Page 7 of Off Limits

“Are you excited to start your program?” she asked, leaning over slightly to give me a better view of her cleavage.

“I am,” I said, my tone as flat as my mood.

“You must be so proud,” one of the people in our little circle said to Miranda. They’d told me their name, but I’d forgotten it after meeting so many people today.

“We are.” Miranda shot me a syrupy-sweet smile that was as fake as a seven-leaf clover. “It’s every parent's dream to have a doctor in the family.”

I bit my inner cheek so I didn’t remind her I was getting a doctorate degree, not an MD or even a PhD. I wasn’t comfortable with people calling me Doctor, especially since I hadn’t even started my program yet.

“You never know, you might have more than one,” another woman I’d met today said. “You still have three little ones.”

Miranda laughed. “That’s true. Here’s hoping Dex’s influence rubs off on them, and I don’t end up with three more Asas.”

Everyone, including Cecily, laughed with her.

I couldn’t even muster a smile. I was so ready for today to be over.

“It must be so annoying having him as your stepbrother,” Cecily said, leaning in like we were sleepover buddies sharing secrets.

I glanced over at the couch where Asa was reading to a group of kids. He was holding up a picture book and using his finger to show them the words as he read them. Ruby was perched on his lap, her head on his shoulder, and the rest of the kids were gathered around him and utterly enthralled with his storytelling.

I didn’t like the way my stomach tightened at the sight, and I turned my attention back to Cecily.

What the fuck was going on with me today?

“He’s so weird,” she continued. “Someone needs to tell him that 2001 called and wants its fashions back.” She snickered and gave her hair a flirty toss.

I ground my teeth together so I didn’t say something in his defense.

Asawasweird, but that was one of the few things I actually admired about him. He didn’t give a fuck what people thought of him, and he was unapologetically himself, even when people demanded that he conform.

I went along with what people wanted and always had. Some days I wished I wasn’t so agreeable all the time, but it was easier than pushing back or causing waves like Asa constantly did.

“Would you excuse me?” I said suddenly. “I need to go see to something.”

I was done with this conversation and needed to escape before my facade cracked and I said what I was really thinking.

Before anyone could protest, I slipped away from the group and made a beeline for the back of the house. Thankfully, no one was in the powder room off the kitchen, and I hurried inside, locking the door behind me.

This was exactly why I hadn’t wanted to come today. I hated being paraded around like some sort of trophy for Miranda and my dad to show off like a prized pig at the county fair and act like they had anything to do with my accomplishments.

Pulling in a deep breath, I leaned my hands against the counter and closed my eyes. I just had to make it through the next thirty minutes or so, then everyone else would leave and I could finally spend some time with my siblings.

I had no idea how long I spent in the bathroom, just breathing deeply and waiting for the unease inside me to fade away. When I felt more like myself again, I glanced at my sports watch.

What the hell? According to the time, I’d been in here for over twenty minutes and the party was over.

As much as I wanted to keep hiding, I couldn’t spend the rest of the night in the back powder room without getting an earful later.

Heaving a sigh, I unlocked the bathroom door and strode into the hall, not really paying attention to my surroundings.

I was just turning into the kitchen when I crashed into something warm and solid.

“Fuck!”

I stumbled to a stop at the impact as the person I’d run into tumbled backward and landed on the floor with a softthud.

“Ow,” Asa muttered, his face twisted up like he was in pain.

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