“They’ll be gone this time, but what about next time? Are you going to let them continue to make you feel this way forever?” I try and fail to keep a hint of displeasure out of my voice.
She shrugs it off and moves away, backing toward the apartment. “They’re my parents, they aren’t going away. It’ll blow over. At least you’ve won my dad over. Maybe you can write a devotional or something and get my mom on board too. I love you. I’ll text you soon.”
And she’s gone. Putting on my helmet and very safely coasting out of the parking lot, I hit one of my favorite winding backroads and fully intend to open her up and let the speed carry my troubles away when I remember I have Sloane to consider and ease off.Fuck.No drugs, no daredevil bike rides, no Sloane, no fights tonight…none of my vices are available anymore.What the fuck am I supposed to do now? Deal with feelings like an adult?Just as I’m contemplating setting Sloane’s apartment building on fire so she and her parents willhaveto leave, a text arrives from Jack.
Jack:
Problem with the kitchen contractors. One of them is married to a city councilwoman and is bragging about how she’s running for mayor on a family-based ticket, including ridding the city of “filth like this fucking club.”
Feeling a different kind of rage, the kind I can actually do something with, I reply, “Thank fuck. Be there in an hour.” Until I get Sloane home where she belongs, this is exactly what I need to keep busy. Hopefully, her parents leave soon. I refuse to wait much longer until she’s legally mine.
Chapter twenty-six
Thanksgiving went about as smoothly as it could, considering my heavily tattooed new boyfriend showed up on his motorcycle shortly after I broke the news that Dean was officially out of the picture.
I’m sitting in the living room of my apartment listening to my parents go on and on about how Dean will probably take me back if I apologize for everything, discounting the fact that they just met Ledger yesterday.
I can’t listen to them any longer. “I’m not going back to him. Don’t you understand that hecheatedon me? I’m with Ledger now, and I’mhappy.”
They look at me in shock before Mom speaks up. “Oh please, Sloane, I’m sure he has a perfectly good explanation for his behavior. As for Ledger, you know better than to date a guy likethat.”
“A guy like what, Mother?” I ask.
“A hoodlum riding around on a motorcycle, getting all those tattoos, fighting,” Mom says, putting her hand over herheart for emphasis. “And he’s thirty, Sloane. I cannot believe you thought you could lie to us about that. As if we wouldn’t have found out!”
I turn around and roll my eyes. I wonder what they would think about him if they knew he was a millionaire many times over.
“Anyway, that leads me to the great news! The company your dad and Mr. Christensen work for is hosting its annual Christmas party here next weekend, so we’ll be staying in town for another week. Isn’t that great? As always, family is encouraged to attend. I’m sure Dean will be there, so it’s the perfect opportunity to patch things up with him!”
Next weekend?No.That's the weekend Ledger and I were supposed to go to New York. There’s a huge event at one of the most prominent sex clubs in the country, and he was invited to attend as a business partner. We were going to spend Friday night enjoying the club and the weekend eating our weight in food and spending our nights on the town.
“I have plans for next weekend, Mom. I can’t go to the party, and I’mnotgetting back together with Dean!”
This must get my father’s attention because he snaps around from whatever TV show he’s watching to yell at me. “Youwillbe attending this party with us, and if I ever hear you talk to your mother like that again, I’ll pull you out of college, and you’ll be taking online classes from our house. Do you understand?”
I hang my head and reply with a defeated, “Yes, sir.”
I’m able to make it to the bathroom before the tears start falling. I pull out my phone and send Ledger a long text explaining why I won't be able to join him this weekend.
He’s been so understanding this past week about my parents, but I can tell it’s been bothering him, and I’m afraid he’s going to show up guns blazing and cause a scene.All I want to do is make everyone happy.
To my astonishment, he replies calmly.
Devil:
I’m so sorry, love. I know you were looking forward to this as much as I was. This is the last time you’ll have to put up with them treating you like that. When I get back, I’m making you mine. Legally. Fuck, I’m going to miss you.
Me:
Wait, are you still going?
Devil:
As long as it’s okay with you. I would really hate to back out after I’ve committed to attending, but say the word and I’ll stay. It’s probably best I’m as far away from your parents as I can be right now, though.
My heart drops in my chest. Ledger has been nothing but devoted to me, yet the thought of him there without me makes me doubt everything. I have to remind myself how irrational my jealousy is. In fact, I know if I told him how I felt, hewouldn’t go.I mean, I’m pretty sure he just insinuated he wants to marry me.This is a huge opportunity for him, so I need to take a deep breath and get it together.
Me:
