Page 26 of Papers Don't Lie

“Speaking of age…” I start, earning a barely visible smile from him. “You’re twenty-six, right?”

“Yes.”

We walk inside the parking lot, where Kendrick is waiting for us and already opening the back trunk.

“That’s not bad. Carter’s thirty-five,” I whisper and give Kendrick the bags. “Thank you.”

The three of us enter the car, and Mr. Graves comes next to me in the backseat, a content look on his face. “Are you sure there’s no way out of this? Nothing that you heard your parents talk about?” he asks.

I shake my head. “Nothing could save me from this. That’s why I wanted to thank you for today, but I think this has to end. I can’t let him hurt my family and stay away like a selfish bitch.”

“You’re leaving?” he asks, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s hurt etching in his voice.

I nod. “I have to go back until this thing dies down.”

“There has to be a way.” Mr. Graves turns to me, his eyes furious. I gulp at the intensity of them.

I don’t know how I can make him understand the way our life works, so I use humor instead. “Unless someone else wants to marry me, I’m Carter’s.” I laugh, but he doesn’t seem amused by it at all.

“Don’t say you’re his, because you’re not, troublemaker.”

A swallow bobs in my throat, and I look down when his gaze becomes unbearable to meet. He has this way of watching me as if I’m the only person in the room, the only one who gets his attention, and I don’t like that. Not only because of the age difference between us, but because we could never be something as long as Carter is alive.

Never.

“Hamilton is your last name, right?” he asks, and it’s the first time I’ve seen him this nervous. When I nod, he threads his fingers through his hair. “I want to ask you for a favor before you leave.”

“Sure,” I say hesitantly. “Anything.”

“Have dinner with my dad.”

If I had something in my mouth, I would’ve spit it out. “What?”

He closes his eyes and blinks them open, sighing. “He knows I brought you home last night and wants to meet you. Act like my girlfriend for two hours, and it’ll make him happy.”

“Have dinner with your dad?” I repeat. “Alone?” He just stares at me. “Where would you be exactly?”

Kendrick jumps into the conversation, looking at us through the rearview mirror. “With me. There’s an important meeting that he has to attend.”

How the hell am I supposed to have dinner with his dad without him in his house? And on top of that, I have to act the role of a girlfriend to satisfy his parent. That’s fucking crazy.

“Please." Kai’s voice lowers.

“Then I’m free to go, right?”

By the look on his face, I know there’s more to come. “Well, I promised him you’d stay the night.”

I bang my head onto the headrest. “Goddamn it, Mr. Graves.”

“I can’t risk upsetting him with his health issues.”

Thatconvinces me. I’d never do that to someone who’s already having a hard time living, and I don’t want to be the reason why his dad’s situation will worsen.

“Okay.” I release a sigh, wiping my hands on the white dress he brought me this morning. It’s actually pretty, with a daring cleavage and knee-length that does nothing but expose the best parts of me.

“I’ll forever remain indebted to you.”

I shake my head. “No need. Consider us even for all your help.” Because I know this is the last night I’m spending in freedom, I decide to be sincere. “Thanks to you, I got a taste of how beautiful life can be sometimes. When I’m tied to Carter, the only thing keeping me going will be the memory of this month.” He watches me silently, and I notice a sense of guilt ushering into him. “Even if you weren’t physically there every step of the way, you’re the reason I got to experience all of this, and you’ve also offered me this amazing last day. I went a little bit crazy with my bows, and that must’ve scared you, but you resisted well, Mr. Graves. Thank you for making me feel alive when I thought I was too lost to find myself again.”

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