Rose snatches my hoodie, and she physically tugs me backwards.
“What the fuck?” My heart lurches, and I spin around and quickly jerk from her hold, my pulse skipping. I frown deeply, not understanding Rose Calloway at all.
She should want me to leave. Not force me to stay.
“Are you asking her to prom?” Rose questions. “Because this is the most pathetic proposal I’ve ever seen. You need flowers, first of all.”
“I’m not asking her to prom.” My voice shakes. I can’t help it. Prom. I won’t even be at Dalton for prom. The cold realization ices me over more than the winter air. Just let it out. I lick my lips and say, “I came to tell her that I’m leaving, and I guess to tell you too.” I nod to Lily.
No more Superheroes & Scones. Shit. I glance at Loren, but he still glares, so I avert my gaze to the ground.
“What do you mean?” Lily asks.
Rose stares off in the distance, over my shoulder. Not paying attention to me anymore. She must see something because she grabs a coat from inside and slips on a pair of boots in the doorway.
I focus on Lily. “My parents handed me my only Christmas present this morning: a white envelope.” Bitterness dries out my voice. “I…they are withdrawing me from Dalton and sending me to this boarding school for ‘proper guidance’ to finish my senior year.”
Rose passes me on the stoop. Honestly, I’m glad she’s set her sight on someone other than me.
“Where is it?” Lily wonders.
“Upstate New York,” I say. “Faust Boarding School for Young Boys.”
Loren lets out a long laugh. Maybe he’s happy I’ll be out of his cousin’s life, but maybe not. I don’t know. His humor is too dry to read.
“Lo.” Lily elbows his waist. “Don’t be mean.”
My brows furrow, not understanding either of them. “What?”
“Connor went to Faust,” Loren explains, “and from the stories he’s shared, you won’t last a day.” He flashes a half-smile.
“Great,” I mutter and stare harder at the doormat. Coming here was a terrible idea. I just feel ten thousand times worse. I turn to leave, but his voice stops me.
“Hey,” Loren calls out. “You want to see my si—cousin Willow, right?” He stumbles over his words, but I zone in on the Willow part. Hope floods me for a second. Will he really let me stay?
“Yeah.” I nod over and over. “I just need to tell her about Faust. It won’t take long.”
Loren drapes his arms over his wife’s shoulders, pulling her back against his chest.
I swear she kind of unconsciously grinds her ass against him, but I try not to pay attention. If Lily noticed that I noticed, I think she’d be embarrassed.
Loren appraises me head to toe. “Connor says that I’m too forgiving—that you’ll probably bite my hand off if I extend it again.”
I won’t. I open my mouth to say the words, but a lump lodges in my throat. I feel sick.
Loren grimaces at me and then shakes his head. “Christ, I must be a masochist.” He nods to me. “You want to wait for Willow, then you have to do it outside. You’re not allowed in the house, got it?”
“Got it.”
“He’ll freeze,” Lily combats.
“Then he freezes, Lil. It’s his choice.”
Lily pouts like he’s being a dick.
Loren steals a kiss, and her cheeks flush bright red.
“You’re deflecting,” Lily notes.
“Me?” Loren feigns surprise. “Not me, love. I would never.”
I clear my throat, and Loren’s face contorts in a multitude of emotions. Landing on irritation. Lily starts advocating for me again—for maybe two or three full minutes—but it only makes Lo more and more pissed at me.
“I’ll be fine,” I suddenly say. Pulling my beanie further down, I warm my ears. “It’s why God created fleece-lined pants, right?”
“Let’s not give God credit for clothes,” Connor says as he saunters up the porch steps. He barely glances at me—like I’m not worthy of that attention. His face is utterly unreadable, but when he leans towards Loren, he says loudly, “He’s not coming in the house.”
Connor wanted me to hear that.
Loren nods. “He’ll be by the pool.”
At this, Connor disappears further into the house. He looks back as Rose picks up her confident gait and reaches his side. Hand-in-hand, they’re gone.
Lily detaches from her husband and races after them screeching, “What happened?!” Whatever that’s about, I’ll probably never know.
I’m lucky I’ve even been standing here this long.
Now it’s just me and Loren Hale.
Do you hate me? I want to ask, but I’m afraid. I can admit that this time.
Another dry smile dimples his cheeks, but then he nods towards the outside. “I’ll show you to the pool around back.”
“I can find it myself.”
“Just follow me.” He shuts the door and then passes me on the stairs. His sharp glare could kill.
I trail after him. So much rams into my brain. I can hardly make sense of anything, and some of which, it’s not my place to share. Like the guys at the mall, the ones that fucked with Willow because they personally hate Loren Hale.