Hating You (Blackthorn Elite 1)

15

Willow

Like the true gentleman he is, Parker insisted on picking me up before the fundraiser. Which leaves me standing outside in front of the dorms in nothing but a red piece of fabric that is pretending to be a dress.

The wind blows, and I feel it on every inch of my flesh. I taped the thin material right above my nipple, hoping that will be enough to keep it in place. But with my luck, I doubt it. I wonder what my father is going to say when he sees me? Internally, I cringe, and my gaze catches on my pretty much bare legs, minus some red tight workout shorts that I put on underneath, so there won’t be any accidental mooning tonight.

The sun is already starting to set, and the air is getting nippy. Crossing my arms, I hug myself, making a feeble attempt to get warm. I should have brought a jacket but figured wearing anything but what Parker told me to wear would get me scolded.

I’m two seconds away from saying fuck it and running back upstairs to get something to wear over this when I see Parker’s car come around the corner.

As soon as he stops the car, I rush inside. Without greeting him, I pull the door shut and turn up the hot air.

“Don’t touch that,” he growls, pushing my hand away.

“Maybe if I were wearing some more clothes, I wouldn’t be freezing my ass off.”

“Don’t be a baby, it’s not that cold outside.”

“Says the guy wearing a tux.” I roll my eyes and direct my attention to the trees passing by. I don’t want to look at his stupid, handsome face. Especially not when he is wearing that sharp-looking tux. I just won’t look at him tonight at all. Let’s see how long I can keep that up.

After our conversation yesterday, I would’ve done anything to miss this stupid dinner, but thoughts of my sister kept me grounded to the present, reminding me of the consequences. There were always consequences.

“You look pretty, in case you were wondering,” Parker snorts.

“I wasn’t, and I don’t. Even pretty, I look like a cheap whore. A pretty whore, that’s what I look like, and that’s what everyone is going to think I am when I walk into this place.”

“I mean, technically, they aren’t far from the truth…” It feels like he’s stabbed me in the chest with his words. Even for Parker, that’s a low blow.

Twisting in my seat, I feel compelled to punch him in the face but settle for a snide comment instead, “I’ve slept with one person, and if you ask me, he wasn’t even that good.”

Parker strangles the steering wheel, squeezing it so tightly his knuckles turn white, “You just say that ’cause you have no comparison. If I would ever let you sleep with someone else, you would be a terrible disappointment.”

Like every time we talk, his snide comments find a way under my skin. Making me itch with anger that refuses to dissipate until I scratch it.

“If you would let me? You do realize that this is only temporary, right? This deal is going to be over soon. After this semester, I’m gone. I guess I’ll get my comparison then. I’ll write you an email about it if you want. I can title it, one woman, thirty men.”

Without warning, Parker slams on the breaks, and I gasp, the seat belt tightening, holding me in place.

“What the hell?” I scream at him, fear zinging through my veins. I’m pretty sure I’m having a mild heart attack.

Parker turns to me then, his eyes darker than I’ve ever seen them. I’m treading a thin line, close to unleashing the beast.

“You are mine! You are mine now, and you will be mine until I say otherwise.” He’s vibrating with anger, and the air in the car grows hotter with each passing second. For about three seconds, I just stare at him with my mouth hanging open like a fish out of water.

Then, reality finds me, and I throw my head back and laugh. Holding my belly with my hand, I laugh so hard the whole car shakes.

Barely catching my breath, I say, “Why in the world would I stay here after this semester? Why would I ever stay with you after the way you’ve treated me? You might be a big deal here, but you’re not the ruler of the world. In a few weeks, I will leave this place, and you won’t ever be able to touch me again.”

I don’t know where I’ll go or what I’ll do about my sister, but I’ll figure it out. I’m hoping by that time, she’ll be well enough to leave the clinic and come live with me. She has to be because I can’t keep doing this. I won’t be our father’s puppet anymore. I won’t be Parker’s whore as he now calls me. I need to be me, whoever that person is.