Page 585 of Filthy Elites

The blonde beauty chuckles. "By the sound of it, you need her permission, not mine. For what it's worth, I like how she is since you entered her life. Erica's always been closed off, keeping a wall between the world and herself so no one can hurt her. This year, she's beenfeeling." Her manicured hand rests on my cheek. "You keep hitting that wall, Chase."

"Did you just give me permission to annoy the heck out of your daughter?"

She winks. "We Simons girls love a little irritation. Come on. We're going to be late, Xav."

My father follows like a well-trained puppy, and I reassess my first thought. Maybe she's the one holding the power in their relationship. I decide it's none of my business.

I make a quick chicken salad to keep Coach happy, and head to the pool house. I moved to avoid listening in on Audrey and my dad, but I like it better than my old room, even though it's smaller. For one, I have a perfect view of the brownstone.

I listen to music while catching up on my homework, but my attention's on the gates and Erica's house. It's starting to get late. Why isn't she here?

I consider calling her. She never gave me her number, but I have it, courtesy of Rhys.I wanted to give her time to digest the whole marriage thing, but her mother’s words come to mind. I call.

The phone rings three, four times, and I expect it to go to her voicemail. Instead, she answers.

“Hey, baby—”

“Chase! Please, come get me, I’m at—”

That’s when the line dies.

ChapterThirty-One

Chase is literally outof his fucking mind.

I should have known that saying no to him was going to make him even more determined to push whatever prank he’s cooked up. I think I’m the first to have ever refused him anything.

Moronic, spoiled jerk!

I kick at the dirt on my way up the hill, muttering at every step.

I don’t doubt that he’ll do exactly what he threatened, if only to prove that he can. He’ll mess with my college applications. He’ll stop me from getting employed, too. Best-case scenario, I can keep sweeping for Ginny until the end of my days, but I don’t doubt Chase would get me fired to ensure I don’t have any other choice but to appeal to him.

Until today, I was blind enough to believe that we were equal players in this game of ours, that I could match him step for step, but I was embarrassingly naive. I might be a decent player, but Chase owns the field. If he starts to lose, all he has to do is to change the game.

Chase and his kind have too much power to live in the same world as the rest of us.

I have to placate him this year. Dance to his tune so he doesn’t trample all over my entire future in a tantrum. Once I get away from Thorn Falls, I’ll be out of his hair, and he won’t be able to reach me anymore. Besides, he could grow tired of me in the meantime. If I stop fighting him, his interest is likely to wane. Maybe I should just give in, let him think he’s won. He’ll soon lose interest, jumping to his next challenge. I could be free of him by Christmas.

I’ve almost tramped long enough to reach the falls when I notice how dark it is on the hill. The light of the moon pierces through the leaves and branches enough to see where my next step lands, but not much further. I’ve come up this path thousands of times and know it quite well, but unease clogs my stomach all the same. At first, I assume my issue’s the silence, but I notice plenty of noises. The hoot of an owl, the shuffling of grass under the steps of whatever creature roams the woods—a rabbit, a deer, I don’t know.

This isn’t my place. At night, in late fall, nature has claimed the hill.

I decide to turn back, before I freak myself out for no reason.

I inhale sharply when I come face-to-face with a guy. My heart gallops, and my stomach churns so much I can feel it at the back of my throat. His eyes freak me out. They seem all white in this light.

“Vincent.” In the darkness, it took me a moment to recognize him. “What are you doing here?”

He tilts his head. “Your new friends generously gave the hill to the city, remember? Anyone can roam this path.”

My heartbeat still faster than usual, I force a smile. “Of course. Enjoy your walk.”

I circle him to head down, promising myself I won’t return to the woods this late again. It was just Vince, but what if I’d been cornered by a psycho? In the summer, this place is safe enough, as half of the town gathers here, but over the winter, I shouldn’t come here alone, at least not at night.

I’ve only moved a yard when Vince’s footsteps join mine. “You know, I used to lie awake at night and wonder why you never gave me a chance. We have the same dream—getting out of Thorn Falls. We could have done that together. I just didn’t see it.”

I keep walking. “It’s quite simple, Vincent. I’m not attracted to you.”

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