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“Aye, aye, captain.” Daniel throws me a cheeky salute before turning and heading for the bathroom, the pillow still firmly in place. I watch him go, enjoying the sight of his ass jiggling with every clomping step he takes.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.Redressed in his tuxedo, Daniel leaves the room, the door clicking shut behind him. Seconds later, my mother bangs on it, screaming my name and waking up every guest in the hotel.

“Harrison Garrison Price! Open this door now!”

I cringe at her shouting my full name, not because now the world knows my name, but because I’ve always hated that my first and middle names are essentially the same. My dad wanted to name me Garrison, but my mom wanted to name me Harrison, and thus, Harrison Garrison was born on a blustery day in the middle of November.

Reluctantly, I drag myself out of bed and peek through the peephole. Sure enough, there’s my mother, more furious than I’ve ever seen her. Her perfectly styled hair hangs loose around her face, which has turned an alarming shade of red. She’s still in her dress from last night, though it’s now a disheveled mess, and her shoes are nowhere to be found.

I briefly consider pretending I’m not here, but I know she won’t quit banging and screaming until I open up. With a heavy sigh, I unlock the door and crack it open a smidge.

“What do you want, Mother?” I ask, working hard to keep my tone level.

But she doesn’t answer. Instead, she shoves the door the rest of the way open with surprising strength, sending me stumbling back into the wall. Pain lances through my lower back where it connects with the closet doorknob. I barely have time to register it before she storms into the room, steam shooting from her ears.

“What the hell is going on here, Harrison?” she demands,hands on her hips as she whirls to face me. “I just saw that Hollingsworth boy leaving your room, looking mighty pleased with himself. And in last night’s tuxedo, no less!”

I wince at the shrillness of her voice while rubbing my throbbing back. “It’s not what you think, Mother.”

“Oh, no?” She arches one still-perfectly plucked eyebrow. “Then please enlighten me. Because from where I’m standing, it looks an awful lot like you spent the night with him. In this very room.”

Her gaze darts around, taking in the rumpled sheets, the scattered clothing on the floor, and the tissues in the trash can. Shame and defiance war within me.

“So what if I did?” I challenge, lifting my chin. “I’m an adult, Mother. Who I sleep with is none of your business.”

Her nostrils flare, and for a moment, I think she might breathe fire. “None of my business? You made it my business when you decided to cavort with him under my nose at my anniversary party! Do you have any idea how this looks or what people will say?”

“I don’t give a damn what people will say!” I snap, my temper flaring to match hers. “I’m sick and tired of living my life according to your rules and expectations. When do I get to be happy, huh? When do I get to make my own choices? If you don’t care about me, then why the hell do you care what or who I do?”

“Happiness? You think sleeping around with men will make you happy? It’s a phase, Harrison. A youthful rebellion. It’s time to grow up and face reality. You have a duty to this family, to our name and reputation.That’swhat I care about.”

I open my mouth to argue back, but before I can get a word in edgewise, she holds up a perfectly manicured hand, silencing me.

“And another thing,” she continues, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone, “you seem to forget that the Hollingsworth boy’s parents are pillars of this community, same as your father and I. Do you honestly think they’ll stand idly by while theirgolden child runs around with other men? Especially someone likeyou?”

Her words are a slap to the face, knocking the wind and fury out of me. As much as I hate to admit it, there’s a kernel of truth to what she’s saying. Daniel’s family has a legacy to protect. And the two of us don’t fit into their perfect picture of what his future should be.

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry and tight. “What do you expect me to do then, Mother?” I ask, hating how small and defeated my voice sounds. “End things with him? Pretend last night never happened? That I don’t…”

I trail off, unable to say the words out loud.That I don’t have feelings for him.

That I’m not falling for him, hard and fast, and completely against my will.

She sighs, and for a moment, her face softens. She looks almost sympathetic. “I know it’s not easy, darling. Matters of the heart never are. But we make sacrifices for the greater good. For our family and our future. Surely you can understand that.”

I don’t have it in me to hear more from her. Maybe not ever again.

Grabbing my shoes and my jacket, I rush out, ignoring her angry cries to come back.

Chapter 21

Quaking in My Boots

Charlie

It’s beenthree weeks since Olivia dropped a nuclear bomb on my life. Three weeks since she and Daniel broke up over her incredulous assumption that we’re in love with each other. I’ve been stewing over it nonstop, driving myself insane.

I have to talk to someone, so here I am, FaceTiming Roy at five in the morning because I’m an awesome brother like that.