Page 18 of Roses in Summer

“What? No. There are plenty of chairs around the fire pit. Why do I need to sit in your lap?”

Mitch’s hold on my hand tightens, causing shivers of discomfort to travel up my arm. “Seraphina, do as you’re told. Now, sit with me.” His hand continues to exert pressure until my body collides with his. I try to keep myself upright, in a perched position on his lap, but Mitch refuses to let me put any distance between us. I’m not sure if this sudden display of possessiveness is for me or for the group scattered throughout Greyson, Dante, and Lincoln’s yard, but it makes me uneasy.

“Mitch, you’re hurting me,” I whisper, turning my head so that no one can hear my words. “Let go.”

Though his smug face offers a smile, his mouth is tight. “Relax now, Fin.” His order is enunciated by the increased pain he’s inflicting. Like a puppet, I lean back into him, willing my body to relax when all I want to do is flee. “Good girl.”

My body shudders, though not in the way Mitch probably interprets. He releases his grip and lets his fingers coast along my outer thigh. It takes everything in me not to shift away from his touch.

I become distracted, letting the conversation flow around me until the weight of a gaze presses into my chest. I don’t need to look up to know that Lincoln’s eyes are on me, but like a masochist, I do. The bright green of his eyes glows as he stares at me like he’s drinking my form in. I allow my gaze to run over his perfectly chiseled face, the tattoos on display on his neck, forearms, and legs, and the scowl marring his full mouth.

He looks pissed.

Glancing down, I let embarrassment settle over me. I shouldn’t have come here, despite what Ava said.

I zone out of the conversation until Mitch’s voice breaks in. “We’re staying at a STEM camp this summer with the guys. My parents arranged it.”

Whipping my head around, I shake my head emphatically. “I’m going to work in the library for a few more months while I’m home instead of spending the summer at a camp in Pennsylvania with people from high school I don’t want to see anymore.” Last month, I accepted a clerical position at the county library, and though it’s time-consuming, I love getting lost in the stacks of books.

His face grows red as I talk. “No, Fin, we’re doing the camp. My parents got us a cabin with Rich and Cory, remember?”

Narrowing my eyes, I prepare for a fight. “I already accepted the position at the library.”

“You’ll have to tell them you can’t do it.”

“No, I—” He doesn’t let me finish. His fingers pinch my skin, cutting off any protest I had in me. Pain engulfs me as his fingers twist. Looking down, I see red on my skin, and my vision turns hazy. Giving in to his manipulation for a moment, I mutter, “Of course,” to get him to release my skin. In my peripheral, I see Lincoln get up from his seat by the fire pit.

I don’t know what’s going on with Mitch or why he’s being so physical right now, but I know I need to get away from him. After a minute, I excuse myself from the group, claiming I need to use the restroom. I feel the angry blue stare of Mitch on my back, but I ignore it as I slip through the side door.

“Lincoln,” I call out, biting my lip as I wait for him to turn around. I don’t realize that I’m holding my breath until he turns around and devotes all his focus to me. “Why aren’t you talking to me?” I blurt out, grimacing as soon as the words leave my mouth.

I know why he’s not talking to me; it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.

“Didn’t know I was allowed to. Mitch the Dick seems to be making all the decisions for you.”

I can’t hide the frown that tugs on my lips at his words, at his tone.

“That’s not fair,” I volley back.

“Not fair? Seraphina, he’s answering every question for you. You can’t even work at a goddamn library this summer because his mommy and daddy paid for a cabin in the woods, which sounds like the start of a fucked-up horror film. What the fuck are you doing? Why are you with him?”

He’s not wrong; a cabin in the woods sounds horrible. He doesn’t know that I have no plans of going and that I don’t want to be here with Mitch. So what can I expect Lincoln’s reaction to be? “Lincoln, it’s not that simple.”

One moment, he’s on the other side of the room, and the next, my jaw is cradled in his large, rough hand. His touch is light, a stark contrast to the bruises yet to form on my skin from Mitch’s pinches. His voice drops, a mere whisper of sound. “It is that simple. Why is he here?”

I don’t know if it’s the warmth from his hand or that I’ve finally reached my breaking point, but I open my mouth to tell him everything: the threat to my parents, Mitch’s family’s blackmail, and the pressure I feel to keep everything together when I’m so close to falling apart. But I don’t have a chance.

Just as I open my mouth, Mitch’s voice rings out, his tone cold and angry. “Fin, where are you?”

Lincoln shuts down as soon as he hears his voice. Dropping his hand, he steps back, flexing his fingers in protest.

“I’m sorry, Lincoln.” I want to scream, but I settle for a murmur.

“Me too, Sera,” he mutters with a shake of his head as he turns on his heels and walks up the stairs.

8

Seraphina

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