Page 24 of Rule Him (School of Seduction 1)

I smiled. My mom was who she was. A career woman who had earned her own healthy income but who was completely at home here in Manhattan among the elite and had no intention of leaving. I doubted she would ever understand if I decided to live differently.

“So, you’d be okay if I went off and married a poor schoolteacher?” I said.

“Hahahahahaha. Oh, Candy. You are so funny. Of course, darling. At least my grandchildren would be well educated.” She carried on giggling as she rose to her feet. “I’ll let you rest. Thank goodness you’re safe. I’m around for the rest of the day if you need me, but tonight your father and I are at a gala, though I’ll cancel if you want me to?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine. Mom. Larissa’s coming for a sleepover.”

“I can’t thank that girl enough for caring for you last night.”

“She’s amazing,” I said honestly.

My mom left the room, stroking my cheek as she left. I felt bad for lying to her, but I couldn’t risk her finding out the truth right now. Not until I knew where Parker and I were headed, if anywhere. For now, he was my secret, and it gave an extra frisson to the whole situation. My secret lover. I snuggled down under my comforter and fell asleep to thoughts of the last few hours, the loss of my innocence and how I now really felt like a grown woman.

Chapter 11

Candy

My grades meant that I was exempt from finals and it was the same for Larissa, so we were looking forward to chilling for the last couple months. The gossip was now firmly focused on prom which took place next month. Larissa was beyond excited that she and Jeff were up for King and Queen of Senior Prom.

Telling Larissa, I wasn’t sure I’d even go, led to her threatening to not talk to me ever again. “I might be crowned Queen, and you will come and watch me sit on that throne. Plus, Parker will be there chaperoning. I’ve seen his name on the list.”

“You have?”

“Yes, but don’t think I’m impressed by the fact that the thought of Parker being there might get you to prom when I couldn’t.”

I sighed. “Everyone will be there as couples.”

“Well, you can third wheel with us, or get a date. I’m sure someone would take Julian’s place.”

Brandy seated herself at our table. “Replacing him already. That was fast. So, what happened to you at the party? One minute you were there, the next gone and then Julian disappeared too, and no one could get a hold of him. Something went down, was it you on him?” Everyone around us fell silent, all having wondered what had happened, but none of them were having the confidence to ask anything beyond, ‘Are you okay.’

“I can’t discuss where Julian is, other than I know he’s finishing up his education elsewhere. As for me, I had a small accident, but thanks for showing your concern.”

She narrowed her eyes. “If it wasn’t for you, Julian and I would have been crowned King and Queen of the prom. He was mine first. Then you flirted with him, and he dumped me.”

“Hey, Julian asked Candy out. He never even mentioned you. As far as we were concerned, you were an ex.” Larissa spat back.

Brandy pushed back in her seat. “This isn’t over.” She threatened and stomped away.

“I can’t wait to leave this behind. It’s worse than Kindergarten.” I told Larissa.

“And we will,” Larissa replied. “After you watch me be crowned Prom Queen. You do realize she’ll try and score a prom date to try to beat me now don’t you?”

“We’d better get busy with getting you votes then,” I told my be

st friend because there was no way in hell my BFF was losing to that bitch.

I could have groaned when I went to my tutoring, the thing I’d almost combusted over when I’d imagined it, to find Brandy there, hanging around Parker with her closest friend Amy. “So, if you’d be in charge of overseeing the coat check team, that would be amazing.” I heard Brandy say. God, she was pathetic. She was determined to try to overshadow everyone else on the committee. Her desperation knew no bounds.

As I walked in, she looked at me with a side eye, “Jesus, so impolite, Candy. Have you not heard of knocking? We were in the middle of something.” She looked sweetly at Parker, but Parker’s attention was on me.

“Well, I have to tutor now, but yes you can put me down to oversee the coat check. Will I be on a rotation though as I’d like to get to see some of the actual prom.”

“Yes, of course. Save me a dance, Mr. Newell.” She said. I felt my jaw tighten.

“Come on, Amy.” She said, and they walked out of the room.

When they’d left, Parker raised an eyebrow. “Well, looks like at prom you’ll have to come find me and we’ll hide under the coats.” He winked.

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