Page 28 of Powerless

My right hand releases the wheel, and I lay it on her thigh. “Somewhere.”

“Are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?”

“You can guess.”

I glance over at her and she rolls her eyes. Her warm hand rests on top of mine. “Are we going to a museum?”

“Nope.”

“A library.”

Damn it, why didn’t I think to research quirky little libraries and take her to one? “Nope.”

“Movies?” she asks with hesitation.

“Nope.”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs and huffs. “Can you give me a hint?”

“Nope.”

“You’re no fun,” Kathryn protests.

“I’m heaps of fun. Look at all these questions I’m refusing to answer.” Kathryn snickers and shakes her head. “We’re nearly there.”

She stares out the window and leans her head against the glass. “Is it safe?” she asks in a small voice. “I don’t want Jen outed, it’s not fair to her. Actually, it’s not fair to you either. Neither of you should have to do this.”

“You’re right. We shouldn’t. But that’s the hand Jen and I have been dealt. In a year it will all be different. We’ll move closer to you, and away from our parents, which’ll give Jen some breathing space. You and I can be together, and because we’re so far away from both sets of parents, they’ll be none the wiser.”

Kathryn exhales a low, long breath. “If only everything was that perfect.” She looks over to me and squeezes my hand. “But even if this only lasts for now, I’ll take it.”

“What made you change your mind?” I ask as I navigate the last five minutes toward our destination.

“You did. I don’t want my first love to be so tragic that it ended before it started.”

She loves me. “You love me?” I damn near smash the brakes just so I can hold her.

“You’ve proven to be a good person, and I can’t deny the feelings I’m developing.” I beam a massive smile, ecstatic to hear those words tumble from Kathryn’s lips. I pull into the long driveway and head around the back of the house. “Where are we?”

“This is Bette and Benjamin Doyle’s house.”

Kathryn tilts her head to get a better look at the massive estate. “Crazy, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to be like the Doyles?” Kathryn says when I stop the car. She moves to open the door, and when she does she takes a deep breath. “Mom said they’re one of the wealthiest families on the East Coast.”

“She knows them?” I ask as I move to the trunk.

“She’s a banker. She knows a lot of people.” Kathryn laughs as she looks around the estate. “Rivers of gold,” she says and smirks. “That’s how Mom describes the Doyles and a few other affluent families.” She turns to see me taking a box out of the trunk. “What are we doing here, and how do you know them?”

“Well, they’re friends of the family. My father knows them, and they’re big donors to Dad.”

“Aha, I see. You asked a favor.”

“Not exactly.” I slow cheeky smile tugs at my lips. “Kinda.”

“It’s either not exactly or kind of. There’s no in between.”

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