Page 89 of Forbidden Romeo

“I’m going to have to cut Kate from the program,” McCay said.

My heart plummeted to my stomach. “No. She didn’t do anything!” I launched to my feet again.

“She absolutely did do something,” McCay snorted. “Namely, you.”

“Fine. But so did I. Why wasn’t my offer rescinded?”

McCay rolled her eyes, her hands lifting in a defeated shrug briefly before they fell loosely back to her sides. “Because you’re more talented than she is, even when drunk on stage. Because she’s only eighteen and still young and you’re closer to graduating. Because… misogyny. Thanks to your little method scene, you’ve branded her as a whore. And you? You get to be the bad boy of theater. The Rebel Romeo without a cause. Well done, Holden.”

“That wasn’t… I didn’t want that.” My voice cracked as a prickling burning sensation buzzed behind my eyes.

“Doesn’t fucking matter. You both made your choices. And she’s going to pay for it. I’ll be kicking her out of the program when we get back to school.”

“No,” I snapped. “Don’t you fucking dare!”

“Don’t you fucking yell at me, Holden!”

“Okay,” Dad said, finally stepping forward between us. “Take it easy, you two.” He looked directly at McCay as he said the words. “Laurie, he’s still my son.”

I glanced down at my grandfather’s spinner ring where I nervously fidgeted with it. “No,” I said, my voice back to a hoarse whisper. “Don’t take it easy on me. You’re going to be a Dorsey soon and we don’t pull punches. Especially not with family. Isn’t that right, Dad?”

“Holden—”

I cut my dad off from whatever he was about to say and looked directly at McCay. “Take it out on me. Whatever you have to do to spare your job and save Katherine’s place in the program. Do it to me. Cut me from the program.”

Katherine had already lost the job she’d been offered… I couldn’t allow her to be cut from the most prestigious acting program in the country. Not on my account.

“Now wait a fucking minute—” My dad barked.

“I can’t cut you,” McCay said pointedly.

“Why?” I snorted. “Because you’re fucking my father?”

“Holden!” Dad boomed.

“No, you little shit. Because you’re not in my program. She is.”

Fuck.

Fuck me.

She was right.

There weren’t any repercussions for me because this wasn’t a program I was invested in.

“You can’t cut Katherine. You just fucking can’t!”

“If it’s between me saving my own fucking job or her getting cut… I choose to save myself Holden. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t do the same. Because someone has to take the blame for this and it’s not going to be me.”

She’s going to get cut from the most prestigious theater program in the country… because of me. Because I couldn’t keep my dick in my pants and wait another two hours to deflower her.

My mind raced as I tried to think of a solution, some way I could take the fall and spare Katherine. "Please," I said, my voice strained. "I'm begging you. Don't punish her for this. It was my mistake, my lack of judgment. Katherine has so much talent, so much potential. Don't take this away from her."

McCay's face was stony, uncompromising. I felt sick, knowing I had ruined Katherine's future with my stupid, reckless actions. I looked at McCay beseechingly.

Suddenly, it dawned on me. How I could fix this.

"Expel me,” I whispered.