Page 68 of Reckless
“Or you really do like Xerses.”
“Believe me I’m not lost.”
Britney shifted beside me.“Don’t go getting lost in his eyes.”
“Brit—”
I cut her off with a look.
Her mouth closed.
The room got quiet around the four of us without getting silent, which felt like a miracle considering the amount of sparkling metal in the vicinity.
I took a breath and made myself say it plainly, because if I didn’t now, this whole weekend was going to become one long exercise in everyone else emotionally managing me while I smiled and played along.
“This is my life,” I said.“My choice.You do not get to discuss or convince me to do anything.If I need support I’ll ask.”
Hope’s face fell instantly.“I wasn’t trying to-”
“You just want me to be happy.”
And Britney.
Britney was worried because she knew I was a virgin and Xerses clearly wasn’t.He was thirty and good looking and rich.
I knew all of that.But I also knew I was tired of everyone else handling me like a project.I looked directly at Britney.
“No more warnings,” I said.
Her expression didn’t change much.That was one of the things that made her so terrifyingly good at life.
“Kelly,” she said.
I softened the next part because she was still Britney and she had earned softness from me even when I wanted to shove her.
“I heard you,” I said.“I understood you.You do not have to keep saying it.”
Her jaw tightened.
“You’re asking me to pretend I’m comfortable with this.”
“No.I’m telling you to stop trying to make decisions for me.”
That landed.Her gaze moved over my face, reading for weakness and finding resolve instead.
“I can’t run scared of every man in life my age,” I said.“And if my life blows up and I make bad choices, that’s on me too.”
Hope made a small sound like she hated my words.
Britney held my eyes for a long second.Then something in her face eased.Not approval.Britney would rather die than make things easy.She gave one short nod.“Fine.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
Roxanne turned then, holding up a sapphire necklace like she was considering which kingdom to destabilize with it.“Kelly joon.”
I looked up.
She smiled.“Come here.”
