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“She’s joking,” Mom butts in, dropping her fork to her plate. “Trinity’s grades are amazing. She’s attending college. Right, Trinity?”
Nodding my head, I grind my back teeth softly.
Diego gives me a knowing smile. I like him. He has humor that I can work with. Who would have thought? Definitely not me five minutes ago.
My phone buzzes on my leg. Glancing down, I find a text message from Leonidas.
Leonidas: Wanna practice your dance on me later? ;)
I shuffle in my seat and glance back down when two more vibrations catch everyone’s attention at the table.
Leonidas: We could play that slow music.
Leonidas: I’ll even throw my entire bank account at you.
“Trinity, not at the table, please,” Mom scolds and gives me a disapproving look when she hears the multiple vibrations.
Swallowing tightly, I nearly choke when an image pops onto my screen. Leonidas will be the death of me.
“Can I be excused?” I ask Mom faintly.
She nods, confused.
I walk calmly out of the room. My feet pound up the stairs as I race to my room. Opening my door fast, I spot Leonidas packing a bag.
“Leonidas, what are you—” I say, but he places a finger to my lips.
“I’m taking you somewhere tomorrow.”
Since when?
“Why?” I watch him hold up a lacy red bra.
Snatching it away with a frown, I put my hands on my hips.
“I want to get away with you.”
I don’t want to argue. Escaping this town with him seems amazing. But what will I tell my mom? She’ll never let me go somewhere overnight, especially with Leonidas.
“Mom will never let me leave with you,” I voice out my concerns to him.
“Tell her you’re having a sleepover with your friends. You’re eighteen, Trinity.”
I nod my head. She’ll believe that. I’ll tell her I’m staying at Harper’s. I make a mental note to call Harper before I leave with Leonidas, so she doesn’t blow my cover.
“Okay.” I smile, loving the idea of being alone with Leonidas.
He winks and snatches the bra from my hand and throws it in the bag. “It’s a date.”
TWENTY-TWO
TRINITY
After Rodrigo and Diego left, Mom asked me how I liked him. I said they were nice … and that was all she got from me. I could tell she wanted to pry but didn’t, which I appreciated.
The next morning, I told her I was going to Harper’s house for the entire day. She showed little emotion other than a small, forced smile and a nod. A tiny part of me feels bad. Then, I remembered how she’d hidden Rodrigo from me.
I went through the overnight bag Leonidas had packed for me. I was surprised at how well he had done. Two bras—the lacy red one he’d picked out and a black one. The matching underwear to go with them. Sleeping shorts and a tank top. Socks, leggings, and his sweatshirt. A hairbrush, toothpaste, a toothbrush.
