no control

• twenty two •

Brant was going to freak out when he realized we were being followed. How could I explain this without sounding completely absurd and off-hand?

I raked a hand over my face.

"Fine," I muttered. "Whatever. Elijah better expect that I'm going to give him hell for this."

His mouth twitched. "I will let him know you said so. I'm going to open the gate now." He slid back into the car and pressed a clicker.

Just as the gate swung open, Brant's cherry red BMW turned into the driveway. I waved at him and rushed toward the passenger door.

Brant eyed the gate and SUV as I slid in beside him.

"What the hell is going on?" he asked.

"I'll explain, but let's go," I said, sounding a bit panicked.

I stole a glance back the SUV. I half-expected Aaron to charge at us and drag my ass back to the house. Brant shook his head but started the car towards town.

Quiet soon filled the car while I processed our situation. My eyes turned to the window, where the dense forest lined the highway like a natural curtain, obscuring its contents completely from the road.

I didn't remember seeing any of this before, with Elijah or ever. I must have really been out cold when he brought me here.

"Okay, so what's the deal?" asked Brant.

My focus snapped back to him. "Oh, right," I murmured, remembering my current situation.

I drew in a deep breath and tried to align my thoughts.

"My internship is out here at my boss's house," I explained. "I know it's weird, but he usually takes me to and from town."

Brant looked over at me with a pointed look. "So this guy is driving in and out of town to pick up his 'intern' so she can work in his house."

"Yep," I said, praying I didn't look like a big fat liar as I forced myself to hold his probing stare.

"And this is a paid internship?"

"Mhm." I actually wasn't sure, but that seemed like a safe answer.

Brant huffed as he glared through the windshield. "I'm not a moron, you know."

My spine stiffened. Shit.

"You don't need to sleep with old men for money," he deadpanned.

I audibly choked on my own spit. "What?" I coughed. "You think I would do that? Jesus, Thornton!"

First of all, Elijah wasn't even old. Secondly, he was just giving me a place to stay. Lastly, I'd fuck Elijah even if he was broke. I had no interest in chasing his money.

I, of course, could not break any of that down for Brant's tiny boy brain to comprehend.

"What?" he scoffed. "You can't tell me I'm wrong. There's no other reason for this very weird arrangement."

"Really? There's not a single other possible reason?"

"No."