Page 91 of Lilly

"But then where would you live during school breaks?"

"I'd go stay with my aunt and uncle."

"Has your uncle heard anything from your mom?"

"Yeah, she called him a few days ago with the same sob story she gave me. She asked him to pick her up in Texas and drive her here, and when he refused, she threatened to steal money from the bar she works at in order to get bus fare."

"And what did your uncle say?"

"He told her that what she does isn't his business and that if she comes back here she's not staying with him." He sits up on his forearm. "I don't want to talk about this. I'm not going to waste what little time we have together talking about my parents or your dad."

"You want to go outside? We could go in my art studio."

"Yeah, we could do that. But first I have to do this." He leans down and kisses me, a long, slow kiss, then he looks at me. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah. What?"

"If your dad told you to break up with me, would you do it?"

I pause. "No. Why would you even ask that?"

"It's just that you're a lot closer to your family than I am to mine and I know you try to please them."

It's true, but I wish it wasn't. I wish I could stand up to them more, especially my dad. I try to stand up to him, but I'm not always strong enough to do it. He's hard to say no to. He doesn't always listen and sometimes he demands rather than asks and I'm afraid to tell him no.

"I wouldn't break up with you," I say. "I'm not letting my dad have a say in this. This is my life and I get to choose who I want to be with." I sit up. "Come on. Let's go out to my studio. I want to show you the new painting I'm working on."

Reed stays for the rest of the afternoon, then Rachel invites him to dinner. The dinner is awkward because my dad keeps looking at Reed like he shouldn't be here. But like I told Reed, I'm not breaking up with him no matter what my dad says. The problem is Dean, not Reed, and I won't let my dad punish Reed or me for things that have nothing to do with us.

Chapter Twenty

Pearce

"She's not going to admit to being involved in this," Rachel says as she follows me into my office.

"I don't expect her to." I get my phone out. "But I need her to be aware that I know what's going on."

"She already knows that. I'm sure Phillip told her you were at that meeting and saw Reed's father."

"Yes, but I need Katherine to know I'm keeping a close watch on her so that she doesn't try to cause even more damage." I walk up to Rachel. "This won't be a long conversation. I'll say what I need to say and that's it. But I need you to keep Lilly away. I don't want her overhearing anything."

"Yes, I know." She kisses me. "Good luck."

She leaves and I call Katherine using a throwaway phone because if she sees it's me calling, she won't answer.

"Hello," she snaps. The woman always sounds angry, even when answering the phone.

"Hello, Katherine."

"Pearce." I hear the smile in her voice. She knows why I'm calling and she's happy about it, pleased with herself for the trouble she's caused. "How lovely to hear from you."

"I know you're behind this stunt with Dean Ashford and I promise you I will put a stop to it."

"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about. I don't know anyone by that name."

"Reed's father. You're trying to make him a member and you're using Phillip to do it."

She laughs. "Where did you come up with such a ridiculous story? I rarely even talk to Phillip."

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