Page 20
“Now, darling, don’t worry. You just be your beautiful self, and if it doesn’t work out, there’s plenty more chances. Okay? It’s all going to be okay. Give August my love and get home as soon as you can so we can prepare. Okay?”
December’s mouth opens, but nothing exits her lips. She stares at me until her mother repeats, “Okay?”
Snapping out of her head, she says, “Okay, Mom. I’ll…be home soon.”
Another squeal, then I love you, bye chirps through the connection before it dies.
Lowering her phone, December looks at me, looks at our joined hands, parts her lips.
“What the—” I swear.
Her mouth closes.
I rise, take her phone, and toss it on the couch before I frame her cheeks in my hands. Tears collect in her precious winter-night eyes. “Your parents are setting you up in an arranged marriage?” I grit.
She sniffs, and her chin dips, defeated.
A slew of curses escape me as I pull my girl into my arms. “Sweetheart. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know how to,” she whispers, holding me, burying her fists in my shirt. “They told me the day before you…before we…” She shakes. “I haven’t had a single intelligent thought since you kissed me. I can’t believe this is happening so fast.” Face damp, she looks up at me. “I’m scared, Wynn. I don’t want to do this. I feel sick. Some guy rich enough to have a private jet is coming to see me, because he…because he wants to…he wants to…” Her skin blanches, and she cups a hand to her mouth, squeezing her eyes closed.
“Breathe,” I command, low, hunching down to touch my forehead to hers.
Frail, she whispers, “I have no idea what my parents said about me on my profile, but they don’t know me at all. I’m terrified about who this stranger is. I have no idea who he’ll expect me to be. I can’t imagine he’ll be interested in anything other than…”
Getting a pretty, little, well-bred trophy wife.
Which is exactly the person her parents will expect her to act like in front of this stranger.
Teeth grinding, I cuss.
“I have to go…”
“You’re not driving like this.”
“But…”
“You’re not—” I cuss again. “—driving like this.” My mind races as my stomach knots. What kind of parents sell their daughter into something like this? It’s horrific. Twisted. Anger tightens in my skull, turning my vision red, and I realize I am crushing her. I hiss a curse and let up. “Sorry.” Breath ragged, I curse again. “Sorry, Dece.”
“I’m not fragile,” she whispers. “Please don’t let go. Not for at least another minute. I’ll…be okay in a minute.”
Okay? Okay enough to do what? Get in her car and drive home and meet a potential suitor?
Far before my rage gets under any kind of control, December’s breathing levels. “It’s just a first meeting. My parents won’t leave us alone together. My father absolutely won’t let him touch me. I just need to hope he doesn’t like me enough to want a second meeting.”
Who in their right mind wouldn’t want a second meeting with December? She’s…
A fantasy.
A dream.
One look in her big blue eyes, one smile with dimples, one word, and whoever this rich guy is will be past the point of no return.
Steadying herself, December says, “I have to go.”
My body shuts itself down, and I lock up around her.
“It’ll be okay,” she assures me.
