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It’s hard to pretend I’ hih the barren hall, I think of a time before Before I lost my smile Before the year I turned ten, when my sister moved us into yet another mansion Before I met the boyfriend, Tony, ned it Before I realized he was beyond scary

Okay, way to not think of depressing shit, Payton

I shake my head and brush away my memories

No place for them—here, now, or ever

“You’re late” I hear from behind me

Turning, I see Trent standing at the other side of the hall

He starts to walk toward me until we are inches apart

I didn’t expect him here Doesn’t he work?

I certainly didn’t expect him to be dressed in casual clothes

It’s four thirty on a workday

Yet here he is, standing in gym shorts and a T-shirt

I take him in

I ht not be able to see his chest, but I don’t need to in order to know his body is insane

I can see that he is lean but cut, even with the shirt on

Look away

Don’t allow hi

I lift o unnoticed

“Enjoying the view?”

“Nope Don’t bank onin postcards, honey,” I fire back

“The lady doth protest too much” Jeez, what’s up with everyone and Shakespeare

First Heather, now hiedy?

“I wish your vocabulary e”

“You have drool on your mouth”

I almost lift my hand to swipe at my jaw Almost But thank God, I don’t I would never hear the end of it if I did

“What do you want?” I ask

“Is that any way to talk to enerous benefactor?”

I stand quietly

Generous, my ass The money isn’t even his

Trent continues, “I’ The books are inthe staff andvaluable you have learned from the stack of books in one month”

Stack?

As in multiple?

Dread builds into be unaffected by his tyrant behavior

“Thanks! Got it,” I say in an overly sunshinyaway from him, bound for my room

“I’m not finished with you” His voice doesn’t raise, yet it h the hallway

I stop in my tracks Afraid of what he will say next Afraid of whatever way he’s found to torture me this time

“You need to clean ym,” he demands