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  The Senator doesn't wait for her to continue. “No one thinks you’re trying to replace her mother, Ella,” he says, patting Ella’s hand. “Kate doesn’t think that, do you Kate?” Katherine opens her mouth, but he interrupts. “And she understands that we’re on a tight schedule here with the campaign, isn’t that right?”

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  I’m annoyed by the way he just answers for her, and irritated with her for just sitting there, chewing on her forkful of chicken instead of responding. “Why don’t you let Kate answer for herself?”

  The Senator glares at me, a dark look passing over his face. “Kate just answered for herself. ”

  Ella looks uncomfortable. She's not good with these kinds of situations. “Katherine,” she says. “I know that your mother was a special woman, and I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes here. I’m --”

  “Seriously,” Katherine says, tossing me a look of annoyance that makes me regret even taking up for her at all. “It’s no big deal. I mean, it is a big deal for you guys. I’m happy for you. But I’m an adult. We’re all adults here. People remarry all the time. I wish you nothing but happiness. ”

  “Thank you, Kate,” the Senator says.

  I send Kate a text.

  Liar.

  She looks down at her phone and back up, pointedly ignoring me. “Ella, if there’s anything you need me to do for your engagement party, please let me know. ”

  A broad smile crosses Ella’s face. “Thank you, Katherine,” she says. “That’s so kind of you. I think actually my stylist is going to bring dresses to the house next week to do fittings for the wedding, and I’d love to ask her to send over something for the engagement party as well. Unless you had something else in mind. ”

  Kate nods. “Sure. ”

  “Oh, she mentioned she was redoing your wardrobe,” Ella says, looking at me. “She said you asked Caulter to set it up. ”

  Kate pauses, her napkin on the corner of her mouth. “She did, did she?”

  “I’d have been happy to set it up for you,” Ella says. “I’m pleased Caulter was able to. She said something about summer wear, dresses and that kind of thing. ”

  Kate coughs into her napkin, and I’m not sure, but I think she might be laughing.

  “She could use more dresses for the campaign,” I say. “It’s more. . . functional. For the campaign, I mean. ”

  I watch as color rises to Kate’s cheeks, but the Senator interrupts, saving her from scrutiny. “That’s thoughtful of you, Caulter,” he says. “Absolutely. Dresses. More feminine, appropriate for the setting. ”

  “Yes. ” I nod. “Dresses would definitely be very useful. ”

  Kate coughs again, this time harder. Yeah, I’m pleased with myself.

  “Caulter, do you know who in the world left that barrel out in the back?” the Senator asks. I think Kate might choke on her bite of food this time.

  I shrug. “No idea,” I say. “Probably the gardener. ”

  “Ridiculous,” he says. “You really can't get good help these days. We’re back to DC tomorrow, but the engagement party is Friday. Ella, the planners and all of that will be taking over the house for the next two days, I assume?”

  “Tomorrow morning,” she says. “You and Katherine will need to direct things, Caulter. No parties. ”

  I look at her, mock innocent. “Have I gotten into a single bit of trouble since I’ve been here?” I ask. “Have I been out to a single party?”

  Ella narrows her eyes at me. She doesn’t trust me - reasonably so. The part about parties is true, though. I’ve not been to a single one since I’ve been here. I’ve not put my dick in a single girl, either. Except Kate, of course.

  “Not that I’ve seen in the newspapers,” she says.

  “Leave the young man alone,” the Senator says, gesturing toward me with his fork in hand. “He’s cleaned himself up, and has behaved quite responsibly since we sent them out here. I told you, Ella, it’s all about boundaries. Rules. If you give children rules and expectations, they will conform. Caulter here is a perfect example of that. ”

  I have to clench my fists as I listen to him talk about me as if he’s talking about a preschool-aged child or a dog. “Yes,” I agree. The old Caulter would have lifted up the end of the antique table we’re sitting at, and sent dishes flying, before storming out of the room and driving off in my mother’s hundred-thousand-dollar car. The new Caulter, the one fucking the Senator’s daughter, is cool, calm, and collected. “You know, I think it’s really due to Kate rubbing off on me. ”

  Kate coughs more violently this time, and the Senator looks at her. "Are you catching a cold?"

  “So you and the hot step-brother,” Jo says. “Dish. ”

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  “There’s nothing to dish,” I protest. I'm annoyed because of how fixated Jo is with Caulter and me. We’re sitting outside, our feet dangling off the edge of the dock, watching as the party planners set up tents and engagement party paraphernalia in the backyard. My father has some kind of notion that I’m supervising all of this. “Ugh. Do you really think he’s hot?”

  As if on cue, Caulter walks out onto our shared balcony, wearing nothing but boxer briefs. It’s like he thinks he’s a fucking male model, strutting around like a peacock with no concern for the people in the yard.

  People who stop and gawk.

  He’s done the same thing every damn morning for the past three days, standing outside my window like I’m going to see his hard-on and lose my mind. Yesterday, he pressed it up against the glass door, making lewd gestures with his tongue and rubbing his nipples. He's trying to get a rise out of me, and it's definitely working.

  Jo slides her sunglasses down to the tip of her nose and makes a show of wiggling her fingers at him. “Yeah, he’s hot, Kate,” she says. “You really don’t see it? I mean, I guess you like clean cut guys, and he’s very. . . . not, with the tattoos, and the nipple piercings, and. . . shit, he’s got a nice ass. ”

  “He’s a disgusting pig,” I say, my tone not as convincing as I try to make it. I can’t help the way my eyes wander up to the balcony where he stands, leaning on the rail and smoking, the sunlight glistening off his muscular arms and chest. “Plus, he smokes. ”

  Jo shrugs. “I wouldn’t mind it,” she says.

  “He’s arrogant and insufferable. ”

  “Didn’t you say he sent Ella’s stylist to replace your wardrobe?” she asks. “He’s not exactly Satan. ”

  “Yes, but --” I groan in frustration. “You don’t understand. ” How do I explain that the Devil up there -- the ripped, tattooed, pierced, so amazing in bed that I can’t think about anything except his cock -- set my fucking wardrobe on fire because he wanted me to wear dresses without panties? He's clearly insane.

  “What I understand is that you’re living with Caulter Sterling,” she says. “He’s like. . . legendary when it comes to fucking. ”

  “Jo!” She’s right, though; he has a reputation. But what the hell do I know about sex, anyway? I've only been with Caulter. Maybe he's not the only guy who will ever rock my boat.

  Of course, looking at him up there on the balcony just makes me think about him rocking my boat. I press my thighs together, smoothing the fabric of my skirt over them.

  "Is that one of the dresses he bought you?" Jo asks.

  I roll my eyes. "Yes. "

  "Looks expensive. "

  "I'm sure it is. "

  Jo shrugs. “I can give him a test run,” she says. “I’m not seeing anyone. ”

  “What? You and that guy broke up?” Jo bounces from one to another, so I can't remember his name.

  “Last week. ” She kicks her foot in the water. “Caught him cheating. ”

  “What a dickhead,” I say.

  She shrugs. “It wasn't like I was faithful," she says. "But it's different if he's the one doing the running around. "

  I don't point out the hypocrisy in the statement. "I'm sorry. "

  “I'm not,” she says. “He was a drag. Anyway, there’s a party tonight you need to go to. Are your dad and Ella back yet?”

  I shake my head. “Right before the engagement party. Two days. ”

  “Then you should come,” she says. “And tell Caulter to come too. ”

  “Caulter?” I ask. “I don’t think so. ” Like I'm going to bring Caulter to a party so I can watch him hit on girls? Yeah, right.

  “Come on. It’ll be fun. It's Caulter Sterling. You’ll be legendary for bringing him. Do it. Slum with us commoners. ”

  I laugh, but I secretly hate her little comments about slumming it, or me being a rich kid. How am I supposed to respond?

  Jo kicks the water in the lake. “There will be hot guys, guys who aren’t rich prep school kids. Guys with tattoos. ”

  Guys like Caulter. I glance up at the balcony, but it’s empty now. “Fine. ”

  “Seriously?” she asks. “You’re really going to go to an actual, real-life party? Like, with booze and guys?”

  “I said fine, okay? You’ve worn me down. ”

  “You’ve never gone out before,” she says. “I can’t fucking believe it. I was just giving you shit; I didn't think you would actually go. What’s gotten into you?”

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  What's gotten into me? My mind immediately flashes to Caulter.

  Caulter bending me over the desk in my father’s office. Caulter thrusting into me as the ladder falls from beneath me in the library. Caulter’s hot breath on my stomach, his face moving lower as the warm water drums over our bodies in the shower. My lips wrapped around Caulter’s cock, the saltiness of his pre-cum on my tongue.

  Shit.

  I have to blink several times to erase the images in my head. I definitely need to meet someone else -- if not someone appropriate, then someone inappropriate. Inappropriate and filthy enough to get my mind off of Caulter.

  “Caulter should come with us,” she says, interrupting my thoughts.

  “What, are you obsessed with him or something?” I snap. “No Caulter. ”

  “Okay, no Caulter,” she says, giving me major side-eye. “I didn’t know you were so touchy about him. ”

  “I’m not touchy about him,” I say. “I just don’t -- he’s irritating, that’s all. I don’t want him killing my buzz. ”

  She laughs. “Yeah, okay, I can see that. Who wants your new step-brother tagging along with you to a party, anyway?” She pushes herself up to her feet, reaching to take my hand and pull me up. “Ten-ish, okay? I’ll text you. ”

  “I said, it’s really loud,” I yell.

  Jo hands me a plastic cup filled with beer and motions toward her ears, yelling back. I can’t hear her, but I can read her lips. “I can’t hear you!”

  A guy sidles up behind her, wearing a leather jacket even though it’s probably still seventy degrees outside and inside it’s hot as hell. I’m sweating, even in the dress I’m wearing -- one of the new dresses Ella’s stylist sent.

  I still haven’t forgiven Caulter for burning all my stuff, either, even though a box showed up with exact substitutions for all my jeans this morning. No note from Caulter, no explanation. Just brand-new versions of everything that he’d burned.

  Part of me is impressed he went to so much trouble for a stupid prank, noting all of the sizes and brands and then tracking them down. It couldn’t have been easy, although he probably hired someone to do it.

  I nearly pulled on a pair of jeans tonight, but I had to admit that what the stylist picked is actually pretty hot, much better than I’d have picked. It's not something I’d usually wear, either. It's this fire-engine red mini-dress that I’m sure my father was not imagining when he jumped on board with the redo-Kate’s-wardrobe plan. But my father isn’t home, and what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right?

  Jo leans back against the guy, who pulls up the hem of her shirt and slides his hands over her stomach. From behind her, he cups her face with his hands, and leans over to kiss her, all tongue, then slides his hand down the front of her shirt.

  Well, this is totally awkward.

  I down my warm-ish beer, wondering where the hell I need to go to get more. This is why I don't fucking go to parties. At Brighton, I went to exactly one, and it was during my spring break, only because I was stuck there with nothing else to do. That was at someone's parents' house in the Hamptons.

  That was not this kind of party. There was no warm beer, just expensive champagne and liquor from kids who had access to unlimited supplies of the best stuff. There were models. I don't know why I went to that one, either, because it was just as awkward as this. After two glasses of champagne and fending off a series of dumb pick-up lines, I was in a cab back to my dorm at Brighton.

  Jo finally comes up for air and takes my empty cup, handing it to the guy who’d just mauled her face. She grabs my arm and pushes me toward a hallway where it’s quieter, but still just as crowded with people. “Bathroom,” she explains.

  We stand outside the door, waiting for three more people to use it before she pulls me inside. It’s a nice reprieve from the loud pounding of the music in the house. She squats over the toilet and pees, talking the whole time. “It’s fun, yeah? I mean, it’s loud, but fun. ”

  “Sure. ” I’m feeling out of place and agitated. I can’t imagine why Jo thinks this is going to be fun for me.

  “Come on,” she says. “Loosen up a little. ”

  I squat to pee. “Who was the guy?”

  Jo laughs. “Some guy,” she says. “A hook-up, no big deal. We’re on again, off again, you know? But he has some hot friends. I told him I was bringing you with me. ” She opens her purse and pulls out a bottle of prescription medication. “Want one? You need to relax. ”

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  I shake my head, but ask anyway. “What is it?”

  “Anxiety meds,” she says. “My mother’s stash. ”

  “I don’t think you’re supposed to drink with that, Jo. ” I feel like a parent scolding a child. She should know better.

  Jo laughs and dries her hands. “Sure you don’t want one?” she asks. “Come on, girl. You have the rest of the summer to be the perfect little Senator’s daughter. No one knows who you are here. And no one cares. Live your fucking life, for once. ”

  “I am living my life,” I say. I’m annoyed with her, and I'm annoyed with this situation.

  “Here,” she says, holding out a tablet. “Take half if you don’t want to take the whole thing. It’ll let you relax. It’s not coke or something. It’s prescription. From a doctor. For anxiety, which you definitely have. ”

  I exhale heavily, taking it from her hand and popping it into my mouth. “Fine. Whatever. ”

  We exit the bathroom and her hook-up, the leather-jacket clad guy, hands us each a cup of beer. I hold it, not drinking it because I'm afraid of mixing the pill with more alcohol.

  He introduces me to two of his friends. They’re cleaner cut than he is, but they look older. One of them stares at me like I’m a piece of meat, licking his lips. I want to get the hell out of here, but I force myself to take a sip of beer to calm my nerves.

  The other guy steps closer to me, pulling me away from the group, and gestures, asking if I want to dance. Okay, so he’s hot -- blue eyed and brown haired and clean-cut. Totally appropriate, I think.

  I don’t know how long it is, maybe thirty minutes or so, before I start feeling relaxed. Like, really relaxed. I feel kind of woozy, actually, like my head is thick and foggy and I just want to sleep. The guy, whose name I don’t even know, is behind me, sliding his hands over my stomach and down the front of my hips, his hardness pressing up against me as he dances with me completely out of sync with the music.

  The fact that he’s hard is what makes me feel nauseous. When I try to pry his hands off my hips, he grips them tighter and I yank myself away from him.

  I don’t know where Jo is in the crowd; I can’t see her or the other guy, but I need some air.

  Outside the house, I shiver as the now-cool evening air hits my skin. There are a handful of people outside, party-goers that have spilled out onto the lawn, and a few couples making out near the side of the house.

  I walk toward the other side of the house to get away from the people. I’m so fucking tired, and I just want to go home.

  I'm trying to remember the name of the cab service in town, but I can't think of it. When I slide open the screen of my cell phone, there's a text waiting for me from Caulter.

  You’re out late.

  It’s accompanied by a picture of his cock.

  I smile, because I can’t help myself, and turn the camera in my hands, admiring it from a different angle. Caulter doesn't have just any cock. He has a beautiful cock. A large cock. A glorious throbbing, always-ready cock.

  I think I'm drunk. I start to type what's going through my head. How do you spell glorious? Instead, I type:

  Aw. no 1 too suck.

  Why is typing so hard? My hands feel so slow. No one to suck your cock is what I mean, but it looks wrong on the screen.

  What’s with the spelling? Are you drunk? Where are you?

  I exhale heavily. If Caulter would stop texting me, I could call a cab and get home. Leaning against the house, I squint, trying to text back.

  Yes. Nove ur busines.

  I hit send, and stop to think. What the hell do you dial for directory assistance? The phone rings, and for a second, I think its directory assistance calling me.

  “Where the hell are you?”

  It takes me a minute to recognize the voice. “None of your business. ”

  “Your voice is slurred, Princess,” he says. “You’re drunk. Tell me where you are. ”

  “At a party,” I say. “I’m a grown up, and you can’t boss me around. ”

  “The fuck I can’t,” Caulter growls in my ear. The sound reminds me of the last time we screwed, and I feel a tingling sensation between my legs. “Tell me where you are. I’m coming to get you. ”

  “I’m trying to call a cab,” I say. "Get off the phone. "

  “I’m getting in the car now,” Caulter says. How is he moving so quickly? He’s like a superhero. I giggle at the thought. “Where are you?”

  “At a house. ”

  “Where?”

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