“Just make the most of the education that place can give you, work hard to give yourself a good foundation, so you’re ahead of the curve if your mama can’t afford to keep you there. You know I’d help her out if I could.”

“I know you would, but there’s no point you having to work any harder to send me to a school I don’t want to be at in the first place. I’m the poor relation to these kids, apart from Court.”

“Your mama told me you’d quit your job, so you could always come out and visit me during winter break, maybe even for Christmas, if you wanted?”

I haven’t had Christmas with my dad since he and my mom split up. Once a year during the summer we spend three weeks together and we talk on the phone every Wednesday. He’s never suggested I come during any other holiday.

“Wouldn’t you have to work?”

“No, Christmas is the only holiday we have more than a day off for. There’s always something to fish, catch or bait, but the whole crew has a week with their families over Christmas and New Year’s.”

Suddenly I feel five years old again, missing my dad and just wanting to see him. “I’d love to spend Christmas with you, Daddy.”

“Well that’s just made my day, darlin’. I’ll text your mama and let her know, then I’ll get some flights booked. I got to get back to it, I love you.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

Ending the call, I slide my cell back into my blazer and exhale. The melancholy I’d felt since I woke up this morning fades and a feeling of hope settles in its place. My mom might be caught up in the Lockwood hype, but I’m not and neither is my dad. I need this, I need to be away from this town and Sebastian and even my mom and Court too, I need to be somewhere where no one cares who Sebastian is, where he has no power.

An unfamiliar car slows to a stop at the end of the driveway and I watch, waiting to see if someone will get out. No one does, then the rear window rolls down and Court appears. “Morning babe, how cool is this Tesla?” she shrieks excitedly.

My brows furrow in confusion when Sebastian steps from the other side of the car a smug expression etched across his beautiful face. “Good morning, little bird.”

I shake my head and point at him angrily. “We had a deal, I get to ride with Court.”

His smile is pure evil, sin in human form. “We agreed that Courtney would collect you from your house and take you to school and return you home at the end of the day.” He gestures to the car. “Courtney is here, collecting you for school, you never specified that she had to be in her own vehicle, or that you two be the only people present. First rule of business, always read the small print.”