister ran back to Collins.”
I’m not sure why in the hell Demi wanted us to come over here for dinner tonight, but when she asked me the other day, I wasn’t gonna tell her no. She had a smile on her face, which I seem to see a lot of lately, and was lying underneath me completely naked. I would have said yes to anything. And I’ve decided that’s a very dangerous thing. But one I’m not going to question.
“I’m not sure, why don’t you ask her?” Demi offers.
Her mother’s already sharp jaw tightens. She opens her mouth when Austin speaks. “I love the new color you chose for the formal dining room, Mrs. Lawrence.”
Cole smirks at her trying to divert the conversation in such a bad way. Austin ignores him.
Angelica looks over at her, and her eyes drop to the red ruby engagement ring. “How do your parents feel about you being engaged at such a young age, Austin?” she asks.
She wipes the corner of her mouth with her napkin, looking unaffected by Demi’s mother. “Well, I’m pretty sure my mother is dead.” Cole stiffens beside her, and Demi’s eyes shoot to mine. “And my father is in prison for life. So I don’t think they care.”
Silence falls over the table, and I take a sip of my water. She couldn’t be more correct. Her mother is dead all right. Cole and I killed her and her stepdad.
I lie in Becky’s bed at her father’s house watching a movie when my cell alerts me of a message.
“Who is it?” Becky asks.
“It’s from Cole.” I open it up.
Cole: You busy?
Me: I’m with Becky. What’s up?
Cole: I have something that needs to be taken care of.
Me: I can be ready whenever.
Cole: Give me five.
“I gotta go,” I say, getting out of her bed.
“What?” She jumps up. “You just got here.”
I grab my black leather jacket off the back of her chair. “Cole needs me.”
She comes over to me, and I refrain from sighing because I can tell she’s pissed. “Cole always needs you.”
“Don’t,” I warn, walking over to her door.
“Deke.” She grabs my hand. “What does he need?”
I don’t answer. “I’ll come back.”
“When?” she demands.
“When I’m done,” I say and exit her room. I walk down the stairs and out the front door. As I jump into my Range Rover, I see her sister pull up. She comes to an abrupt stop and jumps out. She all but runs to the front door and shoves it open before storming inside. Maybe I got out just in time.
I pull out my cell and try calling him, but it rings several times before his voicemail finally picks up. I put the SUV in gear and pull out of their driveway as my phone rings. It’s Cole calling me back.
“Hey, man. What’s up?” I answer.
I hear his tires squealing, letting me know he’s left wherever he was. Probably with Austin. “Austin’s mother is in town. With her new husband.”
“Okay,” I say slowly.
He takes in a deep breath. I know absolutely nothing about her mother or stepdad, or anything about her life before she moved here to Collins three months ago. “They were waiting for Austin when we walked into Bruce’s house.”