Page 5 of Rebel Romeo

Typical Dorsey political manipulation, even with their own son.

Maybe especially with their own son.

How did my mom even find Katherine? I’d been so careful not to mention any girl in my life…

Shit. That conversation with my mom. She’d been drunk but I’d talked about a friend in my theater class. A talented freshman. We only had two freshman girls in that whole class… Bailey and Katherine.

What were the chances my mom found Katherine this fast?

The chances were better than these two running into each other accidentally, that was for sure.

Seeing red, I marched over to them not sure of what I was going to say. Hell, I wasn’t really thinking much of anything.

“Take the check,” Mom said.

“I don’t want your money,” Katherine snapped. “I don’t want another penny from your family.”

I nearly stumbled over the sidewalk at that. Another penny from our family? Had she taken a payoff from my mom before? Or did she know? Did she know I was her secret buyer, asking for things from her that I should never want, let alone be paying her for.

“In fact,” Katherine said, continuing. “I had quit the show with Holden this morning, but just because you thought you could buy me off? I’m emailing the professor right now to rescind my resignation.” Katherine yanks her phone from her purse and starts typing.

“You have to trust me, this is for your own good,” my mom pleaded with her. “This is one part. One class. All you need to do is stay away from my son?—”

“Mom!” I shouted and she jumped, nearly tipping over on the kitten heels she was teetering on.

“Holden!” Mom clasped the collar of her silk button down shirt. “You scared me.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I asked, stepping between her and Katherine.

Her eyes darted between Katherine and me. “I-I’m here to see you, of course!” Mom held out her arms to hug me. “I wanted you to see I was okay despite our little chat the other night.”

“Uh-huh.” I let her hug me regardless, though I didn't hug her in return. Instead, I yanked the check from her hand and held it up between us. “And what’s this? What was all that talk the other night about your regrets? About how much you wished I would find someone special?”

I glanced at the check, written out to Katherine Harris for ten-thousand dollars.

Holy shit.

The fact that Katherine didn’t take that money, when I knew how badly she needed it, spoke so highly of her character. I had no doubts Addison would have taken that check in a heartbeat, just like Megan did.

Mom winced as I threw her own words back in her face. “I did mean that. I do regret what we did to Megan and I want you to find someone.”

“Just not me,” Katherine said, deadpan, folding her arms. Then she looked at me. “Like mother, like son, huh?”

I did a double take at Katherine. “One crazy thing at a time, please.” Then I turned back to my mom. “Go home, Mom. Go back to dad and to your martinis and your club and stay out of my love life. And feel free to pass that message onto Dad, too.”

Mom looked briefly hurt. “Your father doesn’t know I’m here. But trust me, be happy I’m the one here and not him. He won’t be nearly as generous with his offer.”

I glared at my mom. He didn’t just give Megan money. He destroyed her. He wanted me to see once and for all just how untrustworthy she was…

And he proved his point well. Too well.

Because it also revealed how truly awful he was.

I glanced back at Katherine, holding up the check. “Do you want this?” My throat burned with the question. I wouldn’t blame her if she took it. She wasn’t Megan. And Megan didn’t only take a payoff. She broke my fucking heart; she and my dad obliterated me, ensuring we’d never ever get back together again.

“No,” Kate hissed, her blue eyes like ice.

Relief twisted through my core, but I held in my sigh. Instead, I tore the check up, tossing the pieces at my unflinching mother. “Well, there’s your answer. And next time you’re too drunk to function, call someone else to take care of you.”

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