Chapter 6 

Talia's Pov

I was boiling. Not just mad, furious. He bet on me.

A freaking bet.

First, I was stupid enough to think maybe Maxton wasn’t so bad, like maybe there was more to him than smirks and ego. Then I heard him bragging to his hockey buddies that he would “bag me” for a damn car and bragging rights.

To think he walked into class with Bambi, his ex, a walking, giggling nightmare holding her hand like he wasn’t standing so close to me yesterday, like he wasn’t suffocating me with his scent, and his face wasn’t so dangerously close to mine that it felt like he’d lean in for a kiss any second.

Wait, wait hold on. That was totally off point and incredibly off topic.

What was I even thinking? Why would he kiss me? And why was I having flashbacks of that little scene in his room? We hate each other!

“I know he hates me a lot but now he wants to toy with me?” I muttered, kicking at the pavement. “He must think I am some kind of entertainment. The idiot who stares too long and now he suddenly think I want him” 

I kept mumbling words enough to drain my saliva as I walked down the streets away from the ice cream shop. 

My fingers trembled out of anger as I dialed the driver. “Can you pick me up, please? I can't find a taxi anywhere around here,” 

My mom had said to call the driver man when I am ready to head home, she sent me his number and to be honest I didn’t want to call him at first because I didn’t want to go back to the Carter house, but right now giving the lack of taxi I didn’t have much choice 

Just my fate. 

The driver came quickly, but even he looked uncomfortable, maybe because I was radiating pure rage.

“Maxton’s not coming,” I said flatly. “He’s busy painting the town red with his girl.” Why do I sound like a jealous girlfriend? That was definitely not intentional. 

The driver nodded awkwardly and drove. I stayed quiet the whole ride, my mind flipping between fury, embarrassment, and something else I didn’t want to name.

When we reached the mansion, I stepped out fast, ready to pack my little belongings and vanish, but ran straight into Mr. Carter.

“Hello, Mr. Carter,” I said, forcing a polite smile.

“Talia,” he greeted warmly, “you’re back. Your things have been moved, so no need to go home. You will be staying here from now on.”

Wait what the hell? Was I even hearing correctly at this point? 

Why was my mom so hellbent on ruining my life and making these decisions without caring whether I agreed or not?

I wanted to yell, to scream that I didn’t sign up for this, maybe even flip Mr. Carter off and tell him just how much I despised him and his son. But I couldn’t. I had to hold it in.

“What do you mean, moving in? Is that really necessary? I mean.” Mr. Carter didn’t let me finish before he let out a small laugh and waved it off.

“Your mom and I are together now, so you have to move in,” he said, pausing for a moment before adding, “This is what’s best for your future and our future as a family. Trust me, Talia.”

As much as I wanted to, it pained me that I couldn’t protest. I’d have to save all that yelling for my mom, even though I knew it wouldn’t change her mind anyway.

Mr Carter patted my shoulder, “Go drop your He patted my shoulder. “Go freshen up. I want to take you somewhere. Ten minutes.”

“Sir, I..” 

“Come on Talia, I promise you will love it ,” he said lightly. “And no excuses. You have to say yes” his eyes were kind, pleasing even as if he wanted to make this work so bad. I wanted to scream at him but I couldn’t. 

I bit my tongue. The man meant well, but I was barely holding it together. Fuck the universe for making my life unnecessarily hard. 

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We stopped at the most luxurious mall I’d ever seen in my life. Everything sparkled. Every floor screamed money. And when Mr. Carter walked in, all the staff bowed. Some nodded at me too, probably thinking I was some important heiress or model. It was paradise. And terrifying.

I usually shopped at middle range places, and that was only when I absolutely had to. My dad had left us something, but nothing like this.

“Go all out,” Mr. Carter said, handing me a black platinum card. “New wardrobe for college and business meetings.” 

Was he trying to bribe me with money and flash all this luxury in my face or something? If this was what attracted my mom to him, I’m pretty sure he thinks the same trick will work on me. “I do appreciate your kind gesture, sir, but I don’t think this is necessary.”

“I am not trying to come off as impulsive here, Talia, but it would be nice if you could accept this,” he said, shoving the card into my hand before I could protest. “Feel free to splurge all you want, you deserve it. Your mom told me what a good kid you have been, so this is just a little gift.” His eyes flicked to his watch as he added, “I will be back in an hour. If I can’t make it, Maxton will pick you up.”

I froze. “Maxton?”

He grinned at my horror. “Yes, Maxton. Think of it as a bonding experience, a chance for you both to get along since you will be family,” he said with a smile before leaving.

I don’t want a bonding experience with Maxton. Haven’t I had enough already?

The whole room began to attend to me like it was an order being carried out.

I tried not to panic. I wouldn’t be needing Maxton. No way. I’d be long gone before then.

I picked carefully, sticking to the basics, even though the display dresses were practically singing to me. Everything was elegant, soft, and carried a kind of charm I didn’t think I could pull off. But I tried them anyway. I wanted to wear them. I wanted to walk into school and make everyone including Bambi look furious.

My arms were full when I finally called the driver.

“I can’t pick you up, miss. Mr. Carter is in the car with me,” he said. “I am driving him.”

My stomach dropped. “Is there any other driver?”

“No, miss. But Maxton just left the gym. He’s on his way.”

I was horrified by the announcement and hung up immediately. There was no way I’d deal with Maxton now. I couldn’t wait around for him to meet me there.

I tried stepping out to take a taxi, but someone appeared right in front of me.

“Hey, Angry Bird,” Maxton said with that crooked, cocky grin.