Page 63 of Secrets We Fight

I snorted. “Do you even know how? You’ve never paid a bill in your life.”

Dad stood abruptly, the chair hitting the table behind him. “Both of you knock it off. I didn’t call you two in here to fight. I heard you did that in the Red Room last night. If anyone heard you two and reported it to the media, do you know how bad that would look for our family?”

“Why am I even here?” I questioned. “Finn’s the one who’s stealing my identity and opening credit cards in my name, as well as borrowing from loan sharks. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“You never do anything wrong. You’re the golden child,” Finn mocked and rolled his eyes.

I opened my mouth to respond, but my father spoke instead. “You’re here so you can be assured the situation is being handled.”

“I’m, like, one win away from paying everything off,” Finn huffed. “Calm down.”

I rolled my eyes but kept my mouth shut, waiting for my father to lay out his plan.

“You’re not gambling anymore. We’re going to pay off your debt, and you’re getting treatment for your addiction.”

“I don’t need help!” Finn stood.

“You will, and that’s an order.”

“From my father or the president?” Finn snorted as he paced in a circle.

“Do you think this is all a joke?” Dad asked. “Do you know what could’ve happened to Fallon in Atlantic City if his detail hadn’t been there?”

“He would have just been roughed up a little.”

“Roughed up?” I scoffed. “You really are delusional.”

“All right. We’re done here,” my father stated. “If I get wind of any more wrongdoing, the consequences will be worse.”

Finn wasn’t really facing any consequences, considering he got his debt paid off, but whatever.

At least my name wouldn’t be involved in his schemes anymore.

20

RHETT

Be ready to haul ass as soon as class is over

A small chuckleescaped my lips as I held the prepaid phone under the table and typed out a reply to Fallon:

You expecting some action before you take off for the wedding?

Hell yeah I am

Fallon was leaving in a couple of hours to attend Tyler and Hayden’s wedding, and I wasn’t going with him. Once he left, I was heading to Alexis’ house to pick up Poppy. She was turning four and it was the first time since she was born that I would be spending her birthday with her.

The moment Professor Holmes dismissed the class, Fallon jumped out of his seat and headed for the door. When we entered the hallway, Day met us and followed us outside.

“What’s the rush?” Day asked as Fallon practically ran down the steps outside.

“I forgot to wrap Tyler and Hayden’s present,” he lied. I’d seen the gift on his coffee table before we’d left for school. “I suck at wrapping, so it’ll probably take me a while, and I want to make sure we leave on time.”

Day glanced at me, and I shrugged, hoping he bought the excuse.

Fallon unlocked his Mustang, and I slid onto the leather passenger seat. Before I had a chance to buckle my seat belt, he shifted the car into reverse and pulled out of his spot.

“You need to wrap Tyler and Hayden’s gift?” I gave him a teasing look.