Even though our situation at school has improved and we’re no longer treated like lepers fresh from the colony, Austin isn’t happy living in Hawthorne. He’d rather be in Chicago, playing football with his former teammates.
Jasper Morgan, AKA the douchebag, still has the starting quarterback position with Austin playing backup. My brother is a talented player who spent the last three years as QB for the varsity team. He’s been on the radar of college scouts since freshman year of high school. So, to move to nowheresville, Wisconsin and get stuck playing backup for a less talented guy doesn’t sit well with him. Now add that Jasper is the one who filled his locker with cow shit and provoked him into a fight which led to a three day out-of-school suspension and you have the perfect recipe for a volatile situation.
Austin is no stranger to brawling. Over the years, he’s grown accustomed to defending himself because of his dyslexia. He’s unwilling to let a slight pass by, and he doesn’t know how to turn the other cheek.
Well…maybe he knows, he just refuses to do it.
“Moving to Hawthorne has been difficult,” I say by way of explanation. “A lot has happened in a brief period of time.”
Too much.
Her brows slide together as she stares at the now empty doorway with contemplation. “Maybe we should have allowed him to move back to Chicago.”
My heart lurches at the idea of being separated from my twin. As relieved as I am that it never came to fruition, she’s probably right. But it’s too late to do anything about it now. It’s October and the football season is well underway.
“When we were offered this opportunity, it had seemed like a fresh start for all of us. And now…”
And now it’s turned to complete shit.
When Grandma Rose passed away, leaving both the estate and multimillion-dollar company to Dad, it had seemed like an opportunity of a lifetime. A chance to escape the rat race in Chicago and enjoy life in the country.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t turned out that way.
Little did we know that everyone in town would hate us or that the Rothchilds would threaten to take the company away, bankrupting my family.
“If we find a way out of the contract, the Rothchilds will crucify us. You think the way everyone treats us is bad now, it’ll be a thousand times worse. All we’ll be doing is confirming their thoughts about this family.”
A heavy pall settles over the room as Mom lifts the mug to her lips before taking a sip. Her attention strays to the golf course beyond the window. “We would have to leave, Summer. Your father is trying to figure out how we could do it and still run the company.”
Wait a minute…what?
Leave?
The thought of walking away from Kingsley has my throat closing up until it feels like I’m being strangled from the inside out. Barely am I able to push out the question. “When will Dad know?”
“I’m not sure. In a day or two.” She shrugs. “And then the four of us will sit down and discuss the situation openly. No more secrets, I promise.”
I draw my bottom lip into my mouth before chewing on it. I don’t want to break the contract if it means destroying my relationship with Kingsley. When he finds out about this, it’ll annihilate the little bit of trust we’ve managed to build.
“Summer?” Mom says, cutting into my thoughts.
“Hmmm?”
She searches my face, sifting through all the emotions flickering across it. “I’m sorry about all of this. Your father and I shouldn’t have agreed to the terms of the contract. It wasn’t fair to you. There has to be another way for us to work everything out between our families. It’s not like we’re trying to rescind their share of the company. We just don’t think you or Kingsley should be part of the deal. Once we can prove there’s nothing for Keaton to blackmail us with, we can sit down with the lawyers and negotiate a compromise that is fair to both parties. That’s all we’re trying to do.”
When she puts it like that, it makes perfect sense. The deal struck regarding Hawthorne Industries shouldn’t have anything to do with us. It should be about the company.
“It’s still possible the lawyers might not find a way out of the contract, right?”
“It could go either way,” she agrees. “For the time being, we have to sit tight and wait.” There’s a pause. Her voice dips, becoming more hushed. “You haven’t mentioned any of this to Kingsley, have you?”
“No.” If this all comes to light, will he see it the way I do? Would he agree that the company and our relationship should be separate?
As much as I want to be with him, it feels important that I have a choice in the matter. I’m aware that my rationale doesn’t necessarily make sense, but it does to me.