Page 153 of Burning Daylight

Preston drums his fingers on the table, looking at me like I’m a child who’s amusing him instead of listening to the gravity of my words. “She said you were still like this.”

I grit my teeth, something hot and fiery unfurling in my chest. “Spoiler alert, this is who I am. Maybe you should go fuck her instead.”

He frowns. “Watch your mouth. I’m justsaying.”

I breathe deeply through my nose, my fingernails pressing crescents into my palm.

“Mm,” I hum, picking up my wine to take a sip. Mainly to give my hands something to do so I don’t reach across the table and throttle him to death. “Well, considering I’ve only seen her a grand total of three times since I’ve been back from college,just sayingmight not be a winning move on your part.”

Preston grimaces, and then he leans forward, and here comes his damn hand again, reaching out to grasp the top of mine.

Why does he keep doing that?

He winks, and I imagine clawing his eyes from his face. “I’m on your side. Promise.”

Pressing my fingertips to my temple, I shake my head again. “Right. Of course you are. Would you excuse me? I need the ladies’ room.”

He nods and takes his hand back, watching me closely. “I’ll order us dessert.”

“Great,” I say flatly.

My stomach is reeling when I walk to the restrooms, trying to find the balance between being full of decorum, the way I’m supposed to be, and knowing that yet another person has taken what I say and shoved it into a box of “how cute, of course she’s saying this,” the same way that he always has.

I move into the single-stall restroom, walking to the sink and pressing the back of my hand to my mouth to hold in the scream.

My lungs feel like they’re being squeezed by fists commandeered by my mother, and maybe it’s because, deep down, I know this is the future they’ve always planned for me. Mapped out, airtight, and I’ve just been living in a carefully crafted delusion of my own making. Pretending that if I want whattheywant, if I perform well enough, it will start to feel like freedom.

I pull my phone from my purse and bypass Felicity’s text asking if I’ve cut off Preston’s dick yet, and bring up the group chat with my brothers.

The Calloway Kings (and Queen)

Me:

Can one of you come save me from this date?

Alex:

You’re on a date?

Me:

Yes. I’m at Dante’s, and I just need to leave. Come get me, PLEASE.

Paxton:

Just call the car.

Scoffing, I roll my eyes. Of course, Paxton would think it’s that easy. Ican’tjust call a car to take me away from the date that our parents put together. They pay the drivers.

Me:

Pax, what’s it like to be permanently lodged up Mom and Dad’s ass all the time? I can’t call the driver. I’m trying to make a grand escape.

Alex:

What’s in it for me?

Me: