Page 133 of Never You

“Not really,” I reply honestly.

Whatever I tell anyone, I know I’m to blame. I should’ve known my mother had something up her sleeve to make sure Iwouldn’t mess up their political plans. But I was stupid enough to think she’d never use my sister against me.

“Yeah, you can share that anyway, mate. This morning, you were all lovey dovey with the girl, saying you were set on staying with her. What happened?”

I grunt, raking my hand through my hair.

“My mother came in like a wrecking ball.”

“Ew, Jay. I’m going to have nightmares now.”

“Not the fucking Miley Cyrus one, dickhead.”

“Yeah, Igetthat!” he screeches, indignant. “It just happened, okay?”

“You’re a fucking idiot.”

“Says the man who just left his girl with a broken heart.”

I draw in a deep breath, checking the screen in front of me to find my gate.

“She threatened Della.”

He clears his throat. “How?”

“She’s going to marry her off if I don’t come home and get back together with Emily. At least until my dad is elected.”

“That fucking bitch,” Bodi mutters with clear frustration.

“Yeah.”

I listen to the silence as I imagine how Bodi is trying to wrap his head around what I just told him while I make my way to the gate. I could’ve asked for my mom to get me the jet, but there is not a fiber in my body that wants to talk to the woman unless I absolutely have to. I’m going home, trying to find a way that prevents any wedding from happening and then I never ever want to see that woman again.

She can rot in hell for all I care.

“Okay,” Bodi drawls, “but you’re not seriously going to get back together with Emily for another three months, right? Before you know it, your mother will find a way to get you on your knees to put a ring on it.”

“You really need to stop with the song references.”

“I’m serious, Jensen!” he growls in my ear.

“I know!” If anyone has always been against my parents’ wishes, it’s Bodi.

He’s always been trying to get me to do whatever I want, even though he always supported me through everything. He’s stood by me, pissing off my mom, because if I wasn’t going to tell her to go fuck herself, that was the least that he could do.

“No! But I can’t let Della get married either. She’s seventeen, for crying out loud, Bodi! I need to fix this first.”

“And then what?” I don’t miss his mocking tone.

“And then I pray I’m not too late to win Rae back.”

“You’re really underestimating your sister.”

“I’m not. She will probably be brave enough to tell them no, but it’s only a matter of time until they find a way to get her to agree if I stay in North Carolina.”

“Like they are doing to you?” he counters.

“Yeah,” I reluctantly agree. “That psychopath of a woman has set her mind to a September wedding. That’s in two months, Bodi! I can’t let my sister deal with that alone. And I can’t promise Rae anything right now. Not before I’m sure it won’t affect Della’s future.”

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