Page 6 of Cruel Heir

Eloisa

It was hard keeping such a big thing to myself. I was not used to keeping secrets – especially ones related to my love life – especially from Allison. I was dying to tell her what happened last Friday night and how I felt silly yet happy about it. Hell, I couldn’t stop smiling whenever I thought of Keith Carson and our kiss. But I also wanted to keep myself grounded to the reality that I made a stupid decision that could not be repeated.

This just wasn’t the person that I was. I wouldn’t even be friends with people who didn’t sit right with my brothers or father. However, here I was, practically falling hard for a man once I despised so much that I could kill him if I had the chance.

I thought of my father. Perhaps there was some other reason why my father didn’t want me to be around Keith. In truth, I could not blame him. Besides being a drug lord, Keith Carson was every inch of bad news.As if it’s just that easy to forget that he is also a criminal. But then again, that wasn’t supposed to be a problem since our families had that in common.

Was that stopping me from making the stupid and impulsive decisions I had been making all this time? Not really.

The weekend passed by quickly. Allison was hungover half the time and cursing herself for definitely failing this semester the other time. On the other hand, I was glad I did not jump on the party wagon. Instead, I responded to Nick’s texts and arranged to meet him for lunch.

My brother was the kindest, smartest, and most trustworthy person I knew – and the best at keeping secrets. He would most likely give me a lot of shit once I spilled the beans about whatever’s going on between Keith and me, but at least I’d be able to get some honest advice out of him.

*****

As I got ready for my lunch date with Nick the next day, I couldn’t help but wonder why Keith had suddenly disappeared. Still, I stopped myself from calling or texting him. I did not want to seem clingy since it had only been a day. I needed to keep some self-respect, considering I technically initiated it all.Kudos to Eloisa Castillo for being the biggest dumbass to have ever existed.

“Hey, can I use your notes?” I heard Allison ask as I was putting on my earrings.

“Just be smart with it, please. You already have two strikes,” I reminded her.

“I’m a master of theft,” she replied, waving me off.

I shook my head. “That’s not something to be proud of.”

She only made a face at me before copying my notes. Just as I finished getting dressed, I got a text from Nick, telling me that he arrived.

“Alright, I’m out,” I announced as I grabbed my purse from the bedside table.

Allison’s head popped up from behind her laptop. “Is Nick here?” she asked with a smirk on her lips.

“He’s waiting downstairs. Do you wanna go flirt with him?” I teased.

She rolled her eyes. “If things don’t go the way I’ve planned them, you tell him that he should marry me.”

“You have a horrible taste,” I replied, rolling my eyes at her.

“I’d have a horrible taste if I went for Aiden.”

I gasped theatrically. “You shit-talk my brother! You’re the worst best friend ever!” I exclaimed, laughing.

“As hot as he is, Aiden’s still very much a douchebag,” she stated, shrugging.

“I thought that was your type.”

“No, it’s yours,” Allison countered. “Are we really going to ignore Keith fucking Carson?”

“He’s not my type,” I replied quickly. Although I had a valid point, it sounded like an extreme lie. Luckily, Allison did not call me out and just babbled off about how she knew something was bound to happen.

I said goodbye to her, ignoring her words, not wanting to get my hopes up. It had been a day – almost two days, to be precise. Maybe I was overly paranoid, but not hearing from Keith didn’t feel like a very good sign.

*****

“Look at you! It’s like a cat puked all over you!” my lovely brother exclaimed enthusiastically as he hugged me.

“This sweater actually costs three hundred dollars, so fuck you,” I responded.

“Yeah, no wonder we’re going broke,” he said, chuckling before letting me go. We walked towards the car.

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