Page 44 of Powerless

Dad reclines in his office chair and steeples his hands together. “What you’re saying is you’ve already made the decision and you were going regardless of what we had to say.” Dad’s brows lift and his lips thin into a disapproving line.

“I think what our son is saying is that he’s serious about his future, and we should both be supportive,” Mom says and offers me a tight smile.

I look to Dad for his approval, but he gives me nothing more than a few blinks and a sharp intake of breath. “I’ll reach out to the senator and have a word with him,” Dad says as he sits forward and opens his laptop, essentially dismissing me.

“I appreciate you understanding,” I reply as I push up out of the chair.

“Yes, well...” Dad grunts.

I guess this conversation is over.

For now.

Mom closes Dad’s office door and hooks her arm through mine. “You blindsided us, son.”

“I didn’t want to, but the truth is, I want what’s best for me and Jen.” In more ways than one.

“I’m not thrilled you’ll be all the way on the other side of the country, but if it’s what you want.”

“It is.”

Mom’s back stiffens as she offers me a tight-lipped smile. “Yale is important to your father. But if Stanford is where your heart lies, then so be it.” She gently pats my hand and gazes softly at me before finally nodding and turning to head to the kitchen.

I feel like a prick for doing this, but there is no other way. I run up the stairs to call Kathryn.

14

KATHRYN

Bennett’s arms wrap around me as I cook in our tiny kitchen. “Smells good,” he says as he pushes his body into mine.

“I’m cooking, you need to stop.” I turn in his arms and drape mine over his shoulders.

“I think you should turn it off and come to the bedroom with me.”

“Jen and Liam will be home soon, and it’s my turn to cook. Which means they’ll be hungry, and I’m not going to feed them nothing because you’re horny and want sex.”

He nuzzles into my neck, placing small kisses under my ear. “I can make it quick,” he whispers.

“No, I need to finish.” He grabs my ass, then slides his hand down to coax my leg up. “You’re a fiend.” I try to push off of him, but he clamps his arms around me. I laugh and push again.

Bennett backs away and lifts his hands to place over his heart. “You wound me deeply,” he says playfully.

“Do I?” I lean in to offer him a kiss. “What a shame,” I reply sarcastically. “What will you do now?”

He laces his fingers into the back of my hair and keeps me close to him, kissing me until I’m nearly breathless. “I could change your mind,” he mumbles against my lips.

I pull back and shake my head at him. “We’ve been living together for a month and all you want is sex.” I smirk as I continue cooking the ground beef that’ll go on top of the nachos. “Is that all you want me for?”

Bennett rounds to the other side of the counter, pulls out a stool, and sits. “Isn’t that obvious?” he asks with his own level of mockery.

I pick up a piece of chopped lettuce and throw it at him. “You could help instead of watching.”

“It’s my turn to cook tomorrow and Saturday night.”

“By cooking you mean ordering out, right?” Bennett half shrugs as he continues staring at me. “What?” I keep chopping the vegetables, getting them ready for the salsa I’m making.

“I might look into getting cooking lessons.”

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