In all my excitement and eagerness to get out this morning, I’d completely forgotten about filling Jade and Grady in about my supposed date. I wasn’t sure why, but for some reason I’d decided that not telling them would be better than having them rib me about what they’d expected to happen.

“Nothing,” I replied. “We ate burgers, spoke about stuff, and danced. That was it.”

Grady’s brows rose into his messy hair. “You’re telling me my brother, Mr. Charming,” he threw his hands up in dramatic flair, “didn’t try a move on you?”

“He was a perfect gentleman,” I said, trying not to sound too defensive.

Jade snorted, and I gave her a hard look. “I’m serious. It’s not like I was going to spread my legs for him or anything.”

Judging by the expressions on their faces, my friends obviously thought that’s exactly what I was going to do. Ha. As if.

“Seriously guys,” I added. “It wasn’t like that.”

Grady was the first to respond. “That’s a first for him.”

“Believe it or not, your brother is a nice guy, and by mutual agreement,” – of the nonverbal kind, I think – “we’ve decided to be friends, and nothing more.”

“Does this have something to do with the fact that you’re still a virgin? Did that scare him off?”

I gaped at Jade. “No! It has nothing to do with…that. And for your information, my v-card was traded in when I was in Georgia with my grandparents last year.”

I slapped my hand over my mouth. I had no intention of divulging that little nugget of truth to anyone, ever, and there I went just blabbing it out at the first opportunity.

“What?” Jade’s voice was shrill, and the pitch so high it made my ears ring. Holy cheese on toast.

I shrugged like it was no big deal, but in actual fact, it was. Unlike most girls my age, the story of losing my virginity was actually a sweet one. As uncomfortable as it had been, it happened with someone I’d grown to care about, someone who had helped piece me back together after my world had burned to the ground.

“How do I not know this?” Jade looked genuinely hurt, and even had her hand on her chest for effect.

“It’s not something I wanted to share,” I replied softly. “It’s too personal.”

“But I’m your closest friend. You can tell me anything.”

Jade’s eyes started to grow wet, and something akin to guilt flourished inside my chest.

Grady took her hand in his. “Jade, are you sure everything’s okay, sweet pea? You’re crazy emotional today.”

It took her a minute to compose herself, but I took her other hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just wanted to keep it to myself.”

“I’m being silly,” replied Jade. “I feel so unlike myself at the moment, and it’s driving me crazy. You’ll tell me about it sometime right?”

I smiled weakly, and gave a brief nod. I had no intention of telling her that story, but she’d forget about it in a day or two, and never think of it again. Appeasing her with a lie was all I could do.

Our bonding was interrupted when my phone rang, so I bent down, and grabbed it from my purse. I smiled when I saw it was Lucy calling. We hadn’t spoken in days, which was too long by my standards. I slid my finger across the screen, and pressed my phone to my ear.

“Hi, Luce.”

“Kennedy, sweetheart. Are you busy?”

She sounded flustered, and somewhat nervous. My brows furrowed.

“Not right now,” I replied. “Is everything okay?”

“Your father wanted me to call you, and invite you for an early dinner. Him and Shelly have something he needs to discuss with you.”

Those simple words made my stomach drop through the floor, and likely into the apartment below us. My father never contacted me, let alone invited me for dinner. Not that I would willingly go if he had extended an invite. The man was, for all intents and purposes, a complete stranger to me. I couldn’t imagine what he could possibly have to talk to me about.

“Uh,” I hesitated, unsure of what to say.

“It’s quite important, sweetheart.”

The pleading in Lucy’s voice was unmistakable, and it only made my sudden anxiety ratchet up a few notches.

“O-okay” I stuttered dumbly. “What time?”

“Can you be here by five?”

I checked my (new) watch, noting it was already two in the afternoon. I’d have to leave at four to be there on time since my father and his wife lived an hour away in Brighton.

“Okay.” I was starting to sound like a broken record, but who could blame me? This request was completely out of left field.

“I’ll see you then, sweetheart. Drive safe, all right?”

“See you, Luce.”

I ended the call, and stared at my phone.

“What’s wrong?” Asked Jade. She knew I was talking to Lucy, and could probably see by the expression on my face that it wasn’t good.

“My father has invited me to dinner. Apparently him and the stepmonster have something to discuss with me.”

I chanced a look at her, and found exactly what I’d expected. Real shock. Not the kind she expressed when she saw my new hairstyle. But real, ‘knock-me-on-my-ass’ shock.

Grady chuckled, completely oblivious to the wordless communication happening between Jade and me. “Stepmonster?”

When we didn’t reply immediately he leaned his elbows on the counter, and waited. Luckily it was Jade who responded.

“Yeah, that’s putting it mildly. What do you think they want to talk about?” The question was directed at me, but I couldn’t answer, so I just shook my head.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Offered Jade. I was so tempted to say yes, because going alone terrified me, but I had to do it.

“That’s okay, but be on standby in case we need to call in the reinforcements.”

With my mood suddenly in the toilet, I got up, and made my way to my bedroom. I needed a moment to give myself a mental pep talk. Instead, I found myself wishing my brother were here.

THE HOUR DRIVE to my father’s house went by quicker than I’d hoped. Before I knew it, their driveway stretched out in front of me, and I stopped in front of the door. The last time I was here it was easier because my father and his wife weren’t at home, but the thought of seeing them now made my stomach twist painfully, pushing bile up my throat.

“I can do this,” I muttered into the silence of my Jeep. I took a deep breath, and mustered up as much Dutch courage as I could. There was no one to greet me at the door, so I didn’t bother with knocking. I let myself in, and nervously glanced around. Nothing about the place felt familiar anymore, despite having spent more than half my life in the confines of these walls. It was still as cold, and unwelcoming as I’d remembered.

Lucy walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “Kennedy, you made it.”

She took my hand, and I followed her into the dining room. She stopped just outside, and gave my hands a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be here when it’s over, don’t forget that.”

I didn’t have time to ask her what she was carrying about. She scurried away, and left me to fend for myself.

“Kennedy.” My fathers’ voice crawled over my skin, and I suddenly wished I’d had the foresight to accept Jade’s offer to come with me. I had a terrible feeling in my stomach that this wasn’t going to be a pleasant visit. Still, I straightened my stance, and walked through the doors leading to our dining room with an air of confidence I didn’t possess. I had to keep myself together because if there was one thing my father could do it was smell fear.

He was seated at the head of the table dressed in a business suit looking every bit like the predator he was. People feared him, and they had every reason to. His exterior was so well put together, with his dark brown hair perfectly combed, his angular face freshly shaven, and his physically intimidating stature. He was designed to lure people in with all those things, and when they were trapped, he took full advantage.