asked.
“Yeah,” I answered.
“Dude, that girl is wicked hot,” Bran said. “If you aren’t going to make a move, I will.”
With just a look, I threatened to snap his neck. “She’s. Off. Limits.”
Bran rolled his eyes. “If you aren’t fucking her, someone should.”
My hand shot across the table and I gripped him by the throat. Everyone froze, unable to believe I made good on my word. “Talk about her like that again and I won’t let go.” I squeezed his windpipe before I relaxed my hand.
“Damn…” Tony eyed me with a fearful look. “Scotty is in love with this girl.”
I didn’t confirm or deny it.
“Or he’s just crazy,” Bran said.
Keira smiled. “Maybe both.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Livia
I wasn’t looking forward to this.
At all.
Sometimes, during my darkest moments, I admitted I hated my parents. I immediately felt guilty just for thinking it but I couldn’t help it. I was so different from them. I didn’t care about my money or appearances. All I wanted was to paint.
After I got ready, wearing a nice dress and a cardigan, I waited for Ash to pick me up.
My phone vibrated and my brother’s name appeared on the screen. You’re going to kill me…
That didn’t sound good. What? You better not be bailing.
I’m sicker than a dog. I think I have alcohol poisoning.
Suck it up!
I can’t stop throwing up. If I go to dinner, I’m going to puke all over your food.
That’s fine with me.
Livia, you’ll be fine.
Don’t leave me alone with those psychopaths.
Then you better cancel right now because they are probably almost to your place.
They are picking me up? God, I hated my life.
I’m sorry. I would go if I could. You know that.
I groaned. My brother wouldn’t leave me high and dry unless he had no choice. I’ll bring you soup later.
Don’t bother. I’ll just throw it up.
Well, get better.
Good luck. Don’t let them get to you. You’re way better than they’ll ever be.
Sometimes my brother could be sweet. Thanks.
As soon as I put the phone down, they knocked on the door.
Kill me now.
It was awkward in the car. No one spoke. I wondered if my parents were just as uncomfortable by Ash’s absence. I sat in the backseat of the BMW, wishing I could just disappear.
We arrived at the restaurant, and my snooty parents walked inside like they owned the damn place. My mom approached the stand and didn’t smile. She didn’t even give a greeting. “Reservation for James.”
The host nodded. “Right this way. Your other guest has already arrived.”
Other guest? What was he talking about?
We walked to the table in the corner, and I spotted a guy my age sitting with perfect posture. He wore a buttoned shirt with slacks. He had money written all over him. As we came closer, I felt a warning in my heart.
“William, how are you?” My mom approached him and let him kiss her on each cheek.
“Well.” He looked down at her. “You look beautiful this evening.” A perfect smile was plastered on his face. His teeth were unrealistically straight and white.
My mom waved off his compliment. “Thank you, dear.”
William shook my father’s hand. “It’s nice to see you, Bruce.”
“You too. How’s your father?”
“Well. Thank you.”
My mom grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. “This is my lovely daughter, Livia.”
Lovely? They’ve never called me that—ever.
William took me in with his eyes. Judging the gentle smolder in his eyes and the way his sight lingered on my petite waist he liked what he saw. He stepped closer to me. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
I wasn’t cut out for this pretentious fruity-tooty bullshit. “It’s nice to meet you.” I extended my hand to shake his.
Instead of shaking it, he brought it to his lips and kissed the surface.
Was this a Shakespearean play? I took my hand back and wiped it on my dress, thoroughly turned off by his lack of charm.
We took our seats at the table, and my parents
“Yeah,” I answered.
“Dude, that girl is wicked hot,” Bran said. “If you aren’t going to make a move, I will.”
With just a look, I threatened to snap his neck. “She’s. Off. Limits.”
Bran rolled his eyes. “If you aren’t fucking her, someone should.”
My hand shot across the table and I gripped him by the throat. Everyone froze, unable to believe I made good on my word. “Talk about her like that again and I won’t let go.” I squeezed his windpipe before I relaxed my hand.
“Damn…” Tony eyed me with a fearful look. “Scotty is in love with this girl.”
I didn’t confirm or deny it.
“Or he’s just crazy,” Bran said.
Keira smiled. “Maybe both.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Livia
I wasn’t looking forward to this.
At all.
Sometimes, during my darkest moments, I admitted I hated my parents. I immediately felt guilty just for thinking it but I couldn’t help it. I was so different from them. I didn’t care about my money or appearances. All I wanted was to paint.
After I got ready, wearing a nice dress and a cardigan, I waited for Ash to pick me up.
My phone vibrated and my brother’s name appeared on the screen. You’re going to kill me…
That didn’t sound good. What? You better not be bailing.
I’m sicker than a dog. I think I have alcohol poisoning.
Suck it up!
I can’t stop throwing up. If I go to dinner, I’m going to puke all over your food.
That’s fine with me.
Livia, you’ll be fine.
Don’t leave me alone with those psychopaths.
Then you better cancel right now because they are probably almost to your place.
They are picking me up? God, I hated my life.
I’m sorry. I would go if I could. You know that.
I groaned. My brother wouldn’t leave me high and dry unless he had no choice. I’ll bring you soup later.
Don’t bother. I’ll just throw it up.
Well, get better.
Good luck. Don’t let them get to you. You’re way better than they’ll ever be.
Sometimes my brother could be sweet. Thanks.
As soon as I put the phone down, they knocked on the door.
Kill me now.
It was awkward in the car. No one spoke. I wondered if my parents were just as uncomfortable by Ash’s absence. I sat in the backseat of the BMW, wishing I could just disappear.
We arrived at the restaurant, and my snooty parents walked inside like they owned the damn place. My mom approached the stand and didn’t smile. She didn’t even give a greeting. “Reservation for James.”
The host nodded. “Right this way. Your other guest has already arrived.”
Other guest? What was he talking about?
We walked to the table in the corner, and I spotted a guy my age sitting with perfect posture. He wore a buttoned shirt with slacks. He had money written all over him. As we came closer, I felt a warning in my heart.
“William, how are you?” My mom approached him and let him kiss her on each cheek.
“Well.” He looked down at her. “You look beautiful this evening.” A perfect smile was plastered on his face. His teeth were unrealistically straight and white.
My mom waved off his compliment. “Thank you, dear.”
William shook my father’s hand. “It’s nice to see you, Bruce.”
“You too. How’s your father?”
“Well. Thank you.”
My mom grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. “This is my lovely daughter, Livia.”
Lovely? They’ve never called me that—ever.
William took me in with his eyes. Judging the gentle smolder in his eyes and the way his sight lingered on my petite waist he liked what he saw. He stepped closer to me. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
I wasn’t cut out for this pretentious fruity-tooty bullshit. “It’s nice to meet you.” I extended my hand to shake his.
Instead of shaking it, he brought it to his lips and kissed the surface.
Was this a Shakespearean play? I took my hand back and wiped it on my dress, thoroughly turned off by his lack of charm.
We took our seats at the table, and my parents
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