CHAPTER ONE

8 years earlier . . .

TESSA

I test my outfit one final time in my full-length mirror. Callie rolls her eyes impatiently. “Can we simply go, please?” She’s keen as a result of her new boyfriend is ready for us within the automobile outdoors.

“Are you certain he gained’t thoughts me coming?” I ask.

“I instructed you already, he’s high-quality about it. We’re going to a home get together, and there’s gonna be a great deal of individuals there.”

We rush down the steps, and my care-worker pokes her head across the kitchen door. “Going someplace good?”

“Cinema. Mike cleared it,” I lie.

“Ten o’clock curfew,” she shouts after me as we head out. The care residence the place I’m presently residing is nicer than most locations I’ve stayed, however it’s strict on curfews and guidelines. I’ve spent my life in care, handed round a number of completely different foster properties, and now, on the age of sixteen, I’m right here. They not name them kids’s properties, however that’s what it’s—a house for the children nobody desires. They are saying when you haven’t been adopted by eight years previous, you’ve missed your probability, and for me, that’s the case.

I climb into the again of the black BMW. I can’t lie, I’m a little bit impressed. Callie will get within the entrance and leans over to kiss the man within the driver’s seat. He then turns to me, smiling, and I catch a glimpse of a gold tooth. “I’m Jase,” he introduces, and I attempt to not look shocked. He’s quite a bit older than me and Callie. She by no means talked about that half.

“Tessa,” I say warily. He winks, then turns again round and begins the engine.

We drive round for a half-hour earlier than he pulls up outdoors a home. It’s big, significantly better than the homes on the property the place we reside, and there’s music pumping from inside. As we get out the automobile, I see individuals hanging round within the backyard. All of them look older than me and Callie, and I hook my arm in hers and lean shut so Jase doesn’t hear me. “You by no means mentioned you have been relationship Hugh Hefner,” I hiss.

She laughs. “He’s not that previous.”

“But he’s not that younger both.”

She rolls her eyes. “Come on, Tess, loosen up. He’s twenty-five, hardly a grandad, and he thinks I’m eighteen, so don’t say a phrase.”

“The place did you meet him?”

“A bar. Reside a little bit and let your hair down. These events are superb.”

I go searching doubtfully as we head inside, trailing behind Jase. He stops often, shaking palms and chatting with the opposite partygoers, however finally leads us over to a sofa. He waves down a passing woman carrying a tray of drinks and takes two glasses of wine, handing them to us. I hate wine, however Callie offers me a warning glare to maintain quiet and smile gratefully. When he turns to talk with another person, one other lady locations a tray on the desk with traces of white powder neatly sectioned and a few black straws.

“Is that what I feel it’s?” I hiss, and Callie nods. “You’re not gonna do this, are you?”

Jase crouches on the desk and takes a straw, sniffing as he guides it alongside the road of powder. He grins at us earlier than providing the straw to Callie. She takes it, and I watch in horror as she does the identical. She turns to me, however I’m already shaking my head. “Come on, Tess, don’t be a bore.”

“I’m not a fucking bore, Callie. If I’m going residence out my face, they’ll kick me out.” I’m happy with the truth that I haven’t gone down the route so many children in my state of affairs do. I’ve by no means executed medication or smoked, and I solely have the occasional drink.

“They’ll kick you out quickly, anyway,” she mutters, handing the straw again to Jase. She’s proper, I can solely keep on the residence till I flip seventeen, after which they’ll level me within the path of a hostel or a bedsit. The thought terrifies me as a result of I’ve by no means lived alone. I’ve all the time been surrounded by different children.

“You’re an fool,” I mutter. She’s solely doing this crap to impress her new boyfriend. He’s not even that nice-looking.

“If you happen to’re going to nag, go away,” she snaps. Standing, she wraps her arms round Jase and kisses him. I shudder, watching as he leads her away in the direction of the steps. Nice, now what?

The ambiance within the room all of the sudden modifications. Individuals start to shift uncomfortably after which they half, nearly like they’re ready for a storm to move by. A gaggle of males seem, all wearing sensible fits with gold watches on present and shades overlaying their eyes. I really feel like I’m watching a film scene, and I wish to chuckle on the ridiculousness. They cease in entrance of me, and one of many males lifts his shades, revealing his piercing blue eyes that stare arduous into mine. “Transfer,” he says clearly.

I look behind me to verify he’s chatting with me. After I see he’s, I frown. “No.”

He stares a little bit longer, uncertain of what to say. I don’t suppose many individuals inform him no. One other man pushes to the entrance. “Who’s she?” he asks, additionally lifting his shades to eye me suspiciously.

“Who’re you right here with?”

“Jase,” I reply.

They each change a smirk. “The place is he?”

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