Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(123)

“Just breathe,” he commands.

My intake sounds like a wheeze and I feel as if my mind is      splitting into halves.

“It’s okay,” Scott tells me.

But it’s not. Nothing is okay.





Chapter 63

Ryan

BETH DIDN’T SHOW       LAST NIGHT. I’m not surprised. My parents are back in town, plus Beth      spent the whole day and into the evening at the hospital Saturday and needed a      day to rest. I hoped she would come though. I only saw her for a few seconds on      Saturday and that was in front of Scott. She seemed so broken. I need to hold      her and tell her I love her and I need to hear the words back.

I’ll catch her before school begins and spend the day trying to      put a smile on her face. Lacy, Chris, and Logan will want to help. Between the      four of us we can distract her.

I open the fridge, pull out a Gatorade, grab my keys from the      counter, and swerve to avoid steamrolling my mother. “Sorry. I’ll see you at the      game later.”

And officially introduce Beth as my girl to my parents. There      is no way either of them would make a scene in public.

“It’s early. Sit down.” Mom brushes past me. She’s polished for      the day. Dress pants. Sweater set. Pearls. Mom will be on the social club prowl      by lunch. Dad walks into the kitchen from the formal dining room and barely      glances at Mom. The vacation was supposed to save their marriage. Last night      they slept in separate bedrooms.

My keys jingle in my hand. “I have some stuff to take care of      before school. Can we talk later?”

Mom eases into a seat at the table and gestures for me to      follow. I cock my hip against the frame of the door instead.

“Fine.” Mom opens her right hand and like an accordion my      condoms fly onto the table. “Would you care to explain?”

My keys dig into my hand as I try to keep my anger in check.      “You went through my room?”

“We’re your parents. We have the right.”

I survey Dad and he patiently stares at me from the other side      of the room. Panic combines with nausea and adrenaline, but I’ll be damned if      they see it on my face. How much did they go through? Did they find my plaque      from winning the writing competition? Did they turn on my computer? Did they      find my stories? This is exactly how they treated Mark when he first came home      from college this summer. Right before he told them he was gay.

“I counted them,” Mom says. “There’s one missing.”

I’ve never hated my mother before and, right now, I do. “What      do you want?”

“Who is the girl?”

“I’m not telling you.” Not when Mom is going to downgrade Beth      to the girl I used a condom with. Mom will take something that was beautiful and      twist it into something dirty.

“Is it a girl?” Dad asks.

My grip on the Gatorade tightens. “What is wrong with you?”

Dad pushes away from the door frame with muscles tensed. Mom      hops out of her seat and directly into the path of me and Dad. “We heard a rumor      yesterday when we went to dinner. I know it has to be untrue because you would      never go against our wishes. I would have discussed it with you yesterday, but      you were out. I did what I had to do to get some answers.”

“You wait for me, Mom. You don’t go through my stuff.”

“Are you dating Beth Risk?” she demands.

“Or is she the girl you’re experimenting with?” asks Dad.

Mom spins. “Andrew!”

“Some girls you date. Others you have sex with. Boys do      this.”

“I’m aware of your behavior in high school,” Mom says. “But my      son will not be sleeping with one girl and dating another in public. Gwen      deserves better than that. I deserved better than that!”

“Stop it!” I’m tired of the fighting.

“It was one night, Miriam!” Dad yells. “Twenty-five years      ago.”

I throw the Gatorade in my hand across the room. Glass shatters      in the china cabinet and Mom holds her hands over her head. “Do you guys even      hear yourselves anymore? Did you even bother listening to Mark? Do you even hear      me? I’m not dating Gwen and leave Beth out of this!”

“Ryan!” Dad bellows, but Mom puts her hand up to silence      him.

“Ryan,” she says slowly. Her hand plays with the pearls around      her neck. “Beth Risk isn’t who you think she is. Gwen grew concerned when you      continued to date Beth at school even after we forbade you to see her, so she      went to her parents...again.”