Page 150 of The Broken Note

I can see it.

It strikes me then, in the deepest caverns of my heart, that Dutch Cross doesn’t just want to screw me. He genuinely wants to knowme.I didn’t believe it before. Who would? The most powerful guy on campus… drawn to me? Ridiculous.

And yet I’m starting to think that I can trust him.

I offered my body up on a platter, and it didn’t mean as much as a simple phone call. An invitation into my life. A promise to share my thoughts, my burdens, my words.

It’s a little disconcerting to see the depth of his feelings and I have to blink to regain my bearings.

Dutch presses his hot mouth to my cheek, sending the butterflies in my stomach flying. I have to resist the urge to turn my head and let his mouth graze my lips instead.

Rick launches over to us, but Dutch just smirks.

“See you later, bro.”

“Bro? I’m not your bro!” Rick yells at Dutch’s retreating back.

Dutch doesn’t bother responding. He climbs into his car.

Rick fumes. “Is he one of those rich brothers in the rock band my girl likes?”

“Yeah,” I say breathlessly.

“Why is he taking you home then?”

“Because he likes me.” I stare at Dutch’s car as it drives past us.

“You?Why?”

I frown and whip my head back to Rick.

My half brother gasps. “He’s not paying you for sex, is he? Oh my go—Cadence, mom didn’t turn you into a prostitute to feed her habit, did she?”

“No. He’s…” I inhale deeply and let the word drift off my tongue. “He’s my boyfriend.”

Rick’s eyes go wide. “People like him don’t date people like us, Cadence. Not seriously.”

I fold my arms over my chest, feeling dumb and a little exposed. I never in a million years thought I’d voluntarily claim Dutch Cross as my boyfriend. Rick pointing out the obvious isn’t helping me feel any better.

“What do you want?” I ask roughly.

He scowls, and seems to debate whether he should continue ragging me about Dutch. My expression must show how unwelcome that would be because he sighs and glances down.

“It’s about mom.”

I wince. Rick and mom have a complicated history. I’ve been dragging my feet about telling him mom’s back because I don’t know what that’ll do to him. The less people who suffer because of mom’s reappearance, the better.

Rick’s eyes lift to mine. “She’s not dead.”

“Oh.” I breathe out in relief. “You knew.”

His head whips up. Shock tightens his voice. “Why do you sound so calm?”

“Mom showed up a couple weeks ago.” I fold my arms over my chest. The sun is starting to set and the wind is picking up with a cold chill. “It was only for one day. We haven’t seen her since.”

Dutch is actually the last person who saw mom. I don’t know what that means or why she’d prefer to spend her time lying to him rather than visiting her own children.

“She pawned one of my rings and left half the money with me. I thought she’d be back for it, but she hasn’t.” I tilt my head. “Maybe she skipped town.”