Page 37 of Princess and Country

Jeffrey

With both hands, I pressed my brother’s shoulders until he sat on my bed. Carter’s eyes traveled between Dahlia’s and mine.

“Okay. You two are scaring me. What’s the look on your faces about? Did someone die?” I shook my head. “Did you get Dahlia pregnant? Oh shit. Disturbing. I don’t even want to know if you two are— Oh god, I don’t need those images in my head. Okay, I’ll ask it. Dah, are you pregnant?”

We both screamed “NO” at the same time.

Carter blew out a long breath and ran both hands over his face. “What is it then? Tell me. I hate this game.”

I sat on a chair facing him, and Dahlia sat beside him on the bed.

I told Carter everything. Even the part where I wanted to buy a house for Dahlia and me. His eyes clouded for a split second.

“Are you fucking with me?” Carter sprung to his feet. “Mom will kill you. Or maybe not, since you’re her favorite.”

I gave Carter a pointed look. No. We wouldn’t go there. Not tonight. I knew how he felt about our mom being more invested in my life than his. We’d talked about it a lot over the years. But our dad was a die-hard fan of Carter’s music, so in my mind, it kind of balanced out.

My brother studied me for a moment.

“Are you gonna get a job? Or are you still thinking about enlisting? It’s a bad idea, but if you do, you know Mom wants you to wait until you’re twenty-one, right?”

“I’m not. I’m not sure it’s what I’m supposed to do. We’ll see. I’m meeting with Brendan’s dad tomorrow. He’s hiring for the new strip mall they’re building by the sports center. He might have a job for me. In construction.”

Carter worked his jaw.

“Fine. What’s your plan for tonight? I know you have one. You always do.”

“I’ll tell Mom and Dad everything, and the three of us will drive somewhere afterward because I don’t want to spend my night listening to them telling me I’m screwing up my life.”

“Let’s do this.” Carter rose and clapped my shoulder. “I’m in your corner, big bro.”

Seated beside each other at the kitchen table, Dahlia and I squeezed hands under the table. For the last twenty minutes, we’d been exchanging gazes with Carter. I hoped Dahlia and he understood I didn’t tell them right away about dropping out of college to protect them in case my parents asked questions. Or was I too much of a coward and feared what they’d think of me? It didn’t matter anymore. They both heard me out and chose to back me up.

I glanced at the plate in front of me, still half-full. I couldn’t eat, my stomach too tight.

Dahlia’s thumb drew circles over my knuckles. I breathed in and delivered the news.

Mom choked on a green bean. Dad harrumphed but said nothing.

Without a word, Mom rose from her chair and disappeared into the kitchen. We heard her blowing her nose. Was she crying? My dad’s eyes burrowed into mine. “I knew this day would come. I told your mama she can’t force you to follow a path that isn’t yours. Give her some time. She’ll come around. But don’t expect to live here rent-free, son. You want to act like a man, then I’ll treat you like one.”

“Yes sir,” I said, lowering my gaze. I chugged my glass of water and cleared my throat. “There’s something else.” My dad’s eyes rounded. “I’m buying a house. For Dahlia and me.”

“Jeff—”

“Let me finish. I know she’ll be eighteen in a little over a year. I’ll wait. There’s no rush. But when she’s ready, she’s agreed to move in with me. And I’ve saved enough money to put a down payment on a small house in the neighborhood. In this economy, it’s better to buy than to rent an apartment.” I gulped my girl’s glass of water in one sip—now that mine was empty—trying to erase the trail of fire down my throat.

“I agree that real estate is a great investment. And knowing you, I’m sure you’ve taken every cent into account. But I still don’t understand why you’re in a rush to settle down.”

“Dad—”

My father pressed both hands against the wooden table. The room fell silent. “We’ll talk about it later. Right now, you guys should head out. Have some fun. Let me deal with your mama.” He fished a couple of twenties from his pockets and handed it to Carter. “Go grab a burger somewhere. Just don’t miss curfew, okay?”

The three of us nodded and hurried to my truck.

I blew out a long breath, filled with angst and fear—and relief—as I got behind the wheel.

“Spring Fling?” Carter asked from the backseat.