“Not happening.” I shifted impatiently and jerked my head to the side. “Step out of my way or I will physically move you.”
Her expression turned pleading, and she widened her eyes like she always had with Dad when she wanted her way. “Please, Easton. Just go on this one date. After that, I promise I won’t bother you again.”
I let out a breath and stared at the ground, shaking my head. “Why do you even care?”
“Because you’re my brother. I think you need…” She cleared her throat and averted her gaze. “Never mind what I think. It’s not important right now. Just…agree to the date and I’ll get off your back.”
I thought about that for a moment and then let out a low chuckle. “Fine. One date and that’s it. And when it doesn’t work out—and I know it won’t—you have to promise to leave me alone.”
“You’ll go?” She lifted up on her toes excitedly, her exuberant smile grating on my nerves.
“Yes, but I want your word that after this, you won’t stick your nose in my business. Any discussion of romantic relationships will be off the table. Do you understand?”
She glanced to the side as if weighing all her options and nodded after a moment’s contemplation. “I can live with that.”
“Excellent. I plan to hold you to it.”
“I’ll text you the details once I have them.”
“Fine. Now move aside so I can leave.”
Once I was out the door, I strode to my vehicle feeling grouchy and irritable. Why did everyone always think love was the answer? Maybe it worked out that way for some, but the divorce rate in the U.S. said differently. One day Charlotte would understand but until then…at least she’d leave me alone after this.
It wasn’t until I was driving away from the curb that I realized I hadn’t even seen a picture of this so-called blind date. I pictured one of Charlotte’s society friends and winced. Whatever. It didn’t matter who it was or what she looked like because nothing would come out of it as far as I was concerned. I was sick and tired of trying to pretend I had it in me to go the distance. What a waste of my time.
Chapter 2
Maya
9 years ago, high school
Charlotte twirled on her toes like a music box ballerina in front of the door leading to the cafeteria. “Guess who just got asked to the prom?”
Students hurried by to get lunch before the bell rang, and a few cast curious glances our way. Even though her parents were filthy rich and mine were middle class, we’d been best friends since kindergarten. We both attended King’s Prep School, a private Christian school noted for its high scores and reputation for preparing students for Ivy League universities. I had a partial scholarship, and my mom paid for the rest from money her parents left her before they passed away. Charlotte’s parents could have sent her to a more prestigious school, but they felt that King’s Prep School had a solid Biblical foundation. They chose a school that was important to them rather than one that was considered better in the world’s eyes.
“You got asked,” I said with a smile. “Does this mean we’ll be a foursome?”
“Yes! You and Liam can share a Limo with Declan and me, and if Sophia gets a date, we can make it six.”
“I can’t wait.”
Our friend, Sophia, jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow, her long red hair swinging over one shoulder. “Too bad you already said yes to Liam. Easton can’t seem to keep his eyes off you.” She giggled and tipped her head toward the outdoor tables, and both Charlotte and I turned to look.
Easton stood there, dirty blond hair falling over his forehead, blue eyes piercing and almost predatory as he stared at me unapologetically, though it wasn’t the stare of a guy who was interested. It was quite the opposite. Easton hated me. Couldn’t stand me. I never really understood why, but maybe it was because I was his sister’s friend, and I wasn’t rich. Perhaps he thought I wasn’t good enough to be in her circle.
My brows lowered, and I tore my gaze away from him, a sick feeling tumbling in my stomach. Whenever he was around, he drew me in as much as he repelled me, and that unnerved me a great deal. He was a bully, a player, and a conceited jerk, just to name a few of his wonderful qualities. He was self-serving in every way. Absolutely nothing like Charlotte.
But even so, I was extremely attracted to him against my will, and that made me madder than a cat thrown into a pool of ice-cold water.
“Not sure why you had to bring him into the conversation,” I said, staring at my fingernails. “Didn’t you get the memo, Sophia? He doesn’t like me. Never has.”
“He doesn’t have a good handle on his feelings,” Charlotte said. She tapped her chin with her forefinger and glanced at Easton and then back at me. “I don’t think he hates you.”
“Can we change the subject, please?” Talking about Easton made me uncomfortable, and even more than that, it brought discontentment into my life and made me long for something I didn’t have. Something I shouldn’t desire. He was bad news, and that was putting it lightly. I didn’t want to be with him, and yet, a part of me did. I had so much inner conflict when it came to him.
“Fine with me,” Charlotte said. “Let’s get out of here.” She stuck her tongue out at him, and I tried not to smirk at how juvenile she appeared. While we would all agree it wasn’t the mature thing to do by anyone’s standard, the look on his face was hilarious. He jerked back in surprise as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and I did my best not to laugh.
We walked away after that, and I forced myself not to glance at him over my shoulder. I turned my thoughts to Liam, and my shoulders instantly relaxed as the brown-haired boy with hazel eyes came to mind. He was a good guy. Kind. Funny. Sweet. And he’d asked me to the prom. I was a sophomore, and he was a junior in high school. We’d have a great time together.
Later that afternoon, I walked out of my English class and was about to head towards the front of the school to catch the bus when Liam weaved in and out of a group of students and jogged up to me. He stood with his hands at his waist, taking deep breaths as he bent forward ever so slightly. There was a fresh bruise around his right eye that looked bad.
“Maya, we need to talk.” His chest heaved up and down, and he had a crazed look about him as if something horrible had just happened.
“Did you just get in a fight?” I touched his arm, concerned.
“Sure, if that’s what you want to call it.” He blew out a breath and scowled. “Look, I can’t take you to the prom anymore. I’m sorry.” His expression was hard and unbending, not at all like the Liam I was used to seeing.
I frowned and stepped back, a sinking feeling in my stomach. “Who did that to you?”
He bit down on his bottom lip, anger seeping out of him. “Easton. He told me to drop you. Said I had to, or he’d…”
“He’s the one who gave you that bruise?”
“Yeah. It was a warning. He promised that he and his friends would jump me after school if I didn’t break off our date.” He scowled and wouldn’t make eye contact.