Chapter 0224
Jerome and | stay at my father’s house for the next few hours, until dark begins to encroach on the day, mostly because...well, |
can’t think of a graceful early exit that doesn’t make it look like I’m not scurrying off to Kent to tell him everything my father just
said.
Which, quite frankly, is exactly what | want to do.
Instead we stay for the next few hours, drinking Aperol spritzes with my father and my step-mom, chatting lightly and watching as
the Romulus runs around the back yard. The sun has already started to fall when Jerome looks worriedly at his phone and taps
its face, asking me, silently, if I''ve checked mine at all today.
I shrug, silently letting him know | didn’t bring a phone. Jerome’s eyes go wide and he exhales a huge, exasperated breath, so |
make my excuses and get us out of my father’s house as quickly as | can.
“Are you serious, Fay?” Jerome hisses, taking me by the elbow as we head down the front steps.
“You sure as hell sound like a Lippert now,” | whisper, giving him a little re. “Why? What''d | miss?”
“Apparently Daniel’s been trying to reach you for hours,” he whispers. “You were supposed to be home, and dressed for dinner,
45 minutes ago!”
“Well nobody told me!” | protest as we arrive at the car, quickly climbing in.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.
“Yes, Fay, they did!” Jerome retorts, sliding into the driver''s seat and mming the door behind him as | fasten my seatbelt. “You
just didn’t bring the very tiny, very handymunication device they used to tell you!”
“But you’re mymunication device,” | tease, pouting a little.
Jerome rolls his eyes at me, not buying my cute act, and peels out of the driveway, clearly eager to get us home as fast as he
can because he knows that he’ll get med because...well. He’s sleeping with one of the bosses, but not the right one.
We''re on the road for a few quiet minutes before Jerome surprises me.
“What the hell are you getting into, Fay,” he asks, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
“Huh?” is my brilliant reply.
“Why did youe here?” he asks, turning to me. “Are you like...getting information?”
“I''m seeing my dad,” | murmur, turning to look away out the window.
“Fay,” Jerome sighs, shaking his head.
“What?” | ask, spinning back to him, a little pissed now at being countered. Jerome, at least, | thought was on my side.
“Why can’t you just chill out?” he asks, gripping the steering wheel tight in his hands. “Just...be a mafia bride? Dress in pretty
things, go ride your horse, buy...literally anything you want?”
“Do you really think I''d be happy with that?” | ask, my voice soft and a little incredulous.
“Kid,” Jerome says, turning to me and staring at me like I’m an idiot. “Who wouldn’t be happy with that?”
“Do you want to be a mafia princess?” | ask, raising my eyebrows.
“Well, no,” he replies, frowning and staring out the windshield. “But I’m a —*
“A boy?” | ask, interrupting, a little miffed at his implications. “Is that the difference?”
Jerome res at me a little, but | can see in expression that I’ve caught him a bit. “Not born to it,” he corrects.
“Jerome,” | say, sighing and slumping
down in my seat. “l’m...l’m ying
this day by day, as you are. We’
both mix cLupyyithisGmnebnie it''s
Ravactatl to be with. Can we just be
allies on this? Support each other? |
mean, neither of us has chosen the
easy path. Can you please stop
criticizing me for making the exact
choices you have?” Please read the
original content at NovelDrama.Org.
My friend nces at me, a little chagrined, and | know he knows I’m right.
Jerome is silent for a moment before
he speaks again. ‘Ws agegoats Pay!
whispers) low you''re figuring it
out too.” Please read the original
content at NovelDrama.Org.
“What?” | ask, sitting up, suddenly alert.
“Alden,” he says, ncing over at me.
“He asked me, today, if | would
be...interested in Joinipg\ais rarfe"''He
opyfegses CHE § id he asked
because you''re clearly so fond of me
and he wants you to have someone
you like when youe back into his
fold.” Please read the original content
at NovelDrama.Org.