Free Defending Taylor (Hundred Oaks #7) by Miranda Kenneally Page B

drugs.” Dad rubs his eyes again. “I still don’t understand. You’ve never shown any interest in…in that lifestyle.”
    “I needed to stay awake and study,” I say quietly.
    “All the more reason for you to stay here and go to Hundred Oaks. It should be more manageable for you.”
    I shut my eyes. All my hard work. Years and years of pushing myself. All down the drain, because people never notice good news. They flock to the bad.
    “You’ve been seeing the school counselor, right?” Dad asks quietly, his gaze meeting mine.
    I’m insulted he has to ask. I look him straight in the eyes when I respond, “Yes.”
    “Good.”
    I stand up. “What time are we leaving for the Goodwins’ party?” Mr. Goodwin, a millionaire horse-farm owner, is hosting his annual Tennessee Harvest party and most definitely invited lots of people Dad will need to schmooze with in advance of the November election. It’s only a little more than a month away. “I saw the invite on the kitchen counter.”
    Dad clicks his pen on and off. “Why don’t you sit this one out.” It’s not a question.
    “But I love going to the Goodwins’. I haven’t seen Jack in forever.”
    “Randy and Kevin are worried people will learn you got kicked out of school.”
    “People already know. It was on Facebook.”
    “We don’t want the news to spread any further. You need to keep a low profile, or this could turn into a scandal, which would damage my campaign.”
    “Me getting kicked out of school a scandal? C’mon. That’s nothing compared to what the governor’s son did. I mean, Simon got drunk and streaked through downtown Nashville.”
    “And then he went to Europe for six months until everyone forgot about it. It’s only been a week since you were caught with pills. Speaking of which, I’m glad to hear Marina hasn’t found any more drugs when she’s gone through your room.”
    I gasp. They’re going through my stuff? Frantically, I try to think if I have anything embarrassing in my drawers. Did Marina find my condoms? Would she tell Mom and Dad about them?
    “Still,” Dad goes on, “your mother and I want you to be tested on a regular basis. We’ll go next week.”
    Fuck. They want me to do pee tests?
    Taking those pills and taking the blame for Ben didn’t just get me kicked out of school. It didn’t just mess up my dad’s job. It changed people’s perception of me. From here on out, I’ll be the druggie girl .
    This is why Dad never wanted us to act entitled, because a last name won’t protect you. I never imagined how badly—how quickly—this would screw up my life.
    “Did you need anything else?” Dad asks. “I need to get back to it.”
    My face flushes hot at his dismissal. This situation has morphed from what felt like a simple sacrifice to help my boyfriend to my life spiraling out of control. My anger and embarrassment are starting to outweigh my conflicted feelings toward Ben.
    I storm up the stairs and into my bathroom and turn on the shower, because I don’t want my parents or Marina overhearing what I have to say.
    I sit down on the toilet, swipe on my phone, and tap Ben’s name. He picks up after two rings.
    “Tee?”
    Hearing him say my name just about undoes me. Tears burn my eyes and throat.
    “Hey,” I reply, choked up.
    “How are you?” he asks. “I’ve missed you so much.”
    I love you , I want to say. But he doesn’t deserve that.
    “Those Adderall pills you gave me.”
    “Yeah,” he says softly.
    “Why did you have so many?” There’s such a long silence, I check to make sure we didn’t get disconnected. “Ben? C’mon. What’s the deal?”
    He inhales sharply. “I bought them from someone in Birmingham to sell at school…to make some extra cash.”
    “Oh my God,” I whisper. How could I have dated this boy for a year and not have known he was a drug dealer? I mean, they didn’t find cocaine or heroin in his bag, but prescription drugs are enough to get you in trouble.