Page 49 of Princess of Hawthorne Prep

Dressing quickly, I throw on a hoodie and jeans before gathering my hair into a high ponytail. Even though the weather looks picture perfect, it’ll probably be windy. I pull Dad’s old Nikon from the bag and sling the strap across my chest so it hangs loosely in front of me. Once my shoes and socks are on, I slip from the room and tiptoe down the long stretch of hallway. All the other doors are closed, making the space dark and shadowy in spite of the sunshine. My guess is that everyone partied until the wee hours of the morning before passing out. They probably won’t show their faces until early afternoon.

As I bounce from the last tread in the entryway, I swing a left and make my way to the back of the house. Not expecting to see anyone else, I skid to a halt in the sun-splashed kitchen when I find Summer leaning against the marble countertop with a cup of coffee in her hand. It’s midway to her lips when our gazes collide.

For a second, we both freeze. If it were possible to slowly back out of the room and erase this moment from our minds, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

But that, unfortunately, is not possible.

Her green eyes turn hooded.

Unsure what to say, I clear my throat. An image of her last night in the woods flashes through my head and my cheeks heat as I hastily shove it away. Thank god she doesn’t know I saw them. It would only give her more ammunition to hate me with.

“Morning,” I say.

When she grunts out an answer, I inch toward the backdoor, only wanting to escape her suffocating presence.

“Where are you off to so bright and early?”

I lift the camera that hangs across my chest. “To snap a few pictures. It’s beautiful out.”

She arches a well-sculpted brow. “Or maybe you’re meeting up with someone?”

Tired of her accusations, I straighten to my full height. “No, I’m not.”

“I’m sure Jasper mentioned that he’s only a couple houses up the beach.”

A burst of anger rushes through my veins at the insinuation. Unable to stop myself, I take a step toward her. “I’m not going to have this conversation with you again. I broke up with Jasper and don’t want anything to do with him. If you choose not to believe me, there’s nothing I can do about that.”

Her eyes narrow as if she wasn’t expecting me to clap back. “After the way the last couple of weeks have played out, it’s hard to believe anything that comes out of your mouth.”

My shoulders wilt.

It’s so tiring.

Tiring to constantly be proving your innocence.

“I know, but I’m telling you the truth.”

She sets the mug down on the gleaming counter with enough force to have coffee sloshing over the rim. “Do you seriously think I’m just going to stand by and allow you to hurt Austin?”

My heart clenches at the fierce expression that settles over her pretty features. There’s no denying the love she feels for her brother.

“What Jasper did…” I shake my head and try to find the right words that will convey everything I feel inside. “My heart broke for Austin, but I had nothing to do with it.”

Indecision flickers across her face. It’s the first break in her stoicism that I’ve seen. “Honestly, I don’t know what to believe.”

I press my lips together and glance away as our conversation stalls and an uncomfortable silence blankets the atmosphere. Instead of continuing this useless exchange, I turn toward the exit, only wanting to flee.

Just as I reach the door and lock my fingers around the brushed nickel handle, I hesitate. Even though I should walk away, something won’t allow me to do it.

I swing around and meet her gaze. “I get why you’re angry. You think I purposefully set out to mess with your brother, but that’s not what happened. If anyone’s inflicted pain and damage, it’s him.” When she opens her mouth to argue, I hold up a hand. “It’s the truth. Whether you want to believe it or not. Regardless, what’s going on between us isn’t any of your business. It’s between Austin and myself. You need to let us work it out on our own.”

If that’s even possible.

She jerks a brow. “Is that so?”

I straighten to my full height and hold her penetrating stare. “Yes.”

Her eyes stay locked on mine as she brings the mug to her lips and takes a sip. It’s as if she’s silently assessing me above the rim.

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