Tryst - Forbidden Hearts Series

9| Margarita Gossip

"Okay, ladies, clothes off and bathing suits on!"

Danielle, Karma, and I stared at the very large, very random, hot tub in Lanie's backyard.

"Where the hell did this come from?" I asked my best friend.

"Yeah," Danielle interjected, "and when? This wasn't here a few days ago."

"It looks expensive." Karma muttered.

Lanie put her hands on her hips. "What's with all the negativity? We need this. It's been rough few days for everyone, and we need some girl time. Some good, old-fashioned girl time."

The three of us continued to stare at the ginormous hot tub. It had been so long since I'd been in a hot tub. The last time was when we were in Hawaii. When Jackson and I were seeing each other in secret and my mother had slapped me across the face. Because I wouldn't bend to her will and quit my job as a teacher.

"Hey, princess."

My eyes slid closed at the sound of his voice. I'd been hoping to hear from him this afternoon. So many emotions rolled over me as I opened my eyes to look at him.

"Hey."

He was still in his swim trunks, but he had a shirt on now also. He sat across from me and let his legs dangle on the hot water. "What are you doing out here?" 

"I needed some air. You?" 

"Same. And I was. . . worried. About you. When you didn't come back earlier."

"I'm fine." I lied, even though I knew he saw right through me.

"You aren't fine, Harper. I wanted to come to your room, or at least text you to see if you--"

"Why didn't you?" The question was out before I could stop myself. The truth was, when I was laying in my bed crying my eyes out, all I wanted was to seek comfort from this man.

"I didn't know if you wanted me to. Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?"

I gave him a half shrug. "What good would it do? It won't change anything."

"You wouldn't have to bear it alone."

I thought about what he said for a minute. Besides Lanie, he was the only one I felt comfortable talking to about this stuff. He was one of the few people who saw the whole arranged marriage thing as a fucking mistake.

"We can't talk here." I said regretfully.

"Meet me on the beach." He whispered as he got to his feet.

I would never forget what happened when we talked to on the beach that night. It was when I finally agreed to his offer about sleeping only with each other. It was the decision that changed my life forever.

Jackson was waiting for me by the surf. As if he sensed my presence, he turned to look at me.

I frowned when I noticed his expression went from concerned to angry. "What is it?" I asked.

He walked up to me, gripping my chin gently to tilt my head to the side. "Who did this?"

The anger in his voice surprised me. I turned my face away -- too ashamed by what my mom had done.

"Tell me, Harper."

"My mother."

He cursed under his breath and ran his hand over my face. "Your mother? She struck you? Why?"