It’s always me. True, I’m not an angel, but how are my actions always under a magnifying glass when I have two parents cheating on each other?
Maybe what I need to do is fake a private investigator profile and slip a tip to reporters on the local elections circuit. I’ve always thought about doing it, but not until Mom runs for something bigger, like Senate. I’ll do it up with the works, a real pro job that’ll fool anyone. The problem is, I don’t want to be the one to take the seedy photos of my double home-wrecking parents. It’s the same dilemma that trips me up every time I think out this plan.
Dad puts the car in gear and grimaces. “There’re photos. Illegal fighting, Connor, really? You know how important appearances are to your mother. I don’t have to remind you. A bad story like that could linger and be a roadblock in her political career.”
Grinding my teeth, I draw in a slow breath. It was up to Landry and his boys to make sure no photos or video got out. Idiots.
“Yeah, Dad. It’s only shoved down my throat every day.” I jerk my head in annoyance. Great. I made progress with Thea, but today’s session will probably suck worse than usual with my mood blackening like an oncoming storm. “Message received.”
He sighs. “It’s an important election year, son. You can’t have any missteps.”
How he can be so weak and pliant to Mom’s scheming political shit is baffling. Maybe he got used to the silver spoon life and is too afraid to challenge her. After all, she’s the reason he’s the principal of an elite private school, and he enjoys the money we get from granddad on top of their cushy incomes.
The urge to punch the nearest thing strangles me. “So she gets to have everything she wants, and the rest of us better fall in line?” I smack the dash in frustration. “Why the hell are we putting up with this? It’s stupid.”
Dad grants me a sober look. “It’s your mother. We have a good life because of her work. You’ll go off to college next year thanks to your grandfather’s money, so just do as she says until then.”
“What the fuck ever.”
How great is our life, really? It doesn’t seem so peachy. Our family is fractured, all three of us just existing in the same house.
“She wanted me to ask if—” Dad cuts off and frowns. “Did you mother talk to you about finding a date for this weekend and, er…”
What he doesn’t say is do I have a pretty puppet to play house with for the rest of the campaigning season.
“I have it covered.” I should’ve never dragged Thea into my mess. Goddamn it. My jaw clenches so hard a muscle jumps in my cheek. “My girlfriend will be there.”
I never told Mom I found someone and that I had no intention of picking from her folder. I guess part of me is trying to protect Thea from her, not prepared to subject her to the force of nature that spawned me. I’m a twisted fucker, but I learned from the best, I suppose. Apples and their goddamn trees.
When this started I was ready to throw Thea to the sharks, the same as I would anyone else. It didn’t matter before, but now? I’m not so sure.
At first it was routine blackmail, playing with a pawn. Except I’ve had a real taste of my little mouse.
I’m going to earn her trust so that I can keep her after we get through this charade together. She can be an ally instead of a pawn.
Thea waits by the coyote statue in front of the school sign after the last bell.
Therapy wasn’t as bad as I thought. Doctor Levitt was pleased when I explained how I worked through an episode and talked it out in the morning with Thea. She was on my mind all through the stilted lunch with my parents, helping me tune them out.
When Thea sees me, she smiles shyly, giving me a tiny wave. As I reach her, I put my arm around her shoulder.
“Is this okay?” I ask, steering her across the terrace.
Thea is hesitant, glancing around. People look, because I’m around and that’s what they do. She doesn’t seem used to being in the spotlight. “Yes. It’s good to practice being comfortable with touching for our big debut. What sort of dress do I need to wear?”
Practice. Right. “Uh, I don’t know. It’s black-tie, so a fancy one.”
“Fancy. Got it.” She shoots me a shy smile. “Do you clean up nice in a tux?”
The corner of my mouth lifts. “You bet your ass I do. You ain’t prepared, girl.”
“Will there be dancing?”
“No, it’s like.” I gesture with the hand around her shoulder, then play with her hair. “A dinner thing. There’s a cocktail hour and a banquet. The people going buy their plate and the funds are split between the campaign and the charity. It’s boring as fuck. I snuck out for two hours last year.”
Thea laughs. My smile grows. A few people watch us curiously as we cross the pavement on our way to the steps down to the student lot. As we pass, I give a few fist bumps to people that I recognize. Thea goes quiet and bows her head.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just weird being so close to your popularity.” She shoots me a wry look. “How do you get down a hallway to make it to class on time?”
She’s joking with me. It makes me want to get in the car and just drive with her, go somewhere we can be alone.
Before we reach the steps, Coleman walks by. Thea stops.
“Have a wonderful evening, Thea.”
“Thanks, Mr. C,” she says, abandoning self-consciousness.
I grind my teeth, not liking the way he looks at her. “Come on, babe.”
Thea turns her attention to me. Keeping half an eye on Coleman, I lean down and kiss the corner of her mouth, squeezing her close with my arm resting over her shoulders. She muffles a surprised sound, putting her hands on my stomach.
Possessive? Yes. Don’t fucking care.
Coleman clears his throat. I pull back, smirking at the pretty shade of pink in Thea’s cheeks.
“Gotta split, Mr. C.” I mimic Thea’s moniker for him in a sarcastic drawl. “My girl and I have a big date this weekend to plan out.”
Coleman’s look is unreadable, but I know I’ve won this round. He doesn’t have a leg to stand on. I’ll cut him off at the knees. Thea might be eighteen, but he’s a teacher, so he needs to step about eighty steps back from her before I fucking snap.
“Thea,” Coleman rumbles before leaving us be.
She narrows her eyes. Her defiant expressions are too adorable to resist. “Was that necessary?”
“Yes. Where were we?” I nudge her and we descend the steps to the lot full of top of the line rides. “How great I look in a bowtie, I think?”
Thea snorts. “So full of yourself.”
“I’d rather be full on you, sunshine.” I lick my lips and toss her a wink. She makes a delicious, scandalized little sound. “Say the word and I’m going to devour you.”
“Connor.” Her cheeks turn from pink to rosy. It’s too easy to rile her up.
I unlock the car with the fob and open her door for her. She hops up and I climb in on the driver’s side.
“What’s the event for?” Thea asks, clicking her seatbelt.
“Children’s hospital. A fundraiser benefit, sponsored by Mom’s campaign. She gives a speech, blah blah blah.” The engine rumbles to life and I pull out of the lot. “Really boring stuff. I hate that I have to go at all.”