The Entitled (The Entitled Duet 1)

“You don’t have to change to make someone like Reed Saddington love you. Trust me on that.” His voice is almost tender.

Shaking my head, I say, “I didn’t do this for Reed, Daddy. I did it for me, for a new start.” That’s a lie, but I’m not telling him that.

“Tess, I watched that boy claim you the day he set eyes on you. I thought it was weird then, and I think his obsession is even weirder now. Stay away from him. Let him have the Russian girl.” I stiffen at that last jab.

He runs a hand through his perfect hair. “You can have anyone you want. With your looks, the world is yours. It would be a shame to waste it on an entitled shit.” Again, I’m speechless. I have never understood why my father hates Reed so much.

Turning toward him, desperately needing him to answer this, I ask, “Why do you hate him so much? He’s a genius, rich, and he loved me.”

He looks at his shoes, then straight into my eyes. “I guess I hate him because he just takes. And has no intention of giving back. An eight-year-old boy stole you from me and has never let you go. He made you weak, needy, and I hated him for that. I want so badly to look into those beautiful eyes of yours and see you. Not someone who belongs to Reed Saddington.”

I can’t let him get away with this. If anyone makes me weak, it’s him and my mother. Reed knew me and accepted me. I will always belong to him.

“You’re wrong!” Walking straight in front of him, close enough to smell his spicy aftershave, I continue. “Reed is my soul mate! But that doesn’t mean that our souls are destined to be together.”

He shakes his head and looks up at the ceiling. “Tess… stand on your own two feet. You don’t need blond hair and puffy lips to do that.” Then he smiles, and I think I gasp. I don’t remember the last time I got a real smile from him.

I want to throw myself into his strong arms. I want him to stroke my hair like he does Lana. I’m so pathetic. That small smile was all I needed to make my heart swell. No wonder I have issues!

Fuck this. He doesn’t get to make me feel like shit anymore.

Straightening my shoulders, I speak to him one last time. “Bye, Daddy.” I don’t look back.REED

Past – eighteen years old

The HamptonsI sit by the pool in the Hamptons on one of those days where you hear the seagulls and smell the salt in the air. It’s Lexi’s family’s summer home. She decided it would be fun to throw Jax and me a birthday party. Eighteen, and I’m bored. Bored with my friends, bored with drinking, and bored with Lexi! I don’t know why I let my mom guilt me into trying a relationship with her. I knew she was a stalker. A complete head case. I should have acted like a man instead of an angry child. And now, everyone thinks we’re together—including her.

Raising my face to the warm sun, I dangle my legs in the saltwater pool and try to figure out what I want. How should I pull myself out of this funk? My eyes pop open and I rub my hands over my face, begging my brain not to conjure her up.

I shouldn’t be like this. I’m still obsessed. I need her probably more today than I needed her a year ago. Laughter and squealing bring me back to the present.

“Hey, Reed?” Andrew throws a volleyball at me. It misses, but he manages to get me wet.

“Where’s Lexi? We’re almost out of ice.”

“How the hell do I know where she is?” I snap. “Try the house.”

“Dude, do us all a favor and have a shot.”

I want to yell that I’m unhappy. That I hate Lexi. That if I was free of her, I would be better, but I’m not sure that’s true. There is only one person who can make me better, and she is ten hours away. Whatever. I am over being Lexi’s boyfriend. Standing up, I stretch. Everyone looks like they are having fun. Maybe Andrew’s right and some alcohol will do the trick.

“Baby?” Gritting my teeth, I find my patience is at an all-time low today. I can’t stand her calling me that. It must be pretty obvious because she puts her hands on her hips.

“Can you at least pretend to be happy? It’s your birthday!” Turning toward Lexi, I take in her appearance. She’s wearing the smallest string bikini I’ve ever seen. Thankfully she doesn’t have much of a chest because the bikini is nothing but a lot of straps that cross all around her. Staring at the straps I know she wore this bikini to give me the hint: she wants me to tie her up.