Chapter 0224

Jerome and I stay at my father’s house for the next few hours, until dark begins to encroach on the day, mostly because...well, I

can’t think of a graceful early exit that doesn’t make it look like I’m not scurrying off to Kent to tell him everything my father just

said.

Which, quite frankly, is exactly what I want to do.

Instead we stay for the next few hours, drinking Aperol spritzes with my father and my step-mom, chatting lightly and watching as

the Romulus runs around the back yard. The sun has already started to fall when Jerome looks worriedly at his phone and taps

its face, asking me, silently, if I've checked mine at all today.

I shrug, silently letting him know I didn’t bring a phone. Jerome’s eyes go wide and he exhales a huge, exasperated breath, so I

make my excuses and get us out of my father’s house as quickly as I can.

“Are you serious, Fay?” Jerome hisses, taking me by the elbow as we head down the front steps.

“You sure as hell sound like a Lippert now,” I whisper, giving him a little glare. “Why? What'd I miss?”

“Apparently Daniel’s been trying to reach you for hours,” he whispers. “You were supposed to be home, and dressed for dinner,

45 minutes ago!”

“Well nobody told me!” I protest as we arrive at the car, quickly climbing in.

“Yes, Fay, they did!” Jerome retorts, sliding into the driver's seat and slamming the door behind him as I fasten my seatbelt. “You

just didn’t bring the very tiny, very handy communication device they used to tell you!”

“But you’re my communication device,” I tease, pouting a little.

Jerome rolls his eyes at me, not buying my cute act, and peels out of the driveway, clearly eager to get us home as fast as he

can because he knows that he’ll get blamed because...well. He’s sleeping with one of the bosses, but not the right one.

We're on the road for a few quiet minutes before Jerome surprises me.

“What the hell are you getting into, Fay,” he asks, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

“Huh?” is my brilliant reply.

“Why did you come here?” he asks, turning to me. “Are you like...getting information?”

“I'm seeing my dad,” I murmur, turning to look away out the window.

“Fay,” Jerome sighs, shaking his head.

“What?” I ask, spinning back to him, a little pissed now at being countered. Jerome, at least, I thought was on my side.

“Why can’t you just chill out?” he asks, gripping the steering wheel tight in his hands. “Just...be a mafia bride? Dress in pretty

things, go ride your horse, buy...literally anything you want?”

“Do you really think I'd be happy with that?” I ask, my voice soft and a little incredulous.

“Kid,” Jerome says, turning to me and staring at me like I’m an idiot. “Who wouldn’t be happy with that?”

“Do you want to be a mafia princess?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.

“Well, no,” he replies, frowning and staring out the windshield. “But I’m a —*

“A boy?” I ask, interrupting, a little miffed at his implications. “Is that the difference?”

Jerome glares at me a little, but I can see in expression that I’ve caught him a bit. “Not born to it,” he corrects.

“Jerome,” I say, sighing and slumping

down in my seat. “l’m...l’m playing

this day by day, as you are. We’

both mix cLupyyithisGmnebnie it's

Ravactatl to be with. Can we just be

allies on this? Support each other? I

mean, neither of us has chosen the

easy path. Can you please stop

criticizing me for making the exact

choices you have?” Please read the

original content at .

My friend glances at me, a little chagrined, and I know he knows I’m right.

Jerome is silent for a moment before

he speaks again. ‘Ws agegoats Pay!

whispers) low you're figuring it

out too.” Please read the original

content at .

“What?” I ask, sitting up, suddenly alert.

“Alden,” he says, glancing over at me.

“He asked me, today, if I would

be...interested in Joinipg\ais rarfe"'He

opyfegses CHE § id he asked

because you're clearly so fond of me

and he wants you to have someone

you like when you come back into his

fold.” Please read the original content

at .