Pride and Politics by Brittany Larsen

Author:Brittany Larsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LDS, novel, romance, clean, fiction, teens, young adults, drama, Mormon, love, politics, pride, predjuice, Jane Austen
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2016-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

“For what?” I asked when he stepped back.

“I was kind of a jerk the last time we talked. It wasn’t you. Hearing Jake’s voice set me off.” Benson’s jaw clenched as he said Jake’s name.

“Don’t worry about it.” I waved my hand and his apology away. He wasn’t making it easy for me to stay mad at him. I hated how much I had enjoyed watching him walk across the plushly carpeted room and that I couldn’t keep from smiling. And I hated that I liked feeling his arms around me. “What are you doing here, anyway?” I asked to steer the subject completely away from Jake. I was determined to stay on safe ground and keep this conversation from turning out like most of our others.

“Well, this is my family, you know.” The way his eyes danced when he teased wasn’t helping my case against him. “The real question is, what are you doing here?”

“I have no idea. My dad would burst his spleen if he knew where I was.”

He laughed a gorgeous, not-too-loud laugh and glanced down at my guitar. “Oh, good, you brought it. I told John you played a mean Dolly Parton.” He took the case from me and led me to the corner where John and Alice Hardy stood.

“You knew I was coming?” I whispered. His nod was almost imperceptible.

“John, Alice, this is Summer Knight,” Benson said. “Summer, my uncle John and aunt Alice.”

“Nice to meet you, President Hardy,” I said, shaking his hand and bending my own rule about titles.

“President-elect,” he replied. “But friends of my favorite nephew can call me John.” So he was a stickler about titles too. I had to give him props for that.

“Picking a favorite is easy when you’ve only got one choice,” a voice said from behind me. I turned to see a tall, gangly man with a small face, a big nose, and a smile so welcoming I had to return it. Of course I’d seen pictures of him in the media, but I pretended I didn’t know who he was as his dad introduced him.

“This is our son, Will,” John said.

“You shouldn’t believe anything he tells you,” Benson interrupted.

“Ignore both of them, Summer.” Alice Hardy held my arm and leaned close to make me her conspirator and confidant. “They tease each other mercilessly.”

“Really?” I said in a loud whisper. “This I’ve got to see. I didn’t know anyone could tease Benson. What if he accidentally cracks a smile?”

“Are you telling me you haven’t seen that gorgeous smile of his?” Her face fell with mock disappointment, and she looked at her nephew. “Do you know how lucky you are to have those teeth without any orthodontia, ever?”

Benson rolled his eyes. “You’re as bad as him,” he said to her and waved his head at Will. “If I beg, will you promise not to join Team Will?” he asked me.

I scrunched up my eyes and pursed my lips, pretending to consider before shaking my head slowly. “I think I’d like to see more of that naturally gorgeous smile.

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