Chapter 1
Piper
Four hours earlier.
“Dad! I’m a broke college student! Come on! I didn’t have any choice but to take this bus!”
“You won’t be broke much longer, pumpkin. Just wait till your old Dad tells you…”
I roll my eyes, and then my shoulders, which are stiff from having sat in a Greyhound bus for the past seventy-two hours.
Luckily, this is the last day of my three-day trip.
I know it’s ridiculous to come back to Astley by bus.
But it was that or take a plane, which would have cost at least three times as much.
I can’t exactly afford a two-hundred-dollar ticket right now. I’ve just taken out a huge loan to pay for college all the way across the country in California. I realize the smart thing would have been to stay in the state and go to community college. But fuck Astley. Fuck the entire East Coast.
I huff out an angry breath while Dad drones on about his work, wiping my glasses on the front of my shirt, my thoughts far away, as they often are when Dad gets into one of his long monologues.
It’s hard growing up as the only child of the Days.
We’re known as the poorest family in Astley.
In fact, I’m pretty sure we’re the only poor family in Astley.
Everyone else is a multi-millionaire. We moved here from California.
We had a comfortable life out west, but Mom inexplicably wanted us to return to her childhood town in Astley at the end of second grade.
And Dad gave in, like he always does. Never mind that our whole life got uprooted overnight.
Never mind that he could only find a job as a janitor here and that the only house in our budget was a fucking guest house some rich lady rented out.
Never mind that I got bullied throughout my childhood.
The only thing that matters, I guess, is what Mom wants. That’s what’s always mattered.
If I didn’t love Dad so much, I’d be pissed off at him for ruining my life. But no one can stay angry at him for long. He’s such a goofball.
Still, as soon as I built up some savings, I got as far away from Astley as I could. Every day since, my parents have been calling, begging for a visit.
I’ve finally relented in my senior year, and agreed to come home for Christmas. I missed them, and I guess enough time has passed that I’d forgotten how bad the bullying was.
Until I stepped into the Greyhound bus. It all came rushing back to me, and for the past three days of being stuck on this bus, I’ve been quietly freaking out about my decision.
If I run into Quill Nelson, I am going to be so fucking pissed off.
I bite down on the bitterness that always surges up when I think of him, and tune back into the conversation with Dad. He really has a way of babbling on. It’s one of the reasons Mom and I love him, though.
“Things have been crazy at work,” he’s saying excitedly. “Can’t wait to see you and tell you all about it. But let me tell you, pumpkin, I have a feeling your old dad is about to get a major promotion.”
I wince at the old nickname, but don’t protest it, like I used to. Being away at college has me missing Dad’s corny shows of affection.
“That’s great, Dad,” I say. “I’m glad they appreciate your work.”
“We-e-ll…” he hedges. “The truth is, it’s not exactly appreciation. More like sloppiness.” He guffaws. “Bob Nelson never did clean up after himself. And I am the janitor. It’s not like I was snooping. But let’s just say I came upon something that he did not want me to know about.”
I blink back my exhaustion. “That sounds really interesting. But I’m so tired, could we…”
“You know Logan Colt?”
I suppress a yawn. Yes, everyone in Astley knows of him. One of the untouchable Devils, the founders of the biggest company in the state, which has its headquarters in Astley. Dad works for them, though I doubt he’s ever crossed their paths. Bob Nelson is his manager.
“Nelson left a document lying around,” continues Dad. “I don’t usually snoop, but listen, pumpkin, when I saw your name in big block letters on the top of the paper, how could I not read it? You don’t blame me, right?”
“Sorry, Daddy,” I mumble, my eyes closing in spite of me. “I’m just so tired… three days on a bus with very little sleep. Can we talk about it when I get home?”
“Sure thing, pumpkin,” he says in his hearty voice. “Get some rest. We have all the time in the world.”
I don’t know it yet, but those are the last words I’ll ever hear him say.