Chapter 32: Soft Like Thunder: Chapter 31

WE HAD A WEEK BEFORE we were summoned to the Wellstein-Whitlock manor. I was almost relieved when I’d gotten the text from Miranda. I’d known it was coming. Too much had gone down for me not to have to answer for it, including making it official with Helen, which Miranda somehow knew about. Then again, she had her finger on the pulse of campus, and I’d very publicly claimed my girl against every brick wall I could find. Word had gotten around.

The week had been fucking fantastic, though, even with the inevitable summons hanging over my head. I’d spent almost all my time I wasn’t working or in class with Helen. She was good for me, and I liked to think I was good for her too. She made it easy to want to try and keep trying until I got it right.

I had told her I could breathe for the first time when I met her, but since we got back from Vegas, it was like I had new lungs. The breaths I took were full and clean, and my chest was no longer weighed down by the past I’d been unable to face.

“Holy shit, Theo.”

I laughed. “I told you it was a mansion in Malibu. Did you not believe me?”

Helen peered up at the glass house Miranda’s money had bought when she and Andrew got married. It wasn’t quite on the beach, but it was on the right side of the highway and had ocean views from the roof deck.

“I did, but still, holy shit.”

I walked around to her side of the car and helped her out. Helen was wearing a dress. I’d seen her in a gown, and she’d been absolutely stunning, but this was the first time she’d worn a casual dress around me. This was…almost sweet, if she hadn’t made it sexy with her curves. Short and red with little white flowers, there was a ruffle at the hem, and a tie at the side I planned on tugging when I took her home as soon as possible.

Like the green gown at the banquet, she’d inherited this one from Mads too.

“You saw where I grew up. Imagine moving in here at sixteen after living in a dump my whole life.”

She elbowed my side. “Okay, I see why you leaned in hard to the whole laissez-faire, rich-boy lifestyle. If I’d lived in a place like this when I was sixteen, I wouldn’t have known what to do with myself.”

I peered down at her with narrowed eyes. “You wouldn’t have changed.”

She lifted a shoulder. “We’ll never know.”

Stopping her at the front door, I pulled her into my chest. “We can still make a break for it.”

“Nope. Let’s get this over with. I’m actually looking forward to speaking to Miranda again anyway. Your dad, you can handle.”

“That isn’t very encouraging, Tiger.”

She curled her fingers on the sides of my neck. “I’ll be your buffer, okay? If your dad gets to be too much, I’ll bring up my dead friend—that always stops people in their tracks.”

Even with as much as I was dreading walking through the door, she still made me laugh. “This is why I love you. You’re always coming up with brilliant ideas.”

Once I stole a quick kiss and Helen wiped the red off my lips, we went inside. Miranda greeted us first, pulling us both into tight hugs. Andrew followed, shaking my hand like we were acquaintances instead of father and son, then gave Helen a warm peck on the cheek.

Miranda stole Helen almost immediately, offering her a tour. I tried to follow, but my father held me back with a clawed hand on my shoulder.

“I’ve heard your grades are improving.”

I nodded, not even a little surprised he’d been checking. “Yeah. I have Helen to thank for that.”

He folded his arms. “In what way?”

“She was as unimpressed as you with my commitment to school, and she let me know.”

“I suppose that’s admirable for a girl like that.”

I slanted my head. “What does that mean?”

He flicked his wrist. “I think you know. She comes from nothing, barely graduated high school. If not for Madeline McGarvey’s influence, and let’s face it, her money, who knows where she would be?” He clucked his tongue. “I’d be careful with that one. She already sucked Madeline dry. She might think she found another target in you.”

Heat suffused my skin as boiling blood surged through my veins. He’d been so interested in her at the banquet. Either he’d looked into her background afterward, or he’d been putting on a good show. With him, it could’ve gone either way. It wasn’t a surprise he’d turned on her. I’d been expecting it. I was just relieved Helen hadn’t been around to hear it.

“That’s my girlfriend, Andrew. Never say anything like that about her again. I won’t go into all the ways what you just said is untrue, but you have no idea what you’re talking about. None at all.”

“Girlfriend? Hmph.”

The doorbell rang before either of us could say anything else, which was for the best. If I had to spend another minute with him, one of us would end up bloody, and I highly doubted it would be me.

While Andrew was getting the door, I poured myself a Bloody Mary from the pitcher Miranda had set out in the kitchen, adding my own extra dose of vodka. I’d need it to get through brunch with my father and whoever else they’d invited to join us.

A hand lay between my bunched shoulders. I spun, expecting Helen, and was severely disappointed. “Abby, what the hell are you doing here?”

She kept her hand on me, sliding to my bicep. “That’s some greeting, The. Wow.”

“It wasn’t a greeting, it was a question. Why are you here?”

She didn’t drop her hand, but a fraction of the spark in her eyes faded. “Andrew and Miranda invited my parents and me for brunch. I didn’t think it would be a problem since we’ve both moved on.”

I gave her hand a pointed look. “Have you moved on? Really?”

A slow smile spread across her pink lips, and all I could think about was the kiss she stole the last time we were in close vicinity and the sickness I felt when Helen had to see Abby’s gloss on my mouth.

“Of course I have. Did you really think I’d be pining after you forever?”

“Good. I’m glad for you.” I said the words, but there was something I didn’t like behind her smile. It read false to me.

“Are you?” She stepped closer, tilting her head back to peer into my eyes. “There isn’t some small part of you twisting into knots when you hear I’m with someone else?”

Shrugging her off, I backed away. “Absolutely no part. Like you said, I’ve moved on.”

I strode from the kitchen, finding Helen with Miranda and Abby’s mom, Jill. They were talking about Helen’s dress when I joined them, hooking my arm around Helen’s waist. Jill gave pause at the sight of me with someone other than her daughter, but she kept her opinions to herself, thankfully.

“We were shopping in this little boutique Madeline found online.” Miranda bit her bottom lip, but it didn’t stop her chin from quivering. “She was always finding little places like that, taking me on adventures. I miss so much about her, but our adventures might be the thing that tops the list.”

Jill’s gaze swept over Helen. “It’s lovely that Madeline’s treasures are getting the chance to live another life. That dress looks so pretty on you, Helen. Madeline would undoubtedly approve.”

“Thank you for telling me the story behind the dress, Miranda.” Helen squeezed my hand at her hip. “And, Jill, I hope she would approve. She was always teasing me for wearing cutoffs and holey Vans.”

Miranda swiped a knuckle under her made-up eye. “Oh, please. Mads would have been wearing Vans and skateboarding with you if she’d been up to it. That sounds exactly like her.”

Helen laughed. “She made me take her to the skate park so she could watch, so I have no doubt that’s true. Her Vans wouldn’t have been holey, though.”

Miranda released a watery laugh. “Oh, that’s very accurate.”

Abby approached our group, holding out a Bloody Mary to her mother. “I ran into The in the kitchen, and he had the best idea.” She raised her drink, then took a sip. “Mmm…this is delicious, Mir.”

Miranda sobered, her eyes bouncing between Abby and me. “Thanks, sweetheart. Why don’t we all go outside to the patio? I have some absolutely delicious fresh fruit set up.”

The three of them were on their way, but I held Helen back. “I had no idea she’d be here,” I murmured.

“Would you not have invited me?” she asked.

“No. I would have disinvited myself.”

Helen snorted a short laugh. “It’s no biggie, The.”

I groaned at the terrible nickname. It was like nails on a chalkboard to me. “You’re sure? We can leave if you’re uncomfortable.”

“I’m sure. She doesn’t bother me. I know you’re with me.” Helen flipped her hair, spilling soft waves of chocolate behind her back. “Was your father awful?”

“Entirely, but I’m used to it.”

She hooked her arm in mine, and we headed to the patio. “How did he land Miranda?”

“He’s on his best behavior around her. Wait and see. He’s like a lovesick puppy with his wife, though I haven’t figured out if it’s her money or her he’s more crazy over.”

“He’s really dumb if the answer isn’t his wife. She’s cool as hell.”

“That she is.”

Brunch went by in fits of awkwardness, followed by fits of eye-rolling boredom. Abby’s dad, Bob, liked to golf, and Andrew liked to talk about it, so that dominated much of the conversation. I was grilled by both Bob and Andrew about my classes, and Abby took it upon herself to talk about hers. All the while, Helen ate her fruit and waffles and periodically held my hand under the table.

Toward the end, I had started to relax, probably due to the extra vodka in my two Bloody Marys, but a lot came down to sitting beside Helen, who was so unbothered by it all, it was impossible not to take that in. She really didn’t give a fuck what any of these people thought about her, but she’d also made an effort with her dress, her smiles, her answers, to make a good impression—and that was all for me.

Leaning close, so my mouth brushed her ear, I whispered, “I love you.”

She smiled without turning her head and squeezed my fingers with hers. The words didn’t need to be spoken back for me to hear them.

“Theo, son,” Bob wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin, “I didn’t see the i8 in the drive. Is it in the shop?”

Abby giggled. “Daddy, Theo doesn’t have the i8 anymore.”

“Oh, really?” Bob sat forward, resting his arms on the table. “What are you driving these days?”

I cleared my throat. “The Toyota in the driveway is mine. I wanted something less flashy.”

Andrew scoffed. “He sold the i8 without saying a single word to me and came home driving that piece of shit parked out front. Let’s just say I was not pleased.”

Miranda laid her manicured hand on his arm. “I explained to Andrew what happened. Theo had a friend in an emergency situation that required money to solve. Theo didn’t want to ask me for a handout, so he proposed selling the i8. You know me, I can’t say no to helping a friend, and I am well aware Theo never liked my old car, so I helped.”

Helen’s ease had disappeared, leaving her stiff and shifting uncomfortably in her seat. I took her hand in mine, stroking her knuckles to let her know I was right there with her.

Andrew sent me a hard glare from across the table. “I’ve yet to hear who this friend is and exactly they needed the money.”

“It’s private,” I gritted. “All of this is private.”

Abby giggled again, and her eyes landed on me. “Well, it can’t be Helen. She has a job I’ve heard is lucrative.”

I stood so fast, my chair scraped on the patio stones. “Enough, Abby.”

Abby’s eyes rounded. “What? It’s not like it’s a secret Helen’s a stripper. Everyone knows. All the frat boys like to go watch her dance on the weekends.”

Bracing a hand on the table, I leaned across, jabbing a finger in her face. “What happened to you? Are you so fucking jealous and spiteful you have to go after a girl who never did a single thing to you? Or is this who you’ve always been, and I was too stupid to see it?” I shook my head when her mouth fell open. “I don’t give a shit what your answer is. Anything good we ever had is erased. I don’t know your name anymore. I don’t recognize your face. You do not exist.”

Abby gasped, and she wasn’t the only one, but I didn’t care. She could be jealous and rude and get her little digs in. I’d swallow it down. It didn’t matter what she said to me. But this? No, this would not stand. She’d gone way too far.

Helen’s warm fingers wrapped around my wrist. “Theo, come on. It’s okay.”

“Is this true?” Andrew boomed, his face bright red and throat mottled.

I started to respond, but Helen got there first. “Not entirely, but it’s also not untrue.”

Enough was enough. I wouldn’t allow Helen to be subjected to any more of this. Unwrapping her fingers from my wrist, I caught her hand, tugged her to her feet, and started striding for the door. My father barking my name stopped me.

He spoke to my back. “Wait in my office, Theo. We need to talk.”

Without turning around, I nodded and continued inside. Once I’d gotten Helen well away from the patio doors, I backed her into a wall and bracketed her head with my arms.

“Are you okay?”

She stared back at me, earnestness in her expression. “Are you? You must be so embarrassed.”

“No.” I captured her jaw, tipping her head back. “I’m not embarrassed. I’m seething. I don’t know how Abby found out, but she had no right to spill your personal business to everyone. She’s just a jealous little cunt. God, I’m so sorry.”

“Theo.” She stroked my cheek with her fingertips. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I made choices, and I have to own them. Abby might be jealous, but it’s not like she lied.”

My fist came down heavily, making Helen flinch. “She got one detail right, the rest was a pack of bullshit—and we both know it.”

The sound of heels clicking hurriedly on the marble floor froze us both. Abby came to a halt three feet from where I had Helen pinned to the wall, her eyes welled with tears.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” she rasped. “I wasn’t going to. It’s just…Daniel told me about her when he found out I was coming here today. I guess I let my mouth get ahead of me. I told them I was mistaken on the details, but your dad wasn’t really listening. I didn’t mean—”

“Shut up,” I hissed. “Get out of here. We. Are. Through.”

Abby glanced helplessly between Helen and me, then quickly spun on her toes and fled, a quiet sob following in her wake.

With a sharp shake of my head, I pulled Helen from the wall and into my arms, her front flush with my side. Her arms looped around my middle, and her head tucked under my chin.

“I guess we know why Daniel’s been quiet.” Helen smoothed her hand along my side. “He was waiting for an opportunity like this.”

“Fuck Daniel,” I gritted out.

He’d been officially expelled, just as I knew he would be. The evidence had been too damning, even for his father’s fat pockets. Added to that, the school’s newspaper had gotten their hands on the same evidence sent to the president and deans, and Savage U couldn’t afford not to rule with an iron fist.

He’d left the frat house the day of our fight and never returned, not even to pack up his room. One day, movers arrived and carried all his belongings out, and I’d hoped that would be the end of it. I guessed he’d needed to get one last jab in. Since he couldn’t fight worth shit, he’d sent in a ringer.

I planted a kiss to Helen’s temple. “Let’s get out of here.”

“That’s an excellent idea. I’m done with all the richie riches. No offense, Theodore.”

Even though I was pissed, she made me chuckle. “Absolutely none taken.”

We headed toward the front door, but luck wasn’t on our side today. My father met us in the hall outside his office, blocking our path.

“Will you two step into my office? We need to have a quick conversation.” His voice was calm. Scarily so. The last thing I wanted was to have any length of conversation with him, but this was inevitable. We might as well get it over with.

Helen squeezed my side. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”

I swept my gaze over her. She truly didn’t seem any worse for wear. I felt like I was going to climb out of my skin, but my cool girl was a cucumber. That reminded me she’d dealt with far worse than Andrew Whitlock. I wanted to punch a hole in the sky so I could give her the fucking moon and stars to make up for it.

I met my father’s eyes. “You have five minutes, and if you say anything I don’t like to Helen, we’re out.”

He swiveled, striding to his desk. Helen and I waited on the other side of it, neither of us moving to sit. Andrew opened a side drawer and withdrew a leather-bound ledger. My stomach revolted at the sight of it.

Bracing both hands on his desk, he directed his gaze to my girl. “I’m going to be blunt. I do not want a stripper in my family. Having a woman like you by his side will only hurt him. It’s clear from her behavior Abigail Fitzgerald isn’t fit for Theo, but neither are you.”

“That ship sailed when you fucked my mom, Andrew.” My ears were ringing from the blood rushing through my veins. “This is bullshit.”

Helen put her hand on my arm. “No, let’s hear what he has to say. I’m curious.”

Andrew gave her a wan smile. “You’re smart, I’ll give you that.” He opened the ledger, revealing rows of checks he tapped with a pen. “Do you know what these are?”

Helen furrowed her brow. “Um…aren’t they checks?”

“That’s right. Now, you’re going to tell me your price for walking away from Theo and leaving our family alone. Is it five thousand? Seven?”

I almost laughed at the audacity of this man. He clearly didn’t know anything about Helen if he thought for a second she’d entertain this offer.

Helen sucked in a breath and peered at the checks. She glanced at me, then back to Andrew. “Ten thousand.”

Two words. That was all it took to stab me in the fucking gut.