Page 75 of On One Condition

She’s a whore, just like her lowlife of a mother was.

She’s a bastard who even her own mother never wanted.

She kind of looks like so and so. Do you think he could be her dad?

Could you imagine wanting to kiss her? She might be your half-sister. Disgusting.

I’ve heard them all. I’ve cried over them.

I focus on the wind rustling through the willow tree above. The white petals of the wild daisy in my hand as I pluck one off at a time. The chirp of the birds flitting about overhead.

Anything other than letting him see the shame that is eating me whole. Anything other than finding out he believes any of it.

I was able to keep him away from it all last summer. I was an idiot to think I could do the same this year.

It’s too hard to speak, so I keep staring at what’s left of the daisy blurring from my welling tears and brace myself for what comes next.

Ledger’s ridiculously expensive tennis shoes come into my view as he steps up to me and squats down. I still can’t look at him.

“You don’t deserve this, Ash. None of it. You couldn’t pick the mom you got any more than how fortunate I am to be born into my family. It’s all a crapshoot. It’s all . . .” He growls in frustration and hucks a rock as far as he can throw it. It hits the water with a loud plunk. “It makes me so mad that you have to deal with that. That you have to hear that utter crap.”

I shrug. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes, it is,” he practically shouts at me. “It’s horrible and wrong and—”

“And I’ve lived here my whole life, so for the most part, after sixteen years, they pretty much don’t say it to my face. At least there’s that.”

He shakes his head. His hands are fisted. His teeth are gritted.

“What did they say?” I ask again.

“Nothing.” He plops down beside me, his arm going around my shoulder and pulling me against him. “It’s nothing.”

“Which one was it? Bastard-child Asher? She’s a slut just like her mom? She’s a homewrecker and needs to go?” I shift so I can face him, our knees bumping against each other’s. “You’d think after all this time they could think up new ones.” I emit a self-deprecating laugh to hide how I’m crumbling inside.

“It wasn’t anything.” And the way he says those three words and the glance he gives me says it all—the slight was too harsh even for him.

“Tell me.”

“No.”

“Ledger. I need to know so I can protect myself.” He looks out toward the creek, and I grab his hand. “Please.”

“It was just something about how easy you must be, because you’re just like your mom, and questioning if I’m afraid I’ll catch something.”

I blink the tears away, hating that he won’t look at me.

I will not let their words get to me.

I will not let him pity me.

I will not . . .

“Forget about it.” I grab his face and press a kiss to his lips. At first, they remain rigid and angry before slowly softening and kissing me back.

It’s like little explosions of warmth happen all over my body when Ledger kisses me. Little acknowledgments that he sees the real me. Likes me for me. It’s the only time I know I’m looked at and not judged. It’s the only time I can let my guard down.

When the kiss is over, I rest my head on his shoulder and we sit like this for some time, lost in our thoughts.