The Freshman (College Years 1)

“I don’t have to waste money on hiring a private investigator when I have a friend who keeps me up-to-date on your love life.” She laughs.

Shit. The woman who’s dating Hayden’s dad. Lauri? I think that’s her name. They’re close friends.

So Hayden is talking to Lauri about us? When she knows her father doesn’t want me seeing her either? That’s messed up.

“I’m not coming for Thanksgiving,” I tell Helena.

“If you don’t come, I’m telling your father you’re with Hayden Channing, and that you’re spilling all the family secrets to her while you two are cozied up in bed together late at night. He’d believe me too, because Brian Channing just underbid another one of your father’s offers and got the deal a few days ago. He’s furious, and positive there’s a spy at the company who’s giving up all of our secrets. He finds out you’re with Hayden? He’ll think it’s you. I’ll turn him against you forever.” She sounds triumphant.

I almost don’t care if she does turn him against me. “And if I do show up?”

“You tell him you have zero interest in the business and you think I’m the one who should eventually take it over,” she says.

“He’ll never listen to me.” When does he ever?

“Better you try and convince him than me tell him you’re with Hayden, don’t you think?” She sounds like she’s enjoying this.

“This is really fucked-up,” I tell her, clutching the phone so tight my hand aches. “You do realize this, right? You’re basically trying to blackmail me.”

“You’re the idiot who can’t keep his dick out of the one girl he’s not supposed to fuck,” she says with a laugh. “You have no one to blame but yourself.”

She ends the call and I throw the phone on my bed, fuming.

Fuck Helena. She’s a backstabbing bitch. Like I’d tell my father she could run the business. I don’t even know her. She’s just greedy and wants that money all to herself and their twins. She hates that I exist.

I collapse on the bed, running my hands through my hair. I don’t know how I’m going to fix this. Will my dad believe me when I tell him I’m not telling Hayden anything? I’ve barely talked to my dad since the last time I saw him, so how could I spill any company secrets? And Hayden and I aren’t talking about our parents. Not anymore. We talk about everything but our parents. She’ll tell me something about Palmer on occasion, but that’s it.

Helena’s got me, though. I am seeing Hayden, when my father told me I shouldn’t. And Hayden’s father told her the same damn thing. So could Hayden be blabbing to her father’s girlfriend that we’re together? Who then opens her big mouth and tells Helena?

Such bullshit.

My mind is racing with too many overwhelming possibilities. Is Hayden trying to fuck with me to help her dad? Maybe she is. Maybe that’s part of the plan. To get close to me, and find out all my dad’s secrets? But how is that even possible when I’m not that close to my father? I know nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

So that theory is out. The relief that hits me is strong. I don’t want to think of Hayden as scheming against me. That would tear me up. I like her. I care about her.

I could fall in love with her.

My father would never approve. He’s a logical person—unless he’s angry. Then logic is tossed out the window and all he can focus on is his rage. I know nothing about my father’s business dealings. So therefore, I have nothing to tell Hayden, and she has no information to give to he

r father. We’re not the ones who are being shady here.

Someone else is.

And I’m thinking it’s Helena and Lauri.

Twenty-Two

Hayden

“Did you text Tony and let him know we were coming over?” Gracie asks as we approach the condo’s front door.

I shake my head. “It’s a surprise. I’m living on the edge.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Ever since she caught Robin with that other girl, she’s not big on surprises.

I can’t blame her.