Page 188 of The Illicit Play

She snorts and lets out a weepy laugh, which her parents seem oblivious to as they hug her and continue to reassure her of their unwavering devotion.

CHAPTER 66

BLAKE

My parents clung like limpets until I felt nearly suffocated. I guess it needed to happen. I’d never been so honest with them before, and I felt the toll like a heavy weight. But they do love me, and maybe deep down I’ve always known it.

I still can’t help feeling like I’ll be battling for their approval, though.

But do I really need it?

It’d be nice to have it, but I can’t spend my life trying to please them.

It’s time to look after myself, and they’ll just have to love me through it.

“You good?” Grady glances at me.

I tuck a wayward curl behind my ear and smile at him. The sun is shining, we’re driving out of town in his Jeep, music is pumping, I’m walking boot-free and feeling better than I ever have. I am so much better than good.

It’s been a week since my parents’ visit, and with each passing day, I’ve felt stronger and more determined toprove that I can make the biggest success of my life. I have a job interview lined up tomorrow at a place called Ponderosa Villa. It’s for a cleaning position, which I’m a little nervous about since I grew up with housekeepers doing everything for me, but Grady ran me through how to clean a bathroom yesterday afternoon, and it’s not that hard.

Wily lined up the interview for me, and I’ll be meeting some woman named Rachel, who is apparently a sweetheart.

If I can get this gig, I’ll be working five days a week, and although it’s not a high-paying job, it’s not about the money. I just need something to get me into healthy habits and keep me busy until the new school year begins. I’m worried if I sit around Football Frat twiddling my thumbs, I’ll get antsy and want to do something stupid again.

Hopefully this job will work out just fine. Everyone’s agreed to let me stay in Football Frat, and although I’ve still got that spare room, I’ve been spending every night by Grady’s side.

I love how warm he is.

And his bed is so much more comfortable than mine.

He spoons me as we drift off to sleep, and it’s seriously the best.

Turning off the road, Grady heads down a winding path that will take us to some peaceful spot he discovered in his first year at Nolan.

“Your ankle should be up for this,” he’s saying. “The ground is flat, and we’ll take it slow and easy. It’s just a short hike.”

“I’m good.”

“But you’ll let me know if it gets too sore, right? You’re not allowed to just grit your teeth through it because you think I’ll be disappointed.”

I wrinkle my nose at him, but he fires me a pointed look before facing the road again.

“Promise me, Bee.”

“I promise,” I assure him, then say it one more time for good measure. “I promise to be honest. Always.”

His lips twitch, then curl into that grin I love so much.

This boy.

Raising the new camera Wily bought me the day I got my moon boot off (yes, he’s the sweetest brother ever!), I snap a few pics of my man, then check the display screen with a grin.

My heart trills, my insides sizzling as I think about all the things I want to do with him. Now that my ankle’s getting better and I can move around more freely…

“Okay, here we go.” He pulls his Jeep to a stop, and we climb out.

Hitching the small bag onto my shoulders, I carefully settle the camera across myself before following Grady onto the track leading west. We weave through the trees, leaving the trail about five minutes later and heading into denser woods.