Page 97 of Devious Obsession
Pushing that foreboding aside, I follow Dakota and Steele to the table. Mom and Stephen are already greeting Steele. Mom shakes his hand, and then Stephen does, too. I can’t help but feel a pang at that. No hug? He hasn’t seen his father in months—since before the summer, obviously. And they’ve already demonstrated their lack of relationship, what with the whole spying thing.
“Girls, go up to the room and get ready for bed.” Mom gives them both pats on their shoulders and steers them past me. She hands them a room key, and they take off without a backward glance.
Steele and I sit across from them. I don’t bother looking at him. Really, I just don’t want to deal with his shitty attitude toward my mom. He just met her, but he’s been judging her for months.
It’s not really fair.
“Aspen.” Mom reaches across the table for my hands.
I give them to her, offering her a small smile. “Hi, Mom.”
“Honey, we’re worried about you.”
I try to pull back, but she holds fast.
My smile wavers. “What do you mean, you’re worried? I’m fine.”
Her gaze darts to her new husband. Letting him take over?
He clears his throat and faces me. “We saw the video, Aspen. And frankly, it’s alarming. The school recommended you to the counselor, of course. We’re happy that you went. Upon further discussion with a doctor friend, however, we think it’s best if you had a little more structure.”
I slowly retract my hands. “You talked to a doctor? About… the video?”
He frowns. “Yes. And more structure presents itself as an inpatient hospital for an evaluation, and it would simply cut into the semester.”
Inpatient hospital?
Because they think I’m crazy?
“I wasn’t suffering a psychotic break,” I say through my teeth. “I was drugged.”
By your son.
Mom cries out at that admission, covering her eyes with her hand. The huge, stupid ring on her finger stares at me.
My stomach knots. And for some reason, I know that she won’t be on my side for this. That whatever way Stephen and Steele spun this, it’s already locked in.
“You were drugged,” Steele’s father repeats, as skeptical as the counselor. “Or, more likely, you thought to experiment and suffered the very obvious consequences?” His chin lifts. His expression, his whole demeanor, has shifted. Gone are the days of shorts and t-shirts at home, of the throwaway smiles he’d shoot my way. He made us all feel at ease and welcome over the summer, but it’s so far away from here. Now, he’s all business. This is just another deal he needs to negotiate.
“Aspen, you are dealing with a lot of pressure. It’s only natural that you’d crack.” Stephen offers me a small smile, but it’s so fucking cold. “We want what’s best for you—and right now, that means getting you outside help.”
My mouth opens and closes.
I’m over eighteen. They can’t do that, right? I mean—he’s not even my father. Mom could get me committed involuntarily, maybe. But she wouldn’t do that. Even at this moment, when she can’t meet my eyes.
A chill races up my spine, and then the sick feeling twists my gut. I’m going to be sick.
Steele sighs. “I don’t think that’s necessary, Dad.”
My heart skips.
“You have an opinion on this?” Stephen focuses on his son.
“I do. I think Aspen’s now tied to your name. People on campus know her mother married you. So… if you send her away, that’s going to get out. Media slander, campaigns about how you’re no better than Snow White’s evil stepmother.” His gaze flicks to my mom. “Except her real parent is still alive.”
His father scoffs.
But… maybe he looks a little unsure.
