Page 50

Maybe I’d made a huge mistake by moving. I could’ve had a good job with Dad’s company. He had contacts all over the world—maybe I could have lived abroad for a while. Instead, here I was in a shared apartment with a guy who hated me, and I’d failed a major exam, no less.

Was that the freedom for which I’d left home and moved to Woodshill?

Cut out this ridiculous rebellion.

As if hobbled, I walked toward my room and stood in the doorway.

The string lights, the throw blanket, the candles… I was just a stupid kid who’d just done what was forbidden for so long, without thinking about the consequences.

I let out a whimper, which grew into a growl. I entered the room with determination.

It had been a crazy idea. A failed experiment. Some things just couldn’t be escaped, no matter how hard you tried. If Mom wanted me to accept her fucking legacy, I had no choice. And probably I wouldn’t be able to become a teacher anyway, since I’d already failed an exam and my parents would be cutting off their financial support. What then?

My cheeks burning, I tore my suitcase out from behind the dresser and started shoveling my belongings into it. First my books and the perfume bottles from the shelf. Then I tore open the dresser drawers. Some of my clothes poured out on the floor. I cursed. The heat in me was building.

“What are you doing?”

I didn’t stop. Who cared if Kaden found it appropriate to talk with me again?

“What does it look like?” I shot back, without looking at him.

“You look like a madwoman tearing her room apart.”

I turned to glare at him.

“I’m packing.”

“What for?”

“I’m going home.” I managed to squeeze out the words, though I could hardly call Lincoln, Nebraska home. Not after I’d learned what it felt like to be happy somewhere.

“Why?” he probed, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

I had to pull myself together, not to yell at him. “Is this the Inquisition?”

He lifted his shoulders, and a smile twitched on his lips.

A fuse burned through in my brain. “I don’t know why you have to show up now of all times, when you’ve done everything in the past few days to avoid me.”

Now he grinned.

“Oh, admit it. You missed me.”

Snorting, I turned back around and threw more of my stuff into the suitcase. Finding his sweater in my dresser, I threw it at him. To my surprise, he caught it. Now I was so mad that couldn’t do anything but stare into the empty drawer, panting.

“Does your mother have you deeper in her claws?” Kaden came closer. “You don’t have to do what she wants, Allie. No idea what she did to you, but now you can do and be what you want.”

I turned and paused for a second. “You might have this luxury. Not me.”

“Why not?” He looked serious.

“Can’t you just leave me alone?” I asked.

“No.”

“Good, let me put it another way: Please leave me alone and find a girl who can deal with your shit! I don’t have the time or desire to deal with your mood swings.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Mood swings? Look who’s talking!”