novelxo Chapter 281
Chapter 281
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Jerome and I stay at my father’s house for the next few hours, until dark begins to encroach on the day, mostly because…well, I can’t think of a graceful early exit that doesn’t make it look like I’m not scurrying off to Kent to tell him everything my father just said.
Which, quite frankly, is exactly what I want to do.
Instead we stay for the next few hours, drinking Aperol spritzes. with my father and my step–mom, chatting lightly and watching as the Romulus runs around the back yard. The sun has already started to fall when Jerome looks worriedly at his phone and taps its face, asking me, silently, if I’ve checked mine at all today.
I shrug, silently letting him know I didn’t bring a phone. Jerome’s eyes go wide and he exhales a huge, exasperated breath, so I make my excuses and get us out of my father’s house as quickly as I can.
“Are you serious, Fay?” Jerome hisses, taking me by the elbow as we head down the front steps.
“You sure as hell sound like a Lippert now,” I whisper, giving him a little glare. “Why? What’d I miss?”
“Apparently Daniel’s been trying to reach you for hours,” he
Chapter 281
whispers. “You were supposed to be home, and dressed for dinner, 45 minutes ago!”
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“Well nobody told me!” I protest as we arrive at the car, quickly climbing in.
“Yes, Fay, they did!” Jerome retorts, sliding into the driver’s seat and slamming the door behind him as I fasten my seatbelt. “You just didn’t bring the very tiny, very handy communication device they used to tell you!”
“But you’re my communication device,” I tease, pouting a little.
Jerome rolls his eyes at me, not buying my cute act, and peels out of the driveway, clearly eager to get us home as fast as he can because he knows that he’ll get blamed because…well. He’s sleeping with one of the bosses, but not the right one.
We’re on the road for a few quiet minutes before Jerome
surprises me.
“What the hell are you getting into, Fay,” he asks, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
“Huh?” is my brilliant reply.
“Why did you come here?” he asks, turning to me. “Are you like…getting information?”
“I’m seeing my dad,” I murmur, turning to look away out the window.
Chapter 281
“Fay,” Jerome sighs, shaking his head.
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“What?” I ask, spinning back to him, a little pissed now at being countered. Jerome, at least, I thought was on my side.
“Why can’t you just chill out?” he asks, gripping the steering wheel tight in his hands. “Just…be a mafia bride? Dress in pretty things, go ride your horse, buy…literally anything you want?”
“Do you really think I’d be happy with that?” I ask, my voice soft and a little incredulous.
“Kid,” Jerome says, turning to me and staring at me like I’m an idiot. “Who wouldn’t be happy with that?”
“Do you want to be a mafia princess?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
“Well, no,” he replies, frowning and staring out the windshield. “But I’m a –”
“A boy?” I ask, interrupting, a little miffed at his implications. “Is that the difference?”
Jerome glares at me a little, but I can see in expression that I’ve caught him a bit. “Not born to it,” he corrects.
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“Jerome,” I say, sighing and slumping down in my seat. “I’m… I’m playing this day by day, as you are. We’re both mixed up with someone it’s impossible to be with. Can we just be allies on
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this? Support each other? I mean, neither of us has chosen the easy path. Can you please stop criticizing me for making the exact choices you have?”
My friend glances at me, a little chagrined, and I know he knows I’m right.
Jerome is silent for a moment before he speaks again. “It’s not good, Fay,” he whispers. “I know you’re figuring it out too.”
“What?” I ask, sitting up, suddenly alert.
“Alden,” he says, glancing over at me. “He asked me, today, if I would be…interested in joining his ranks,” he confesses. “He said he asked because you’re clearly so fond of me and he wants you to have someone you like when you come back into his fold.”
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