Page 34 of The Wicked Love

My mom would come home and say, “How was school, Bec?” Only she called me that.

And I would say, “Same thing, different day.”

I would walk through our kitchen and start to walk past her. And just when I stepped in front of her, she would grab my shoulders and pull me into her for a hug. Her hugs often lasted ten seconds or more.

She was always big on cherishing every second of the day. She never left the house without a hug or kiss on the cheek and an exchange ofI love yous.

After our hug, I would walk up to my father’s office and say hello. He would always be in a meeting for work.

I would knock on the door.

My knuckles pound the earth next to me.

He would say, “Come in.”

Then, I would open the door, poke my head in, awkwardly smile to everyone in the meeting, and say, “Hi, Dad.”

He would smile and nod. “Hi, sweetie.”

I would close the door and head to my room to either start on homework or distract myself with something else.

When Callum and I were still together, he would pick me up, and we would hang out together for hours—just riding in his car, listening to music, or going to a movie or something. We were inseparable.

Someone clears their throat near me, and if it wasn’t for my ability to immediately recognize a voice, I would have jumped internally, but I remain calm externally while I prepare for anything and everything about to come my way.

But before he even finishes announcing himself, I know it is Keanu. More than likely summoning me back to the hotel for some urgent thing.

“Yes, Keanu?” I ask with my eyes still closed.

“Sophie called, said she needed your help with something at the hotel. Didn’t give details.”

I sit up and slowly open my eyes. “Okay, let’s go.”

I look up, and Keanu’s hand is outstretched. And I hope he doesn’t take it too personally when I stand up on my own.

He nods his head as I walk past, heading to the SUV we arrived in.

The drive to Chambers is quiet. I tend to say few words after these visits. It’s frustrating. Because I have a dictionary full of words on the tip of my tongue, but every time I go to open my mouth, that pain in my chest throbs, and my lips seal shut.

When the car pulls to a stop, Keanu gets out and opens my door. And flowers are thrust into my face. I shove them away to reveal a beaming Sophie.

“What is going on?” I demand.

She literally hops. “A certain someone dropped these off for you today.”

My eyes dance across the red roses in Sophie’s hand. And before I can stop it, my heart flutters.Callum?

“Austin dropped them off with this note.” Handing me a white notecard with hearts, she shrugs. “I already read it. He wants you to meet him in the lobby at eight for dinner. He’s picking you up.”

Oh no.

Sophie’s brows furrow at my hesitation. “What? I thought you guys hit it off.”

Ugh, Sophie, you have no idea.

He’s tolerable, but I don’t care about him, and I don’t want to spend time with him unless it’s benefiting me.

My brain bounces through a million scenarios before landing on the chosen one. “I mean, yeah, we did. Okay, fine. But you and Rose are coming too.”