Free Desire by Ember Chase Page B

I don’t call them my grandparents because they do not see it that way, they wanted Garrett. Badly. So my mother had a bargaining chip to get some money out of them. She moved us back down to Georgia and put us in just about the crappiest school that she could find until they came to an agreement.”
    “Are you saying that she sold your brother to h is grandparents?”
    “Yeah, sort of.” I cringe. “But not for much. She tried to make us a package deal, but they wouldn’t bite. They really hate her and they’re not that crazy about me. My mom basically trapped my dad into marrying her by getting pregnant on purpose and not telling him until after my brother was born, then refusing to move to Massachusetts unless he married her. And adopted her other kids, but my sister’s dad wouldn’t give up custody. Mine couldn’t sign the papers fast enough.”
    “This is some heavy shit, Maya. You seem pretty Zen about the whole ordeal.”
    I shrug at him. “It worked out pretty well for me in the long run. My sister and my other brother got stuck with her, and it isn’t pretty down there, to say the least. My mom is a psycho bi— she’s not pleasant to live with now that she doesn’t have money and her husband is a real piece of work.”
    “Just how many siblings do you have?”
    “Three from my mom, all from different fathers. I also have another sister and brother from my biological dad, but they don’t really count because I’ve never met them.”
    “I have another little brother, too. Taylor.”
    “I figured.”
    “Actually, it’s a similar situation. He lives with my mom’s parents, who also do n ot consider me a real grandkid.”
    “How did you r adopted mother die?”
    “She overdosed on painkillers and alcohol. Accidentally, she would have never abandoned us, or let him win. I will give you the whole messy story one day soon, I promise.”
    “It’s okay.”
    “Alright,” he says shaking his head. “So poor turns him on, but Southern doesn’t. So perhaps, subtly of course, accentuate those T’s when you talk and throw in a y’all if you can sell it.”
    “That’s not going to do it Isaac. I can only think of one thing that can.”
    “Which is?”
    “Quitting school.”
    “That is absolutely out of the question. No fucking way.”
    “Well, I’m switching back to my original career path, not that I’m exactly sure what that is. I could drop the extra classes I was taking to go into law.”
    “As much as I hate to say it, the super busy school schedule will be very helpful. A good excuse not to see him.”
    “I could get a job instead. It would make sense.”
    “My girlfriend is not working some shitty job to make ends meet.”
    “But—”
    “It’s not up for debate. Plus it will play up the poor thing, give him hope that you’ll get tired of it and want to make up.”
    “I could go back to work at the game store. I work ed there fifteen or twenty hours a week until he convinced me to quit.”
    “Do you want to drop your other classes?”
    “Not really. I like statistics. I’m not exactly sure what I want to do, I’d like to have more options.”
    “So no job. Why’d he want you to stop working?”
    “Actually that might be useful. He hates my nerdy streak. Absolutely despises it, it’s a huge turn off.”
    “Good. That is really good. It looks like there are a lot of geeky t-shirts in your future. Which reminds me, don’t wear any clothes that he bought you.”
    “It’s about all I have.”
    “Then I’ll be replacing them. Unfortunately with a lot less expensive items than I’d like. But I would have done that anyway because I don’t want anything of his to touch you ever again.”
    This possessive thing is pretty hot. “ Of course not. And a geeky t-shirt shopping spree sounds pretty fun.” Now that put a smile on his face.
    “If you want anything else, just say the word and it’s yours. Especially if it’s nerdy, you know what that does to me,” he rasps. I