Trapped (Bullied Book 4) (Bullied Series) Vera Hollins (best large ereader txt) 📖

the last week and how I had to apologize to him for intruding into his room and watching that video. My parents and I were going to another Saturday dinner at their house, so I decided to do it then if he was there.

The thought of doing it so soon created a gnawing feeling in my chest, but I couldn’t keep holding out on him. I had to own up to my mistake and stop being a coward. As Susan had told me many times, honesty was the best policy. Even if it meant I had to face his fury.

That very thought invoked tears I couldn’t stop for a long time. He would hate me more than ever when he heard I’d invaded a piece of his past, and it would be irreversible.

I was preparing myself for it the whole day, but that didn’t stop my stomach from fluttering when I got in Dad’s car, and the sensation only intensified the closer we got to the Jones’ mansion. I jacked up the volume of the Florence and the Machine song coming from my AirPods when my phone buzzed with a new text from Kev.

I’m with my parents at that fancy restaurant that opened last week. Guess what.

What?

The owners are Marcus’s parents. And guess who works there as a server.

I chuckled, knowing where this was going.

Santa Claus?

You’re close. Marcus. And he’s waiting on our table!

My lips curved into a cheek-splitting smile. The day before, Marcus had approached me before our choir practice and asked me if I’d talked to Kevin about him. I told him he should try talking to him himself because Kevin would most definitely appreciate it. After that, Kev and Marcus spent the entire practice talking to each other in hushed whispers, and they looked so cute together. I could see that Kevin was slowly warming up to Marcus. I couldn’t have been happier for him.

Ooh. And? Give me some details.

And I can’t eat because he keeps staring at me, and my heart does this weird jumping thing. Also, I feel hot.

I giggled, bouncing up and down in my seat. So cute!

Dad looked at me in the rear-view mirror and said something, but I couldn’t hear him because of the music.

I took my AirPod out. “What?”

“I said, what has gotten into you? Are you all right?”

I nodded at him, grinning. “Yep. I’m perfect.”

“You’re acting just like your mom when she stumbles on a sale.” He winked at her.

Mom let out an exaggerated sigh and shook her head. “You don’t complain when I buy you ties. Or golf clubs.”

“You buy them once a year. Once. And how many times do you go shopping in a year?”

I chuckled. “Probably a thousand times,” I said. “She’s obsessed with sales.”

She tsked. “I’m not obsessed with sales. There’s nothing wrong with buying new clothes every once in a while.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, more like every once in a week.” I put my AirPod back in my ear and sent another message to Kev.

I’m over here smiling like crazy, and my dad thinks I’m ready to be put in a straitjacket. That’s so cute!

He replied a few minutes later.

He just slipped a note in my lap!

I squealed and typed quickly.

What does it say???

I tapped my fingers on my thigh, almost on the edge of my seat as I waited for his response. I was seriously living for their budding romance.

It says: Wanna go out with me tomorrow?

“Yes,” I shouted, and now both Mom and Dad were looking at me like they were going to lock me up in an asylum.

Say yes. SAY YES.

His text arrived almost immediately.

But I’m stuttering, Jess. That’s pretty embarrassing.

I huffed.

Don’t you dare say no, Kevin Burks. Marcus isn’t like that. He doesn’t care.

You think?

I KNOW. You’re so much more than your stutter, and Marcus knows that. We all know that. He wouldn’t ask you out if he cared about that.

My dad said something, but once again, I couldn’t hear him. I stopped the music and looked at him. “Yes?”

“We’ve arrived.”

My smile dropped. I looked around and took in the Jones’ swanky front door. My hands started to tremble as I stuffed my phone and AirPods into my backpack. My phone buzzed, but I couldn’t focus on it now, taking deep breaths. I would most likely see Blake in just a few moments.

At least my parents didn’t notice anything unusual about me. We got out of the car into the surprisingly warm night and headed to the entrance. I clung to the strap of my backpack when my dad rang the bell, and the same maid as before opened the door. She met us with a warm smile that didn’t do anything to reduce my growing anxiety before she let us in. Just like the last time, I could almost feel Blake there, and my skin prickled with awareness. I tried my best to play it cool.

“Mr. and Mrs. Jones are waiting for you in the living room.”

I stayed behind my parents as we followed her. My mom’s high heels clicked on the marble floor, mixing with the sounds of my heartbeat thundering in my ears, and I willed my legs to move no matter how hard each step was.

My eyes swept over the living room as we entered it in search of Blake, but he wasn’t there. Again.

“Owen and Julie, welcome,” Nathaniel said before he directed his million-watt smile at me. “And Jessica. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

I smiled at him weakly and met Daniela’s gaze; yet again, she wore a smile that contradicted the cold in her eyes. I felt like she could see right through me.

“Hello,” I said, shaking hands with them.

“Come sit.” Nathaniel motioned to the couch. “Our son is about to come home any moment now.”

My pulse accelerated at once. The prospect of seeing Blake after the night before did something strange to my body. Despite my anxiety and his painful revelation, my thoughts raced to those heated moments between us as I