Crystal's one escape from the pretentious life her parents want for her is the dreams that fill her mind as she sleeps. In those dreams awaits the same boy who comes to her night after night, filling her heart with hope that can only be a fantasy. T...
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"So, how was your first day?"
My head lifts at Dad's first words since his maid brought us our food. For the last fifteen minutes, the only sounds to fill the dining room have been the crackling from the lit fireplace and utensils scratching against plates.
I swallow a bite of dry steak and nod. "It was...good."
It was horrible.
The uniforms he ordered me were two sizes too small. I had to wear shorts under my skirt to keep from flashing anyone and say several prayers that my blazer would keep my white button-up from bursting open. On top of that, I'm pretty sure the whole school already hates me.
With a knowing look and a tilt of his head, Dad says, "I checked in with some of your teachers after school."
I nod again. This isn't a surprise.
"They said it looked like you were having trouble fitting in with your classmates."
My bite of food gets lodged in my throat. After several coughs and a large sip of water, I thump the glass on the table and stare wide-eyed at the man across the table. "Excuse me?"
"They said—"
"Yeah, I heard you." I sit up straight, holding my head high with irritation. "Checking in on my studies is one thing but you're looking into my personal relationships now too?"
"A parent should know who their child socializes with."
"Well, you have nothing to worry about. The only person willing to socialize with me is Mia." Not that I'm complaining about that. I already like Mia. But being a social pariah on my first day wasn't exactly ideal either.
Dad lifts a suspicious brow. "I also heard the reason for that has something to do with a boy."
Without meaning to, my eyes fall to my plate of food. A sound of triumph hums from across the table and I immediately want to kick myself for showing any sign of weakness or submission.
"Does Hunter Kim ring a bell?" he asks, sealing the nail into my coffin.
My fork slips from my hand, and the clang it makes against the plate sounds louder than it should among the burning fire and dimly lit room. Without meaning to, my hand slowly lifts to brush my thumb across my bottom lip. I swear I can still feel his mouth on mine even now. It's the kind of imprint that's hard to shake and has a chill running down my spine.
"Do I need to remind you that you're spoken for?"
I scoff but still can't look up from the table. "I'm sure Kyle would appreciate that."
"Kyle's a good man. You'd do well to remember that."
My eye-roll is uncontrollable, as are the words that fill my head.
"Don't lie to me. Your dad's a dreamer just like me, which means you are too."
Nothing Hunter said yesterday made sense but it's stuck in my mind, making me doubt everything I thought I knew. I've been trying to think of how to ask my dad about it all day but now that he's sparked the fiery anger that's a constant simmer in my veins, there's no point in holding back.
