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I felt my smile turn rictus. “Anyway,” I said, “Dad, if you have a minute, could I speak to you before we go?” As much as I hated it, this was my last chance to suck up to him in hopes of getting my allowance reinstated.

His smile dimmed. “You’re leaving already? Did you meet Arthur?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Hmm. Did you talk to Ricky and Ben?”

My entire jaw ached. “Yes, sir. Ben gave me tips on meditating. He also suggested a book for me to read on the subject.” A book I’d already read twice before meeting the pro kicker, but whatever.

“Good. He’s a great player. I’m sure you could learn a lot from those boys.”

Those boys were professional athletes who were paid millions to do their jobs.

“Yes, sir. If we could talk privately for a second⁠—”

He raised one dark eyebrow. “Sounds serious. You don’t keep secrets from your girlfriend, do you?”

I swallowed hard, my mind drawn back to last night. To Vaughn. To the way I’d reacted⁠—

I locked my thoughts down before they could show on my face. Ice in the veins hadn’t worked earlier today, but I was damn sure it needed to now.

“Of course not. But this is a… a reputational matter.” The word choice was deliberate. The McNeely reputation was valuable currency.

My father’s smile simultaneously swelled and grew colder. “Is that right?” He brushed a nonexistent speck of lint from his lapel. “If you want to speak, speak now. I’m a busy man.”

“Yes, sir,” I said yet again instead of the gutful of other words that wanted to come out. I swallowed my pride and went on. “Before everything that happened this summer, I promised my friends I’d contribute my share for the parties at the house. I gave my word. And I know McNeelys keep their word.”

He pursed his lips and nodded. For a second, I deluded myself into thinking the nod meant agreement. Then his smile reappeared.

“I guess that’s something you should’ve thought of before you turned into some kind of East Point thug, isn’t it?”

I sucked in a breath. In addition to his racist bullshit, he was implying I was a junkie carjacking an innocent victim, not a concerned citizen who’d tried to save someone from being assaulted.

“Yes, sir,” I managed a fourth time, the words so sharp they nearly stuck in my throat. “But my friends shouldn’t have to suffer⁠—”

“But that’s how it goes, isn’t it? Actions have consequences, Corbett. Consequences for you. For me. For your friends.” He took a breath and shot his cuffs before plastering on a smile. “Besides, I’m not about to give you money for alcohol after that stunt you pulled this summer. Tell your friends you’ve signed a sober pledge to impress your future father-in-law, huh?”

He winked at Arden, who huffed out a laugh. “He’d like that, for sure,” she murmured.

My jaw clenched so tight my molars creaked. My face was hotter than the sun. And my father looked beyond pleased with himself that he’d been able to shoot me down… and impress Arden in the process.

Dad leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thanks for coming, sweetie. Be good, okay?” Then he held out a hand toward me for a shake. His politician smile fell right back into place. “Good night. Don’t forget to say goodbye to your mother. The Andersons are probably standing with her, and they’ll notice if you don’t.”

“I already did.” Not that she would remember. My mother was neck-deep in Chardonnay, and if I had to guess, a Xanax chaser. I couldn’t blame her, really. Anything to get through another night of small talk with my father’s largest donors.

As Arden and I turned toward the door, my father held me back with one firm hand on my shoulder. “There are some very powerful people backing me. This is bigger than you. It’s bigger than me. And you won’t do a single thing to fuck that up. Understand? Or else this punishment will seem like child’s play in comparison.”

I knew the answer he expected was another yes, sir, but I couldn’t get the words out. I barely managed a nod.

Arden and I made our way out of the event hall with only a few more stops for Arden to say hello or good night to people. By the time we got outside to the front drive, I was ready to strip completely naked and run screaming through the quiet streets of Roswell. My skin felt like it was too tight for my body, and noises were suddenly too much for my ears.

I hated this. Hated him. Hated the life I felt stuck in. Hated myself for going along with it, even temporarily.

Arden shifted next to me, threading her arm through mine again. “You sure you don’t want to take your dad up on his offer? I always love staying at your parents’ house. Louella makes amazing omelets.”

I shook my head and shrugged out of her grip. “You’re welcome to stay, but I need to get back.”

She looked around before lowering her voice. “Okay, what the hell is wrong with you tonight? Are you still butthurt about missing that point at the game?”