Page 69 of Deliverance

“Take me back to my house, please.” I tack on.

Asher seems surprised. Normally I’m extremely clingy after we hook up, even I know that. It’s only because I’m desperate to establish some kind of connection that will move us forward. I’m not in the mood to grovel and be rejected, though.

Silently, Asher starts up his car again and makes the drive back to my house. If he doesn’t wake up and see that I’m the best option for him, and soon, I’m going to have to make other arrangements. Otherwise, my father is clearly going to make the arrangements for me and once that happens…I’m fucked.

Chapter Twenty Four

Maggie

I’m picking at the steak tartar in front of me with absolutely no appetite. Maybe that’s because Miles has been staring at me all night and attempting to play footsies with me under the table. I could literally throw up with how cringey this guy is. No wonder his parents feel the need to set him up. He’s twenty-five years old with no prospects. Most men get married, or at least engaged, right after graduation. Not Miles, though, and it’s not hard to see why.

His mother and mine are talking about some charity function they are running together while his father and Harry discuss business. Honestly, I’m not even sure what either of them do. I really don’t care to know either. It’s all the same in the Brethren. Oil, medicine, real estate, consumer businesses…that’s it. That’s all there needs to be to create an empire that rivals anything the new world has ever seen. At least that’s the bullshit we’ve been taught since birth.

The older men stand up and move towards Harry’s office while my mom and Bethany move into the kitchen, pouring a glass of wine as they gossip. That just leaves Miles, Bridgette, Brad, and me at the table. I’m not sure why they were dragged into coming. It’s not like they had to be here to witness this painful set up. Harry said he wanted ‘our family’ to dine with theirs. Whatever.

“So, Margret, want to show me your room?” Miles asks with a hopeful smile.

I can’t help but snort and shake my head. My god, this shit has got to stop. Glancing around to make sure Harry isn’t near, I lean forward.

“Look, Miles. You seem nice, but I’m gay. I’m not attracted to men. I’ll never be attracted to men, so…yeah. Sorry.”

He frowns for a moment before he shrugs, a small smirk replacing his disappointment.

“That’s kinda hot. Maybe I can watch you hook up with a girl sometime. We could get a girlfriend when we get married.”

Bridgette makes a disgusted sound as she shakes her head.

“Take a hint, dude. She’s never going to fuck you. At least not willingly,” she says, running a judgmental gaze over the lanky guy.

“He would never do such a thing, Bridge. Right, Miles?” Brad chimes in, going all big brother on him.

Miles pales as he shakes his head quickly.

“No! Never!”

I kinda like having a big brother. The sister I could do without, but it is what it is.

“Good. Why don’t I show you around,” Brad says, getting up from his seat beside Miles, practically hauling him to his feet as he ushers him upstairs.

Brad casts a look down to me and I mouth to him, ‘thank you.’ He gives me a small smile and a nod before they disappear up the stairs. My eyes come to the side where Bridgette is sitting. We glance at each other before looking away. Then, somehow, we find ourselves meeting each other’s eyes again. She is the first to break the silence, though.

“Well, he seems to be a real winner. He looks at your sexuality like a kink. Good luck with that,” she huffs.

I lift an eyebrow to her.

“Yeah, good luck whittling away at the Asher tree. Or was it Jeremy Stroughton? The way I hear it, you’re fucking them both.”

Her eyes widen at that as she lowers her voice.

“Who told you that?”

Wow. So it’s true. I was just bluffing. Fucking typical.

Shaking my head, I take a sip of my wine.

“Did you know Stroughton asked Skyla out on a date the other day?”

Bridgette’s brows cave in as she looks at me.