“Emma, we’re here,” his voice coaxes me out of my wandering thoughts. He’s standing with the door open.
Shit, I really was out of it.
Rubbing my forehead, I step out of the car, “Sorry, T, I didn’t even notice we were here.”
“What’s going on? You’ve been out of it almost the entire time,” he inquires, walking me to the front door.
Stopping, I contemplate momentarily before I blurt out, “Has anyone heard from Summer or her parents?”
“The family has decided to take a break from the stress that the Selection process has caused them,” he responds stoically. “Now, go inside. Tonight’s a big night for you, Miss Bradford.”
My thoughts begin to scatter for a different reason. “Ugh. Why did you have to remind me? I was enjoying my perfect plan of avoidance,” I whine, stepping inside.
He laughs, and I know he thinks he’s redirected me, but I know an evasive maneuver when I see one. I won’t make a big deal out of it now, but I make a mental note to find more information on Summer’s whereabouts as I climb the stairs.
* * *
I stare at my Dad and the twins, all decked out in matching tuxes.
“How long do we have to wear these stuffy penguin things again?” Kellan asks, pulling at the bowtie.
“Yeah, this thing keeps giving me a wedgie,” Kylan adds, picking at said wedgie.
I have to hold my hand over my mouth to hide my laughter. Jamie, however, giggles until she’s snorting. She looks beautiful in her pantsuit. She refused to wear a dress, much to the stylist’s dismay. Jamie said, “I don’t need to be in a stupid dress to be pretty.” Dad was entirely on board with her decision.
Shaking his head, Dad says, “Just a few hours, guys.” Then, we’re all piling into the SUV.
As we pull up to the Calloways’ house, Dad’s expression smooths out, his laugh lines disappearing instantly. “Okay, tonight is serious. Remember what we talked about. After tonight, everyone will know you as a Bradford.”
My stomach bottoms out. I’m not looking forward to this announcement.
Dad squeezes my hand. “I know, Ry. This isn’t what we want, but it is what we must do,” he says before turning to grab the box lying on the seat next to him.
“I know. I’ll be fine.” I nod, taking another deep breath before exiting the car and heading to the front door.
The door opens by the time we make our way up the stairs, and the work we’ve spent weeks planning is on full display. Rowan’s house has been transformed into Christmas in New England. A giant pine tree is off to the side by the floor-to-ceiling window. It’s decorated in white, gold, and red, the color scheme for the evening.
I watch as Dad takes the box he carried in and walks to the tree before opening it and taking out our family ornament. As he hangs it, we stand by his side as a bellman announces our entrance, and I brace myself.
The burly man looks at his paper and then back to where we’re standing. His gaze oscillates between what’s written and the family before him. His shock is quickly masked as he puts back on his professional demeanor and bellows, “The Calloway family would like to welcome the Bradford family to the town’s annual Christmas ball.”
Gasps break out around the room, the loudest shriek belonging to Samantha before a woman who looks just like her leans in and whispers in her ear. Samantha’s posture straightens, and her lips thin.
I watch Donald Calloway walk to the podium, and the whispering crowd goes silent. “As you’ve just heard, the Bradfords are back.” My father steps away from the tree and walks toward the stage. Liam’s, Karl’s, and August’s fathers follow suit as Mr. Calloway continues, “The five founding bloodlines are now all back in Calloway. Aaron Bradford will take his place among us as a leader within the community. The Selection process will go on as planned. Thank you all for coming out.” Rowan’s father finishes, then steps from the mic, effectively cutting off any possibility for questions.
A tug on my dress has me looking down at Kylan. “Can we take off these stupid clothes yet?” His question cuts at the tension of the moment.
I smile, squatting to meet his eye. “Not yet, buddy, but if you hurry, there’s a snow globe bounce house down the hall.” That’s all that needs to be said. His beef with the tux is forgotten as he grabs Kellan’s hand and tugs him in the direction I pointed.
Standing, I turn to look for Jamie, only to see she’s run off already.
“That was smooth.” I look up to see Liam smirking as he and the other guys stand at the bottom of the short staircase. Sebastian holds out his hand to help me down the steps.
My feet aren’t fully planted when I see a sea of people converging on me.
Rowan turns around, facing the oncoming group. “Back the fuck up. You all acted like you didn’t want to know her before. Don’t try to know her now,” he barks, staring down the crowd of our classmates.
Shay elbows her way through the slowly dispersing crowd. “Unnuh move nuh, chuh. We nuh wan nuh fake fren roun ere. Suh, do- gwan bout yuh business,” she exclaims, looping her arm through mine once she reaches me. “Fuck these people. Let’s go have fun with your men.”
I’m about to correct her when I’m pulled from her into a hard chest.
“We’ll be back.” I hear Rowan state as I stare up into his mocha eyes. “We’ve got some shit to clear up.”
ROWAN
“Put me the fuck down, Rowan, or I’m going feed you your balls for Christmas dinner,” Emma yells.
I ignore her and her wiggling form until we’re safely in my room, and I lock the door, entering the code so she can’t escape. I’m over this ‘we’ll talk later’ shit.
Once the lock engages, I put a cursing Emma down on her feet. She rights herself and lunges. I give her the free shot- I deserve it. I did snatch her from the party, but fuck the party- we need to talk.
When she tries to slap me again, I grab her wrist, giving her enough time to swing her balled fist into my ribs. I grunt, bearing the succession of blows before I spin her and wrap her in a bear hold from behind. Her head flies back, but I move out of the way just as she would’ve connected with my nose.
“Calm the fuck down. I’m going to put you back down, and then we’re just going to talk- all I want to do is talk,” I plead, hoping she can hear the desperation in my voice.
I hear the heaving of her breaths from our quick sparring. “Fine. Just put me the fuck down,” she instructs, and I do.
Once she’s finally back on her now-bare feet, her silver heels scattered on my floor, Emma pulls down her royal blue dress. It’s fucking sinful on her. There’s a slit that goes up mid-thigh, just enough to show skin and still be deemed appropriate.
“Well, speak. I’m not in here so you can ogle me,” she snarks, stepping toward the wall that leads to my other room.
What I wouldn’t give to fill that fucking mouth of hers.
“I’ve been trying to tell you how sorry I am,” I pause, waiting for her usual interruption. Emma remains silent but crosses her arms, accentuating how delicious her chest looks in her dress. I fight the urge to reach out and snatch her then tease her until her nipples peak through the fabric. Instead, I grit my teeth until I know a moan won’t come out, and then I continue, “There’s no excuse for how I treated you when you first arrived. I was, and still am, a dick. I just don’t want to be a dick to you anymore.”
She rolls her eyes, and I want to fuck the brat right out of her. I can feel myself harden with each defiant look she awards me. I’m tallying up in my mind how hard I’m going to fuck her for this shit. “We’ve already established you’re a dick, Rowan. This isn’t breaking news.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.