Page 16 of Mended Hearts

“That’s fine and dandy, miss.”

I look up and smile at the innocent look he’s giving me.

“Your dad can be against us all he wants. But we have fate on our side, and what’s fated cannot be undone.” He brings my hand to his mouth and places a light kiss on it.

His words cause my heart to pound against my chest. Fate—he thinks fate brought us together. He feels the connection, too. He knows it isn’t misplaced or temporary. Knowing this makes me fall for him even more.

Okay, a lot more.

“You really think so?” I ask, needing reassurance.

He nods. “I know so. The universe is our limit. And I’m betting we could surpass it if we wanted.”

“Echo Dian Price.”

Dread instantly prickles my skin. Dustin quickly steps back as we both look over, seeing my mother, who appears to be extremely pissed. Her face is piping mad as she whisper-yells, “Have you lost your mind?”

The thought of saying ‘maybe’ crosses my mind. Instead, I stand frozen, unable to form any words. This is it—where it all comes to a halt. There’s no way the universe is letting us off unscathed.

She continues staring, her arms crossed. Her head tilts angrily and she waits for a reply—for something.

“Ma’am,” Dustin speaks up. “This is all my fault. I followed her out. I had to ask her a?—”

“That’s enough,” my mother says, raising her hand to cut him off. “This is where you need to leave. And by leave, I mean go home.”

Dustin looks at me, indecision and torment on his face. He isn’t keen on being told what to do—especially when it goes against what he believes.

I nod. “It’s okay,” I say, slightly out of breath and not looking forward to what’s to come after he walks out those church doors.

I can see his frustration and second-guessing if he should abandon me to the wolves—because surely my father will be showing up next. After all, wolves run in packs. Dustin finally lets out a deep breath, and his shoulders drop. He isn’t hiding his disapproval. I love him for his instinct to protect me at all costs. But there’s nothing he can do, and he leaves out the back door once he realizes that.

I shudder when the door slams. I hope it didn’t shake the entire church in the same way I feel my life being shaken up like a snow globe. I have a sinking feeling all things between Dustin and me will forever be altered. Surely, he’s done being with me now. The thought makes me want to cry, but I stay strong. I can face whatever is coming my way.

“I’m just not even sure what to say to you right now,” my mom states, pacing back and forth. She keeps glancing back toward the sanctuary, making sure no one sees us. “First off”—she stops pacing and points her finger as she takes a few steps toward me—“this sneaking around business is highly unacceptable. I mean, of all places to do it, you had to do it in the house of God.” She scoffs in disbelief. “What if it had been your father who found you? Or a deacon? Or anyone else besides me?” Her hands remain at her sides, bunched up tightly. But I see a trace of something else lingering in her eyes. Indecision. She straightens her dress out, then props her hands on her petite waist and looks to the side deep in thought.

I study her with confusion. I’m absolutely dumbfounded by her words. What does she mean by anyone besides her?

Out of nowhere, compassion fills her face, and she drops her hands, taking mine into hers. “I know you think no one understands. But that’s where you’re wrong. I was you once. I was smitten with a boy, and I had a super strict dad who forbade it.” Her right hand comes up to my face, cupping my cheek. She looks deeply into my eyes, and I see sadness. “That’s exactly why I know how this is going to end. And all I want to do is protect you from getting hurt.”

“What?” I pull away, shaking my head. She’s not a mind reader. “Why would you say that? Dustin isn’t going to hurt me.”

She sighs. “Echo, you’re both seventeen. Life isn’t some fairy tale. Things happen and come into play that can alter everything. And the biggest thing of all is people change. That’s bound to happen.”

A feeling I’m all too familiar with seeps in. Determination. Except I’m determined to prove her wrong. What happened to her will not happen to me. She flips my mood from being full of worry about my father to now not caring if she tells my sins to the whole world. I’ve never fully experienced this feeling of defiance before. I’ve always poured every ounce of myself into making sure I do what I’m supposed to in order not to go against my parents. I’ve always cared too much about disappointing them or not having their full approval.

For the first time in my life, I don’t care.

And it feels…freeing.

“I didn’t want to hear it, either,” my mother mumbles as she turns away from me and begins walking off. “Come on,” she orders. “If your father asks…whenyour father asks,” she corrects, “you were sick in the bathroom. Make it believable.” She looks back at me and I nod.

She’s going to lie for me. She’s on my side after all. I feel like I’ve been throat punched, and I choke back a sob I feel reverberating in my chest. My heart softens for her, and while the idea of rebelling against my dad is still at the forefront of my mind, I don’t want her to get caught in the crossfire. Her confession and actions now have me questioning everything I thought I knew.

Chapter Ten

DUSTIN

“You have a wicked arm, Striker,” I say, calling her by the nickname I’ve given her as I wrap my arms around her from behind.

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