You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)(31)

“He doesn’t have many friends,” Mom said.

I rolled my eyes. “Ignore them,” I said to Beatrice.

“He’s a bit of a loser,” Dad said.

“You want me to beat you up in front of Mom?” I threatened.

“I’d like to see you try,” he challenged.

Trinity came down the stairs then joined us. Her eyes moved to Beatrice, and they widened noticeably. “Wow…”

I covered my face, thoroughly embarrassed.

“You’re gorgeous,” Trinity blurted.

Beatrice’s face reddened.

“What are you doing with my brother?” she asked incredulously.

“Knock it off,” I hissed at her. “We’re just friends.”

“I hope so,” Trinity said with a laugh. “Because she’s totally out of your league.”

“I’m this close to pushing you,” I threatened.

“I’d like to see you try.” She put her hands on her hips and glared at me.

“Merry Christmas,” my dad said sarcastically.

Mom grabbed Beatrice’s bags. “I’ll show you to your room. You can unwind a little bit before dinner.”

“Thank you.” Beatrice tucked a strand of hair behind her ear then followed her.

When we were alone, I gave my dad the death look. “Don’t embarrass me!”

He had a wide smirk on his lips. “She’s puuuurty.”

I slugged him in the arm. “I mean it. We’re just friends.”

Trinity laughed loudly. “Sure.”

“I’m serious,” I hissed. “Stop making jokes around her.”

“You think bringing her here will make her change her mind about you?” Trinity asked. “That’s how you plan to get in her pants?”

“I’m not trying to get in her pants,” I hissed. “She and I are just friends. Sure, I want something more, but…she’s complicated.”

“Classy, you mean?” Trinity asked. “It’s refreshing to see that you’ve gotten tired of the whores.”

“If she’s just a friend, why did you invite her for Christmas?” Dad asked.

I didn’t know how to answer that question without betraying her secret. I promised I would keep her personal life to myself. But I needed them to understand she really was here as just a friend. “She…had nowhere else to go.”

My dad’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “What about her family?”

“They aren’t…on good terms,” I said evasively. “I invited her here because she deserves to have fun, not be sad. If I’d known you guys would attack her and keep making jokes about her being my girlfriend, I wouldn’t have.”

“That’s so sad,” Trinity said quietly.

“So stop teasing her about me,” I said. “You’re making her uncomfortable.”

Dad put his hands in his pockets. “Well, I’ll drop the jokes then.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Trinity gave me a surprised look. “I never knew my brother had a heart.”

“I don’t,” I snapped. “She’s my friend and I care about my friends.”

“Who knew my brother could be friends with a girl without sleeping with her,” Trinity said.

“Well, she’s really cool,” I said. “We have a lot in common.”

My dad smirked then dropped his gaze.

Mom came down the stairs. “Oh my god, I love her! She’s so beautiful! Oh Conrad, she’ll give you such beautiful babies! She’s so sweet. I was just talking to her and—”

“Mom, she’s not my girlfriend.”

She shut her mouth abruptly. “Well, she better be soon. I like her. I’m sick of hearing about all the trash you spend time with.”

I glared at my sister, knowing she tattled on me.

She shrugged like she didn’t care.

“Be on your best behavior,” I said. “And treat her like a human being.”

Mom looked sad. “You’re graduating soon. I want you to settle down with a nice girl.”

I wasn’t settling down with anybody, but I didn’t tell my mom that.

***

I knocked on Beatrice’s door.

“Come in.”

I stepped inside and examined her room. It was sterile and the sheets had just been pressed. The window facing the ocean was open. Beatrice sat at the edge of the bed, her legs crossed.

I studied her for a moment before I sat beside her. “Is your room okay?”

“It’s beautiful.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Sorry about my family,” I whispered. “They’re…annoying.”

She smiled. “It’s okay, Conrad. They’re lovely.”

“Are we talking about the same people?” I asked incredulously.

She chuckled, her voice deep and beautiful. “Your mother reminds me of mine. She’s warm and sweet.”

“My mom is pretty cool…sometimes.”

“And not annoying.” She gave me a firm look. “You’re lucky you have such a beautiful family. It’s nice to see that again.”