Page 18 of Finding Secrets


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He rubs his thumb tenderly against my skirt. “I’m sorry. I just get protective over you, Eden. Iloveyou.” He keeps his eyes on the road, but the ticking of his jaw doesn’t stop.

“I know. I love you, too.”

8

Eden

Age 16

“She already has a match, praise the Divine. But I want to send my thanks for the offer.”

I chew my bacon slowly as Mr. Donovan ends the conversation on the phone.

As I approach eighteen, others are trying to determine if the Divine has spoken about my match, the person I am meant to be with as a wife. The thought makes my gut sink to the floor. I almost have to spit the bacon back on the plate.

“Who was that?” Samuel asked, cutting his sausage link rougher than necessary.

“Jack Pelkins,” Mr. Donovan says dryly. Samuel snatches the rest of the sausage off his fork. “He wanted to see if his son, Travis, was a match for our little Eden here.”

The tension makes all my nerves settle into fight-or-flight mode. I don’t know what this is, but the air is growing thick with every short phrase.

He gives me a smile of reassurance.

“I’m not little Eden. Just Eden. I don’t think I am so little anymore.” I straighten as I cut into my over easy eggs, and Samuel chuckles as he chews. “You told them I was already matched. That the Divine had already picked for me. Is that true?”

Samuel sips from his coffee, eyeing his father and me over the rim of his mug.

“Yes. It is.” Mr. Donovan says, not looking my way.

I choke on my own coffee, causing Samuel to laugh again. “When? Who?”

“Patience. You are only sixteen. We don’t need to talk about this just yet. Enjoy your high school days.”

“But—”

Samuel shoots me a look that says,Stop pressing the issue.

I look him over. He is dressed in a suit just like Mr. Donovan. He has been taking his protégé duties really seriously. He’s looking more and more like our father as the years go on.

He was always a good-looking guy, but now, at twenty-one, he is starting to morph into a handsomeman.Everyone can see it. I have to hear about it every day at school, howthey want to be claimed as his chosen wife from the Divine. The girls are praying to the Divine for that very reason, which makes me chuckle but also grosses me out. It makes me wonder why Samuel hasn’t been given a wife yet. He is of age to receive one—past the age, really.

I don’t realize I am staring at him until his eyes land hard on mine.

“What?”

“What?” I retort, scrunching my nose.

“You’re the one that was staring at me.”

“I zoned out. I wasn’t staring atyouper se.”

“And here I thought you are admiring my good looks.” He grins at me, kicking my foot under the table.

“Ew. No.” I chuckle, but his eyes darken. “What?”

“Nothing. Just didn’t realize you are immune to handsome men.”

“Did I hurt your feelings or something?” I give him my best pouty face. His gaze drops to my lips. “Is big brother offended that little sister doesn’t think he is some sexy man like all the girls in this town think?”