Insolent (Crimson Elite 4)

Slate nods. “He mentioned you were here.”

Of course he did. He and Slate have been great friends for years.

“Sure, give me a few to change.”

His eyes roam over me. “What you have on is fine.”

“I need to change, believe me.”

He nods then walks off to the front door, and I assume he’s standing there as if he’s afraid I might escape through it. My father knocks on the door.

“Save some time for your old man, will you?”

I smile at him and kiss his cheek. “Of course, Papa.”

He walks away, and I quickly change into something other than these clothes that remind me of Darby.

Walking back out, Slate has his phone in hand waiting.

“I’m ready.”

He looks me over and smiles. “I really have missed you.”

I nod, not wanting to say anything back. I know how Slate thinks, I know who he is. I know almost everything there is to know about the man. “We should go.”

“Yes, everyone’s excited to see you.”

I cringe at the thought of speaking to most of the students from school. I didn’t have many friends. And those that were my friends were only because of what my family did, because we had money. I learned that the hard way when I was younger. Maybe it was why I fell so fast for Slate. He didn’t see me for my money, he saw me for who I was, and back then that’s all I wanted. For someone to see me and not my family name.

My phone starts buzzing, and Slate leans over when we’re in his car and sees the name flash on the screen.

“Who’s big man?”

“My boss.”

“Oh, Barren mentioned you were working.”

“I’m sure he did,” I say with an eye roll. He wouldn’t tell many people because that fact would embarrass him and the family name, which he cares way too much about.

“You don’t have to, but knowing you… you had to.”

“Bingo.”

Slate shakes his head. He tells me how the business is going. Yes, he works for my father and brother—most people in my small town do. I, on the other hand, didn’t want anything to do with the business, hence the reason I’m far, far, away from it.

We both fall silent when we pull up to the local hangout, and—you guessed it—my father owns that too. But he doesn’t run it, he has a long-time family friend do that for him, and they live above the establishment as well.

“Last time we were here—”

“Not tonight, Slate.”

His hand covers mine, and he nods his head as he gets out of the car. I follow him inside and spot my brother straight away at the bar talking to Claudia who’s behind it. One day he’ll have the balls to ask her out, and not just play it as if he doesn’t want her.

“You’re meant to be at home with father.”

I roll my eyes at him. “He’s fine, and you’re a fucking liar.”

“He wanted to see you. I knew you’d come if you thought he was sick.”

“That’s low, even for you, Barren.”

He waves Claudia over who gives me a small wave before she starts making Barren his drink.

“Olympia…” I turn to Slate, who’s now standing next to me with a girl on his arm. She has blonde hair, long legs, and a massive smile on her face. She is everything I am not. “I want you to meet someone.” The woman holds her hand out. Barren downs his drink and slams it on the counter.

My phone rings.

The door opens.

Then words leave his mouth as I stare. “This is my fiancée, Savannah.” A part of me falls through the floor, I know it does. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in love with Slate anymore, I have moved on from that. But I still love Slate and believed perhaps one day we might actually end up old together. That wasn’t fair on him, though, to string him along. I know that, but it’s what I imagined.

My phone rings again.

“Hello.”

“Where are you?” Darby yells down the line which I immediately pull away from my ear. “Do you want me to spank your fucking ass? Where the fuck are you?”

I press end call before he can say another word. But it’s too late, everyone’s heard what he said, and they’re all staring at me.

“Congrats,” I say to Savannah who just smiles. Slate, on the other hand, is staring at me as if I’ve grown a second head. His eyes are wide, his lips thinned, and this look of disbelief floats there.

And Barren is about to blow.

I fake a smile to Slate. “This is what you’ve always wanted. I’m so happy for you.” My feet start walking before I can stop them, and next thing I know, I’m out the door. Slate’s voice comes from behind me, hands grab my arm, and he turns me around gently.