Page 18 of The Way I Hate Him
Can you tell education is important in my family? It’s why I don’t want to tell them what happened.
“I’m actually going to be home for a little bit.”
“What do you mean?” she asks.
“Well, I spoke to my professors, and we all agreed that after losing Cassidy, it would be best to take a semester off.” Aubree’s eyes narrow. “But they hooked me up with an internship.” I swallow back the nausea that’s boiling in my stomach from the lie. “It’s just up the coast, so I can gain some experience while I take time off.”
“What’s the internship?” she asks, hand on her hip.
“With a media mogul,” I say, sort of telling the truth. Yeah, I’m stretching it a lot, but at least it’s something.
“Is that what you want to do when you graduate? Work in media?” she asks.
“Not really, but any experience is a good experience. At least that’s what my professor said. Plus, it’s close to home so I can help you guys out when I don’t have to work.”
“I love you, Hattie, but we don’t need your help. We need you to focus on school.” She moves around me and goes to the front of the store, where she bangs on the window, drawing someone’s attention.
When I see who it is, I inwardly groan.
Ethel O’Donnell-Kerr.
“What on earth are you banging on the window for?” Ethel asks when she walks in. She glances around, spots me, and clasps her hands together. “Well, Hattie dear, the town wasn’t expecting you to be here.”
The town.
As if she collectively took a poll about my presence.
“Took some time off from school,” I say.
She frowns. “Oh dear, too hard for you?”
“No,” Aubree snaps. “Hattie is the smartest out of all of us. Nothing about school is hard for her. She got an internship and will be working on that for the rest of the semester.”
“What kind of internship?” Ethel asks.
“Nothing the town needs to know about,” Aubree says, putting a bee in Ethel’s bonnet.
“Well, I don’t seem to care for the tone you’re using with me, Miss Aubree.”
Aubree’s shoulders tense, and I can tell something is bothering her, but lord knows she won’t say anything. She never talks about her feelings . . . ever.
“I’m sorry,” Aubree says. “But I was wondering about that shipment of bottles. You said your bottle guy would get them to me by Monday. It’s Tuesday, and there are no bottles. I need them, Ethel, and I went with your guy because you recommended him.”
“Ah, I see.” Ethel pats Aubree on the shoulder. “You’re stressed. Well, let me call the man, and we can see where they are. You just had to ask, dear. You don’t need to take that tone with me.”
Aubree’s shoulders relax, and she says in a calmer voice, “I’m sorry.”
“Quite all right. I understand you’re going through a lot. I’ll update you once I hear from him. Would you like me to bring the Peach Society over later to help stock the store?”
What? Aubree has the Peach Society helping out?
“That’s okay. I have it handled. But thank you.”
“Of course, anything you need. You’re doing a beautiful job, dear. Your sister would be proud.” Ethel glances up at me. “And we’re so happy to have you back, Hattie. Interesting that we have two out-of-towners come back in the same week.”
“Who is the other one?” Aubree asks.
“Well, Hayes Farrow, of course,” Ethel says with disdain. “Did you not see the red carpet rolled out for him?”
