Page 5 of Heart of Thorns

I kind of glazed over the social media aspect. Every girl recently seems to be doing the latest dance video orask my boyfriend. But she describes them in detail, then pauses. As if I might volunteer to make a shitty video with her? No, thanks.

I’d rather be raked over hot coals.

Her future was fascinatingly dull. She wants kids—two or eight, I have no idea—but I’m pretty sure a girl with two brain cells to rub together shouldn’t be procreating. She isn’t the type to poke holes in the condom, but she probably doesn’t believe in birth control.

My attention keeps snagging on the blinged-out cross in the center of her chest. It’s so glittery, her cleavage can’t even compete.

Why is it always the religious ones?

But hey, she hasn’t mentioned God?—

She leans forward and touches my hand. “I just have to thank the Lord every day…”

And there it is.

I twist my wrist slightly, catching the time on my heavy watch. We’ve only been here twenty minutes, and I am ready to bolt. However, I plan on sticking to my obligatory hour and a half, if only to appease my parents.

Instead of shifting my weight, or otherwise conveying my boredom, I focus on her forehead. Her brows haven’t moved this whole time.

Where on earth did my parents find this chick?

I can guess the answer. They run in elitist, blue-blood circles. So she’s probably the daughter of one of Dad’s golf buddies. If I had to guess… a parent owns a Fortune 500 company, she’s got a trust fund to match mine, and she’s floating her way through school to emerge with a fancy, useless degree and a husband.

I can tell you one thing: it isn’t going to be me.

These dates mollify my parents. Their desperation is thinly veiled, and I wouldn’t dare accuse them with the word. But that’s what they are.Desperate. For me to find a wife to protect my image.

I wrinkle my nose.

“Oh, is everything okay?” The girl reaches for me.

I manage to dodge her fingers by wrapping mine around my glass, then I lie through my teeth. “Just thinking about the week ahead.”

She smiles. Hercheeksdon’t even move. “I’m so excited for Friday! Daddy got me tickets to your game. You know, there’s just something magical about football.”

My eyes glaze over as she continues.

Don’t get me wrong—I fuckinglovefootball. But it’s physically painful listening to her go on and on about it. She probably went to all the games in high school. On the cheerleading squad, dating the star player. And for whatever reason, she dumped him and came to Shadow Valley.

Shoot.

I don’t actually know if she even attends this school.

She keeps prattling on about the SVU Knights, how this week is going to beterrific.

A faint throbbing starts up behind my left eye.

When I check my watch next, I’ve dutifully sat here for an hour. Our meals are mostly consumed. The waitress has kept both of our drinks replenished.

“Excuse me for a second.” I toss my napkin on the table next to my silverware and make a beeline to the bathroom. This place has single-user ones, which means when I lock the door behind me, I’m alone for the first time in…

Sixty-three minutes.

I take a breath and pull out my phone.

Rhys

You survive?

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