Eternal Choice: (The Cursed Series, Book 2)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  “So, six p.m.?” I asked.

  CHAPTER TWO:

  Homesick

  I HAD THE LUXURY OF LARISSA driving me to school in the morning, but because of her charity commitments, she couldn’t pick me up at the end of the day, so she arranged for a personal driver to bring me home. His name was Declan, and he was nice—funny, too—but I always felt so awkward in the car with him, like I was some sort of celebrity who needed to be pampered.

  I’d never had a car of my own—Mom could never afford to buy me one—and I hadn’t expected Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean to buy me one. Though, I did secretly hope Dad would eventually give me a car, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about that.

  Declan pulled up in front of the house and quietly came around to open my door for me. I climbed out awkwardly, the scrape on my leg making it a little difficult to move.

  “Thanks, Declan.” I waved at him over my shoulder. “See you tomorrow.”

  I headed into the kitchen to find Little Frank at the table eating a snack. Larissa wasn’t home, but Dad was. He sat at the opposite end of the table, laptop open, and papers spread out around him.

  “How was school?” he asked, not bothering to look away from his computer screen.

  He asked me that same question every single day, but I wasn’t convinced he actually cared. I was convinced he was doing it because he thought he had to, like he’d read it in some parenting book or something.

  “Fine.” I searched in the fridge for a bottle of water.

  “The other kids treating you well?”

  “If by well you mean ignoring me and pretending I don’t exist, then yeah. I’m getting the red-carpet treatment.” I twisted off the top and took a long drink, hoping it would cool my rising anger.

  He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Honestly, Chloe. You could at least try to make an effort.”

  “So could you,” I shot back.

  Dad sighed but didn’t say anything else.

  I ruffled Little Frank’s hair and headed upstairs. Once in my room, I dropped my bag to the floor and took my mother’s urn from the dresser. “I miss you. And I hate it here. So much. I—”

  My cell phone rang. Setting the urn carefully on my nightstand, I dug through my bag until I found my phone. It was Abby. Again. I swiped my finger across the screen.

  “Hey,” I said, faking as much cheer as I could. “What’s up?”

  “You’re seriously going to act like nothing’s wrong? You’ve been avoiding my calls for days and not answering my texts. What gives?”

  I sighed. So much for small talk. “I know. I’m sorry. School has been crazy, and the people here suck. I hate my classes and my teachers and my father and the sun and…” Running out of breath, I inhaled deeply, prepared to keep unloading about how horrible my life was when Abby laughed.

  “You felt that way when you first moved here, too, and things got better. Give it time.”

  “Time’s not going to help,” I grumbled.

  There was no way she could understand what it was like to have her life—her security—ripped away from her. Twice.

  “Sorry to be so miserable.” I stood and stretched. “What’s been going on at home?”

  “Mom and Dad are still trying to figure out a way to get you back here with us.”

  “And?” Butterflies battled in my stomach. Something about her tone was off. There was total silence, and for a moment, I thought we might have been disconnected, but then I heard her weary sigh. “Abby?”

  “Don’t tell them I told you, okay?”

  “Just tell me,” I snapped.

  “Their lawyer said they don’t have a case, and even if they did, it would take months just to get through the court system, so if you want to come home, it’s best to just wait until you’re eighteen, but that’s okay because that’s not too far away. Just another month. You can make it that long, I know you can, and then you can come home and do your senior year here,” she said on a rush of breath.

  I stood near my closet door, letting her words sink in. Deep down, I’d known this was a likely possibility, but to have it confirmed sucked. Big time.

  “Chloe? I’m really sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault.” It was my father’s. Everything sucky about my life was his fault.

  “I miss you.” Her voice was sad, and that only made me more upset.

  “I miss you, too. How’s everyone else doing?”

  I never thought I’d miss anyone as much as I missed Mom, but it was a close call with Abby, Aunt Beth, and Uncle Dean. And all my friends. I wandered back over to my bed and flopped down, causing my pillow to topple over onto my face. I didn’t bother moving it. Maybe I’d accidentally suffocate myself.

  “Good. Ellie and Nick finally hooked up,” she said.

  My eyes widened. “No way. Seriously?”

  A stab of guilt pierced my chest. I was supposed to talk to Nick, but I’d never gotten the chance. I’d have to return Ellie’s call later and get all the details—and I sort of missed her incessant rambling.

  “Mm-hmm. You should see them together. They are so adorable.” She sighed. “I think Gina is jealous, though. That, or she’s mad because Ellie’s been ignoring her.”

  I tossed the pillow to the floor and sat up. That didn’t sound like Ellie. Or Gina. Not that I knew Gina all that well, but she didn’t strike me as the jealous type. I was definitely going to call Ellie later.

  “How are Tonya and Luke?” I asked.

  “Okay, I guess. I really don’t talk to them much.”

  Guess I’d have to ask Ellie about them. It would give us something to talk about other than my “glamorous city life.” Ellie’s words—not mine. She thought it was awesome that I was so close to Hollywood, and every time we talked, she’d ask if I’d met any celebrities. Maybe that’s why I’d been avoiding her. I was tired of pretending everything was okay when in reality, I was dying inside.

  “Malibu can’t really be that bad, can it?” Abby asked.

  That was another question I was tired of answering. Malibu wasn’t as great as everyone seemed to think.

  “Ugh.” I groaned. “You have no idea. I swear, everyone at my school has more money than brains, and they are so stuck up.” My mind flitted to Olivia. “Let’s just say it’s nothing like Keene Valley.”

  There was a loud rustling noise and then a crunch. “Sorry.” Clearly, she had a mouthful of food. “Maybe you can come here after school lets out. Think Frank will let you? I mean, you’ll be eighteen a couple weeks after school ends anyway, so maybe he won’t make you wait.”

  I smiled at how Abby used his name rather than calling him my father. But her words reminded me of how he was responsible for yet another crappy thing in my life…

  When he’d abandoned me and Mom, I hadn’t handled it very well. I’d started acting out in school, not doing my work, pretending to be sick so I could stay home, just being an all-around brat. My teacher, the principal, and my mother all decided to hold me back a year so that I could properly deal with everything. And now, I wouldn’t be graduating until I was days away from nineteen.

  “I don’t know. I can ask him,” I said.

  Although, I’d probably have better luck asking Larissa and having her convince Frank to let me go. Then she’ll probably invite me to that charity ball again, and I’d be a jerk if I said no twice. Ugh. This day kept getting worse.

  “Ask him.” Another loud crunch.

  I held the phone away from my ear. “What are you eating?”

  “Pretzels.” She laughed. “Hey, I gotta go. Mom is calling me down to help with dinner.”

  “Okay.” Sadness settled like an anchor on my chest.

  We typically had family dinners here, too, but they were nothing like the family dinners with Auth Beth and Uncle Dean. Those were warm and loving and safe. The meals here were stiff and done more out of obligation than want.

  I shook my head and clutched my phone, debating whether to text El
lie. I wasn’t sure I could emotionally handle talking to her right this second.

  Tossing my phone on the foot of the bed, I lugged my backpack closer and pulled out my school issued tablet. Even though my new school offered a lot of cool classes, I still couldn’t get out of taking math.

  After an hour of solving differential equations, the numbers started to blur together. I straightened, and my back protested. So did my legs.

  “Ouch.” I stood and stretched, mentally scolding myself for sitting hunched over on my bed like I had been.

  Snatching my phone, I checked for messages. I had one from Ellie. I opened it and was greeted with a picture of her and Nick. He had his arm around her, and they were both smiling.

  I sank down onto the mattress, tears stinging my eyes. I was happy for them, but the wave of homesickness that crashed over me washed away any joy I felt. I hit reply.

  Me: SO HAPPY FOR YOU!

  And as soon as I hit send, I shut off my phone.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to her—I did—I just couldn’t handle her high energy pep right now. Once I had my emotions in check, I’d turn my phone back on and face my friends. Until then, I was going to pretend Keene Valley and everyone in it didn’t exist. Probably wouldn’t be successful, but it was worth a shot.

  I spent another two hours buried in a mound of homework—not because I had a ton of assignments due, but because I had nothing fun to do. No friends. No hobbies. No job. I froze with my pen poised above my paper.

  That wasn’t a bad idea. My heart beat faster at the possibility. A job would get me out of this house, away from my father, and it would give me money to get back to Keene Valley, because I was not expecting my father to help.

  Stuffing my papers into my notebook, I slammed it closed and shoved everything into my backpack. Then I opened my laptop, found the website for the local newspaper. The “help wanted” section linked to a job search site. I created an account and searched for local jobs.

  “Whoa,” I whispered when the results popped up.

  I scrolled through them, quickly dismissing any that required skills I didn’t have and any that were too far away. I’d have to be able to walk to a job… Unless I could convince Declan to drive me. Although, it was probably silly to get a job that I’d have to quit a month later. Oh, well. I needed to do something to get out of this house.

  “Chloe?” Larissa’s voice rang through the hallway outside my room.

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah?”

  “Please come downstairs for dinner.” She paused, and I stared at my door, expecting her to walk in. Instead, she said, “There’s something your father and I would like to discuss with you.”

  Groaning, I closed my laptop. “Yup.”

  My stomach knotted. I was positive whatever they wanted to discuss was nothing more than another lecture about how I was a part of this family, and I should start acting like it. They’d had that talk with me shortly after I’d arrived, and I bluntly pointed out that I never asked to be here. Larissa had gotten up from the table, crying, and my father scolded me like I was seven not seventeen. We hadn’t had that talk since.

  Until now, apparently.

  CHAPTER THREE:

  Negotiation

  I STOOD AND STRETCHED MY TIGHT muscles. My stomach grumbled as I headed downstairs. Frank and Larissa were seated at the table. “Where’s Little Frank?” I asked.

  He was normally strapped into his highchair and situated next to Larissa.

  “He’s already been fed and is with the nanny,” Frank said. His gaze was on the food in front of him. For a man who claimed to want to repair our relationship, he barely looked at me. And he spoke to me even less.

  “We felt it would be better to talk without any interruptions.” Larissa smiled and nodded at the seat across from my father.

  Reluctantly, I sat. A perfectly roasted chicken surrounded by tiny, red potatoes mixed with colorful, sautéed vegetables was on a platter in the center of the table. Scents of butter, garlic, and a myriad of other spices wafted toward me.

  My mouth watered. I had to give Larissa props for her mad cooking skills.

  Frank carved into the chicken like some regal patriarch, setting a large chunk on his plate before giving Larissa and I some. He was such a fraud.

  “So.” I cleared my throat. “I was thinking… I’d like to get a part-time job after school.”

  My father looked up at me, eyes narrowed. “You don’t need the money, Chloe. I provide everything you need so that you can focus on your studies.”

  I clenched my hands into fists and put them in my lap. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly parading friends through here. I want something to do.”

  “I think it’s a great idea.” Larissa offered me some potatoes, and I nodded. “It will be good for you to meet some new people, and it’s a great way to learn some responsibility.”

  Learn some responsibility? Had she forgotten that I’d been the only one to take care of my injured mother? Or that I’d been responsible enough to agree to take her off life support? I snorted with disgust.

  “Chloe,” my father warned.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled. I shouldn’t be so mean to Larissa. She hadn’t done anything to me, and she wasn’t really that bad. “I just disagree with the idea that I need to learn responsibility. But you’re right, Larissa. I do need to get out of this house and meet new people.”

  She beamed a smile at me, and I returned the gesture. “If you need help with the applications, let me know,” she said. “And if you need a ride, Declan will be happy to drive you after school.”

  “Thanks.” Relief settled on me.

  Having a ride opened up a lot more opportunities. Although, having my own car would be better, but I hadn’t gathered enough courage to bring up that idea, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to ask my father for something so big when I had no intentions of staying here a day longer than necessary.

  Frank took a bite of food and nodded. When he swallowed, he said, “Now that we have that settled…” He took a drink of water, then gave me a pointed look. “Larissa says she invited you to the fundraiser Saturday night and you declined. Rather rudely.”

  Larissa hung her head, refusing to look at me. Did she feel guilty for tattling on me? I doubted it.

  I took a deep breath and forced myself not to be rude now, either. If I wanted to go to the concert with Simon on Friday, I was going to have to play nice and pretend to be a happy, well-adjusted daughter.

  “I’m sorry I was rude this morning, Larissa.” I took another drink. “I’d be happy to go to the fundraiser with you two.”

  Frank froze with his fork halfway to his mouth. Skepticism played across his face, and I held my breath. Had I gone too far with trying to be nice?

  “What do you want in return?” he asked.

  I laughed, then clamped my lips shut. Surely, he wasn’t expecting me to be so easily agreeable. “I’ve been invited to a concert Friday night, and I’d like to go.” I kept my tone calm.

  “What concert?” Larissa asked.

  “Where is it?” Frank asked.

  “Who invited you?” Larissa set her fork down and folded her arms on the table.

  “How much is it going to cost?” Frank reached for more chicken.

  My head spun with their rapid-fire questions. “Um. It’s Black Veil Brides. I’m not sure where it is, but it shouldn’t cost anything. A friend from school offered me a ticket, and he’ll pick me up.”

  “He?” Frank raised a brow. “So, it’s a date?”

  I shook my head. “No. It’s two friends who like the same band hanging out. Trust me. This is not a date.”

  If he only knew how ridiculous that was, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.

  “You still haven’t told us who you’re going with,” Larissa said.

  I swallowed a piece of chicken and washed it down with a mouthful of water. “His name is Simon Parker. We have a couple classes
together.”

  “Simon Parker?” Larissa’s eyes widened. “Son of Raymond Parker? Owner and CEO of Parker Motion Pictures?”

  I shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

  I had no idea who Simon’s father was, and I didn’t care. But based on the grins she and my father shared, Raymond Parker was a big deal. I should’ve known that Larissa would know of Simon and his family. She seemed to know everyone in this city. It was the only reason they’d gotten me into The James da Vincente Preparatory School, because Larissa knew the dean—he was a friend of the family.

  “He’ll come here to pick you up?” Frank asked.

  I nodded. “Six o’clock.”

  He looked to Larissa, who smiled again. “I’m fine with you going,” he said. “But you have to go to the fundraiser with us on Saturday—no backing out—and we expect Simon to come to the door to get you. We’d like to meet him.”

  Jaw clenched, I gave another nod. This wasn’t the 1950s where a guy had to meet a girl’s father and get his approval. And, most importantly, this wasn’t even a date. If a girl was coming to pick me up, I guarantee they wouldn’t insist on meeting her. I so badly wanted to point that out, but if I caused trouble, they wouldn’t let me go.

  “Okay,” I agreed begrudgingly.

  “Good.” Frank resumed eating.

  So did I, and we fell silent for a while.

  When he finished, he pushed his plate away and leaned back in his chair. “I’m glad you’re making an effort to be more involved with this family, Chloe.” He reached over and took Larissa’s hand. “We really want you to be happy here.”

  I forced a smile, not bothering to tell him that the only reason I was being agreeable was so I could get what I wanted. But I’d let him think otherwise. For now. I’d have to wait to ask him about Keene Valley, though. I didn’t want to press my luck.

  “Do you have any idea where you might like to work?” Larissa asked.

  I shrugged. “Not really. I don’t want to wait tables or anything like that. Working in a coffee shop might be fun. Or at an ice cream stand.”