Caisey Quinn [Quinn - Student Seduction

Dont miss the beginning of Aiden and Emersyns story in the prequel novella, Summer Seduction! Currently free at caiseyqunn.com!

The Seduction Duet

Summer Seduction

Student Seduction

The Arrangement Series

Coming Soon

Inconvenient Arrangement

Temporary Arrangement

Casual Arrangement

Complicated Arrangement

Nashvilles Finest Series

Lit Fuse

Live Wire

Deadly Retribution (TBA)

Protective Detail (TBA)

Neon Dreams Series

Leaving Amarillo

Loving Dallas

Missing Dixie

Music City Series

(formerly the Kylie Ryans series)

Small Town Girl (formerly Girl with Guitar)

Cross My Heat (formerly Girl on Tour)

Play it Again (formerly Girl in Love)

Standalones

All I Need

Falling for You

Falling for Fate

Keep Me Still

Give Me You

Last Second Chance

Dark Net Novels

(written as Trinity Scott)

Blood & Lace

Sin & Silk (TBA)

Shadow & Glass (TBA)

I ts okay, Em. She has Loo Pus, my little brother reminded me as I held the ice pack to his cheek. Shoving my hand away to hold it himself, he muttered Im not a baby.

As if I had forgotten either fact on his first day of junior high.

My twelve-year-old brother is not a baby and my mom has Lupus. I still flinch at the sound of the hideous word that had changed our lives irrevocably. Well, the second most hideous word, anyway.

Deborah would be the first.

Three and a half months ago, shortly after my mothers diagnosis, my dad decided his assistant Deborah was worth moving across the country to California for. Theyd been having an affair and shed had enough of being his dirty little secret, moving to LA to pursue her acting career. Now they were getting married and he was managing her or whatever, leaving us here.

The three of us trying to stay afloat in the midst of Hell.

My mom, frequently ill and angry, lashing out at us unpredictably as her condition progressed, had just slapped my brother for telling our dad on the phone that she hadnt been out of bed all week. As if, at twelve years old, he was somehow supposed to know the intricate rules of the games adults played.

Its not okay, Ethan, I said, straightening. Im well aware of what she has. I kissed the top of his head and carried my moms breakfast past him into her room. Lupus is going to be the least of her problems, I bit out under my breath.

I heard that, she sneered when I handed her the plate of scrambled eggs.

Hear this, I growled right back, leaning down into her personal space. If you ever, and I mean ever, lay a hand on him again, I will pack us both up, and we will move to California with Dad. That will be the last of us you ever see.

She huffed out a breath of disbelief and glared at me. I inhaled the scent of her unwashed hair and sweat.

If you think Im bluffing, or you think Im going to let you take your anger out on him ever again, try me.

Suddenly her eyes filled and her mood shifted instantly.

Im sorry. God, Im so sorry. She looked at the bed and the plate and waved her hands. It wasnt supposed to be like this. This wasnt supposed to be my life.

I could say the same thing, Mom.

She placed her head in her hands. I sighed. A tinge of sympathy weighed on my chest, but the anger that flashed hot when I saw the bright red handprint on my brothers delicate cheek still remained.

It is, though, I said, slightly softer than before. And we have to figure out a way to deal with it. Before it destroys us all.

She looked up at me with red-rimmed eyes. Howd you get so smart?

Good genes, I guess. The truth was, after Dad left, I went from being an average high school student to an in-home nurse and single mother overnight. It had been an extremely difficult summer, but now, I was used to it. I just wasnt used to throwing school in the mix.

Before her Lupus diagnosis, my mother was an extremely successful divorce attorney. She worked such long hours that Id always taken a great deal of responsibility for Ethan. But when Dad was here, at least I had help.

Her shoulders slumped forward. Tomorrow will be better.

She said it with the sad resignation of someone whod said it a hundred times only to see it proven false each and every time.

Ill check in on my lunch period. I handed her a glass of water and a handful of medication. Ill help you take a bath tonight when I get home, if you like.

She mumbled what sounded like okay, and began to pick at the eggs with her fork. They need more salt, she complained.

Dr. Lewis said to avoid salt, Mom. I put lemon pepper in them.

She made a sour face then resumed pushing them around on her plate and ignoring me.

Once I was out of her room, I closed her door and leaned against it.

My cell phone chimed and I pulled it out of my back pocket.

Dad, the screen said.

Call me when you can. Your brother texted me. We need to talk about your mom.

For a brief moment, I closed my eyes and thought about him.

Not my dad.

Aiden Singleton.

I remembered what it was like to paint with condiments on a sidewalk, to be alive and free roaming convenient stores in the middle of the night, to make love until the sun came up.

Id held onto the memories of our brief time together like a life raft these past two weeks.

Were going to be late, Em, Ethan said quietly from the end of the hall. His cheek was still pink but I hoped it was from the cold of the ice pack not the slap.

I grabbed the keys to Moms Volvo and we made our way to the door. I was exhausted and it wasnt even eight in the morning yet.

This house was getting harder and harder to breathe in.

But if I had known what was coming that day, the first day of my senior year of high school, I wouldve stayed home.

I was ten minutes late to my homeroom class. U.S. History and Government in room 219 the roster posted on the office door had informed me when I checked in. I didnt look up before taking the only available seat in the front corner of the room.

I spotted my best friend Drew out of the corner of my eye and tried to give him a subtle smile. I was grateful we had at least one class together. His mom had likely already texted and told him what kind of morning I was having.

Ms. Tyler, thank you so much for joining us, the man in the tie at the front of the room called out. I wanted to crawl inside myself.

I was late on the first day and this guy had decided to make it An Issue. Great.