Four Always Read Online Stephanie Brother

Categories Genre: Erotic, Insta-Love, Romance Tags Authors:
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Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
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So much for secret hookups.

29

Damage control

I’ve been handling this situation horribly, and I need to figure out how to do better. Or end the situation entirely, though now there’s a date that’s been won.

After a few moments of dabbing at my eye makeup that’s smeared from so much nervous sweating, I take a deep breath and head out to do damage control. Becca’s talking to my mom, but my mom doesn’t seem to be paying attention to her; instead, she’s twisting her neck, and looking around the room, so I head straight over, ready to take my medicine.

Mom spots me approaching and goes on the attack before I can say a word. “What’s going on, Jade? What was that about?”

“What do you mean?” Playing dumb probably isn’t the best approach, but it’s all I have at the moment.

“Wasn’t that terrific?” Becca says in a bright voice. I give her an A for effort, but my mom isn’t going to be persuaded.

“Why did those men bid on your date?” Mom says those men like they’re war criminals.

“They know me from the bakery,” I remind her.

“They seem awfully familiar with you,” she snaps.

“How generous of them to support the shelter,” Becca interjects.

My mom completely ignores her. “The money they bid on you is sinful money.” She lowers her voice to a hiss. “Jade, they are strippers! You know that, and you need to get out of that date. You cannot go out with them!”

My spine stiffens. I knew she’d be mad, but I didn’t expect her to outright order me around. But on the other hand, I really shouldn’t be surprised at all. I was expecting some version of this as soon as the men walked into the auction, even though I was desperately hoping my parents would never find out they came to bid on me.

“I can’t do that,” I tell her. “The shelter needs that money.”

“I don’t care what the shelter needs. It’s your reputation and your dignity that’s on the line. You need to cancel.”

“Mom —”

“Cancel it, Jade. I’m sure there’s some kind of clause in the arrangement, especially when the bidders are so … undesirable.”

Even though nothing is funny at all, inwardly I laugh at her choice of words. The very last thing the men are is undesirable. I shudder to think what my mom would be saying if she knew how very much I desired them — and how I’ve been acting on my desires.

Mom looks over my shoulder before returning her laser beam eyes to mine. “Your father is waiting by the door. We’re going to leave so we don’t get caught in the uncomfortable position of having to discuss your date situation with anyone here. Thank goodness no one from the church is here, but it’s only a matter of time before the news gets around. Shut it down right now, Jade.” Then she turns and leaves without so much as a goodbye to either me or Becca.

“Well, that could have gone better,” Becca says, pulling me into a one-armed hug and rubbing my back.

“It could have been worse,” I say.

“I always thought your mom was so nice. Turns out, I would not want to cross her.”

“Thanks for trying to diffuse the situation,” I say, stepping back from her and straightening my posture. “I appreciate it.”

“It didn’t help at all, but you’re welcome.”

“What am I going to do, Becca? What would you do if you were me?”

My friend is thoughtful for a minute, and I get the impression that she’s censoring what she actually thinks. Though we get along great, we are very different people. Finally, she says, “I’m in no position to advise about relationships with parents, seeing as I barely have one, but I’m not sure your parents should be telling you what you can and can’t do. You’re a grown woman.”

“I agree, though I clearly haven’t been handling this situation like a grown woman. Things just snowballed, and before I realized what was happening, I was involved with the men and keeping it private. It just seemed easier that way.”

She’s quiet for another moment before giving me a small smile. “Things will work out. Let me know what I can do to help.”

“Okay.”

“I know this isn’t how you imagined the auction going, but it’s really great that the shelter raised so much money, isn’t it?” As Becca’s talking, Shane and Khalil come up and stand behind her, giving us a little distance for privacy.

“It is,” I agree. “I can’t cancel the date.”

“Your guys are approaching,” Becca says, glancing to my side. “Text me if you need anything, or call anytime you want to talk.”

“Okay, thank you.”

We hug, and she squeezes my arm in a way that I interpret as an offer of strength. Things will work out. I have to hold on to that belief.


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