Empire High Betrayal Read online

  I couldn’t help but smile back. “This winter? Is that really what you want?”

  “No, I want to marry you in Vegas tomorrow.” He leaned down and kissed the side of my neck. “But I can wait till the winter if that’s what you want.” His kisses slowly trailed down my neck. “I like the idea of you in a white dress saying I do.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Mhm.” He lightly nipped at my earlobe.

  “Okay. Let’s do it this winter.” A fall wedding may have been Justin’s dream, but it wasn’t mine. I didn’t care what season I married Matt. I just wanted to marry him. And now I was already picturing snow in our wedding pictures.

  He kissed me slowly. “I’ll make sure you have the wedding of your dreams. But the only thing I really care about is having you.”

  Something about the way he said it reminded me of James’ fears about Rachel just wanting to be with him for his money. And I needed Matt to know that he didn’t need to ever doubt me. “Matt?” I grabbed both sides of his face so he’d be looking down at me. “I love you. For you. I know you can give me the wedding of my dreams and everything I could possibly ask for, but I don’t want you to ever think that’s why I want you.”

  He let his forehead drop to mine. “I know. But it doesn’t matter if you don’t need it. I’m going to give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”

  ***

  As far as I was concerned, we were never leaving this bed.

  Matt had breakfast sent up and I’d been lazily brainstorming ideas for our wedding in the journal I was supposed to be using to track my panic attacks.

  “How many bridesmaids do you want?” he asked.

  “Well, Kennedy of course. What about you? How many groomsmen?”

  “I’ll just ask Mason.”

  I stared at him. He couldn’t just ask Mason. James and Rob were his best friends too. He needed to make up with them before our wedding or he’d always regret it.

  “Actually, there’s a girl that’s always nice to me in my English class,” I said. There wasn’t. “Maybe I’ll ask her too. And I could always ask Justin. I think he’d say yes. So I actually want three. Who will your other two be? It would look silly if it wasn’t even.”

  “I can ask Brett and Jason.”

  “Who are Brett and Jason?”

  “A couple of my football friends. They danced with me on the homecoming float when I was serenading you.”

  I laughed. “Really? Brett and Jason? There aren’t two other people you want to ask? Two more important people in your life?”

  “Nah. Can’t think of anyone.”

  Come on. “Actually, I want two more, I think. So you’ll need to choose two more too.”

  “I’ll ask Jeff and Mike too then.”

  What? Who even are these people? I set the notebook down. “Two more.”

  “Brooklyn…”

  “You have to make up with the Hunters, Matt. They’re your best friends. Not Brett and whoever.”

  “Brett, Jason, Jeff, and Mike didn’t kiss you though. And they don’t think I’m a liar.”

  “You can’t have a wedding without your best friends by your side.”

  “The last time I checked, the only person I really need there is my girl.”

  Darn him and his stupid charming smile. “You’re really not going to try to make things right with them?”

  “I’ve apologized to James a dozen times, Brooklyn. For something that I didn’t even do. I tried to make things right. I don’t know what else I could have done. You’re making it seem like I don’t care, but this is on them. I didn’t cut them out of my life. They cut me and Mason out.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. But after all those things you confessed to me about James’ problems…aren’t you ever worried about him?”

  “Of course I’m worried about him. But what can I do if he won’t even talk to me?”

  That was a fair point.

  “It’s really sweet that you care about this, Brooklyn. But I’m done caring. I just want to know you have my back. That you believe I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  Well, technically he did do something wrong. He should have told James what happened right away. But I got why Matt kept it a secret. He was trying to protect James, not hurt him. Matt was a good person. And I needed to stop worrying about the Hunters and start focusing on the man right in front of me. Marriage meant sticking up for each other.

  As soon as I had a minute, I’d text Rob and tell him the prank was off. I wouldn’t talk to Rob or James again until they made things right with the Caldwells. It wasn’t really my fault that they weren’t friends anymore. I was done meddling. I just wanted to be happy with Matt.

  And I didn’t need revenge against Isabella anymore. I didn’t need to worry about fitting in. Because I already found my place. Right here.

  I snuggled into Matt’s side. “I do believe you. And I’ll always have your back. Now that you mention it, I think I do just want one bridesmaid. So maybe just Mason for you then?”

  “Sounds good to me.” He kissed the side of my forehead.

  I felt so comfortable and safe in Matt’s arms. And for some reason it reminded me about how uncomfortable I was with my new family. I had no idea how we were going to have a happy wedding when our families hated each other.

  “Matt, why did you tell your mom I was staying with you because I didn’t want to live with my dad?”

  “Because I knew it was an easy way to make her say yes.”

  I laughed. “You’re very good at getting what you want.”

  He didn’t respond. He just lifted up my notebook to look at some of our wedding ideas.

  “But it was easy to make her say yes because your parents hate my dad, right?”

  He set the notebook back down on my lap. “I don’t know if I’d say hate. They just don’t see eye to eye on how to run a business.”

  “And that’s why they had a falling out?” I asked. “Is that all you know?”

  “My dad doesn’t exactly loop me in on his business decisions.”

  I knew this was a sore subject for him. He wanted nothing more than to take over the family business one day, but his father wouldn’t even entertain the idea.

  I sat up so I could face Matt. “I heard this rumor and I don’t know if it’s true.” There was no way I was going to mention Miller. “And I know I should just ask my dad, but he’s so evasive when I ask him questions. So I just need you to tell me if it’s true.” I swallowed hard. “Is my dad a mobster?”

  Matt laughed. “I don’t think so. He just…” his voice trailed off. “All I really know is that he does some shady stuff with his business. And my parents wanted no part in it. But a lot of their friends do business with him still. Like the Hunters.”

  Shady stuff. Even though my dad denied it, Isabella said the Hunters owed the Pruitts a debt. “That kind of sounds like mobster stuff to me.”

  He lowered his eyebrows. “Yeah, I guess it kind of does, doesn’t it? No wonder my parents want nothing to do with him.”

  I nodded. “And he kind of acts like one, right? With all the bodyguards. And security systems. And how he won’t even really tell me what exactly he does. He said it was better that my mom left because he couldn’t keep her safe. And didn’t you see my bodyguards’ faces? He had someone do that to them when they broke the rules. He…he…I think maybe my dad’s into some really bad stuff. And when we had lunch the other day he was talking about me taking over the business one day…”

  “You can’t do that,” Matt said. “I don’t know if he’s a mobster or not, but like I said…he does shady stuff. Illegal stuff. You just said yourself it was dangerous.”

  “I know. I wasn’t really thinking. I just…he seemed proud of me. I don’t know, it was stupid.”

  “Nothing you do is stupid.” He pulled me onto his lap. “You should just ask him flat out. Or I can ask my dad…”

  “No, I don’t want you to involve your dad. He’s already being really ni
ce for letting me stay here. I’ll ask my dad about it.”

  Matt pushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Let’s forget about whether or not our parents are friends. Our wedding isn’t about them. It’s about us.”

  I nodded. He was right. And yet…it kind of felt like the wedding was about me becoming a Caldwell as quickly as possible. “Are you sure you don’t want to marry me just so my last name isn’t Pruitt?”

  “I want to marry you because my eyes always gravitate to you in a room. I’m only happy when I know that you’re happy too. You’re the only one that puts me in my place. You’re different than all the other girls I’ve ever met. You’re pure. You understand me. You’re so strong. When you cut me out of your life, I realized that I’m only really living when we’re together. You’re funny and smart and you even get along with my brother, which is rare.”

  I laughed.

  He reached out and cupped my cheek in his hand. “I can’t keep my hands to myself when I’m around you. I love you, Brooklyn.”

  That was more than enough for me. I’d only been looking for a little validation and he’d given me a ton. This wasn’t about him not wanting me to be a Pruitt. This was about him desperately wanting me to be his. And I already was.

  Chapter 24

  Monday

  I picked up my pace on the track. My feet finally felt back to normal and running made me feel back to normal too. Or maybe it was just the new Odegaard sneakers Mrs. Caldwell insisted on buying for me when I told her I liked running. Either way, it was so easy to breathe when air was flowing all around me. Normally running helped clear my head too. But no matter how much time ticked by on the track, I kept coming back to one thing. Or rather one word. Mobster.

  I knew I needed to talk to my dad. But it was weird to just call him up and ask. I needed to meet with him in person. Mobster. I shook my head. I wasn’t a character from a crime movie. Did mobsters even really exist anymore? And certainly mobsters weren’t as nice as my dad. Although, no one saw the side of my dad that I did. I doubted even Isabella did.

  Just thinking about her made me look over at the bleachers. Cupcake had been following me around more and more recently. Today he was sitting on the bleachers with a few friends and just…staring. I wanted to believe that he was just checking out my new outfit and hairstyle. But I knew the truth. He was spying. Reporting back to Isabella. I tried to not let it bother me. But I certainly wouldn’t be closing my eyes around him again any time soon. I didn’t need another target painted on my forehead.

  Every day I’d been getting threatening notes. And every day I’d given them to Miller to pass on to my dad. The look of concern in his eyes terrified me. It made me thankful that I could take sanctuary at Matt’s house. But this weekend at the Halloween party, she’d be there too.

  “Hey, newb!”

  I stopped on the track and turned to see Felix running up to me.

  “Felix!” I hadn’t seen him since homecoming. I’d sent him texts and tried to call. Kennedy had mentioned he might be abroad visiting his family. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him until I saw his smiling face. I ran over to him, throwing my arms around him, almost knocking him to the track.

  He laughed. “Good to see you too,” he said.

  “I missed you.”

  “Yeah, you said that in your texts. Which pretty much flooded my inbox as soon as I landed at JFK.” He kissed my cheek.

  And I realized I was too close to him. Much too close. I unwrapped my arms from around his shoulders and stepped back.

  “Sorry about that,” I said. “I just really needed to talk to you.” I was glad I got to participate in gym today. He didn’t seem to know about me and Matt yet. At least, he wasn’t looking at me like he did. And if I’d been sitting on the bleachers wearing Matt’s varsity jacket, this conversation would have gone very differently.

  “You look different,” Felix said.

  I could feel my cheeks turning red. Was it that obvious that I’d had sex?

  But then Felix reached out and lightly tugged on my ponytail. “New haircut?”

  I laughed. Of course he meant that I looked different because of my makeover. It was almost the exact same thing Matt had said on Friday night. I’d bought the makeup that the makeup artist had used on Friday. And I’d tried to recreate the look as best as possible for school today. But I didn’t want to ask Felix if he thought it was a good or bad different. Honestly, I hoped Felix thought I looked terrible. “Yeah, new haircut.”

  “And shoes.” His eyes dropped to my sneakers. “Damn, are those Odegaards?”

  “Yeah.” I lifted them up to show him the signature blue soles.

  He smiled. “You look good, newb. Very Empire High.”

  “Thanks.” I think? I could feel my cheeks flush again. He wasn’t supposed to be staring at me like that. I needed to tell him what was going on. “So about what I wanted to discuss with you…”

  “I have news for you too. And I think you’re going to be excited. At least, I hope you are.” He shoved his hands into his sweatpants. “I was having trouble getting a hold of my parents. And I knew it couldn’t wait. I flew out to go see them in order to get their permission for you to move in.”

  What? I just stared at him. That was not at all what I’d expected him to say. I thought he was just on vacation with his parents. Not trying to help me. “Move in?”

  “With me,” he added with a laugh. “I know you don’t want to stay at the Pruitts’ place. I thought your dad might agree since you’d still be in the same building. What do you say, newb? Roommates?”

  It was sweet. Terribly, awfully sweet. And I was a monster. I swallowed hard. I was a monster, apparently just like my dad was. Just like Isabella was. God, I even had the same stupid haircut as Isabella’s stupid monster friends. No, I wasn’t a mobster that was going to get someone to repeatedly punch Felix in the face. But I was basically about to do that to his heart. “Felix…”

  “I know you just want to be friends right now. Separate rooms, I promise. For now,” he added with a wink.

  Fuck. “You haven’t been in contact with anyone since homecoming? You haven’t heard…anything at all?”

  “No. I couldn’t get international calls and texts while I was in England.”

  I didn’t even really know where to start. Why did he have to be so wonderful? There was a lump in my throat that wouldn’t go away. And I could feel tears welling in my eyes. He’s going to hate me. “I’m so so sorry.”

  “Well, that doesn’t sound good. You hate that word. You must have done something really bad.”

  I hated that word when it didn’t make sense. Like when people said they were sorry about my mom dying. But in this case? I couldn’t give him enough sorrys. The last time I’d seen him, Matt and I hadn’t even been together. I’d flirted with Felix at homecoming. I was such an idiot.

  “I thought you’d be happy about the invite, newb. I never meant to make you cry.”

  Shit. I wiped my face.

  “Oh.”

  I’d never heard him sound so serious before. I froze. The ring. He’d seen the ring.

  He laughed even though it sounded forced. “Matt?” he asked and then sighed. He pulled one of his hands out of his pocket and scratched the side of his jaw. “I left to find you a better place to live. I didn’t realize he’d be offering you something too.”

  “Can I just start from the beginning?” I couldn’t seem to make my tears stop. I hated hurting people. Especially Felix. All he’d ever done was be nice to me. He’d spoken to me when Matt kept me invisible. He’d freaking flown out of the country to make sure I didn’t have to live with Isabella. And the worst part was that I did love him. I loved Felix Green. I just wasn’t in love with him.

  “Let’s run,” he said. “I really feel like a run.”

  Okay.

  ***

  I filled him in on everything that happened after he disappeared at homecoming. Isabella’s insanity. Me running
around New York in my underwear. Me actually getting close to my dad. Cupcake dating Isabella. Me dating Matt. Me getting engaged to Matt. Isabella’s threatening notes. All of it.

  Felix stopped and leaned over to catch his breath. “Fuck.”

  I wasn’t sure which thing had upset him. Probably all of it.

  “So you’re engaged to Matt?” He was still staring at the ground.

  “I’m sorry.”

  He laughed and looked up at me. “I get it now. Why you hate the word sorry. Newb, you can’t be sorry if you love him. You can’t be sorry for being happy.”

  “Of course I can. If it hurts you.”

  He stood up straight and pushed his sweaty hair off his forehead. “I don’t want you to be sorry for being happy. I just want you to be happy.”

  I pressed my lips together.

  “You are, right? He makes you happy?”

  I’m so freaking happy. I nodded.

  “Well…good then.”

  “Yeah?”

  “What else am I supposed to say? You’re wearing his ring, newb. I think I’m pretty much out of the race. I mean…not this one.” He gestured to the track. “You only ever run with me.”

  I smiled. I knew he was trying to joke around, trying to make things feel a little more normal between us. But Felix and I had never really been just friends. There had always been a maybe between us. Now that I was engaged, though, there couldn’t be a maybe. But I hoped we could still be friends. “I don’t want this to mean we don’t hang out anymore. I want us to be friends. I still want you to sit with us at lunch and…”

  “Is Matt okay with that? Because I don’t really feel like having to beat his ass again.”

  I laughed. I probably wouldn’t have worded their fight that way. “He’ll be fine with it. He has to be. You’re one of my best friends, Felix. One of my only friends.”

  Felix looked over at Cupcake. “Did he really draw a target on your forehead?”

  “I don’t know if it was him. But I’m pretty sure.”

  Felix shook his head. “I knew I never should have gone into business with that asshole.”