Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“You’re seventeen, baby,” Kelsey says, her voice softening. “It’s absolutely my business.”
Charlotte turns her white-hot glare my way. “This is all your fault. Since when did you become a narc? I thought we were closer than that.”
Guilt hits me like a ten-ton pile of bricks. I shrink back from her words. It breaks my heart hearing her talk like this.
“I’m calling Dad,” Hollis says, cutting through the thick tension with a loaded statement of his own.
Charlotte gapes at him, her bottom lip trembling. “I thought you weren’t talking to him.”
“We talk,” Hollis grits out. “Just because I haven’t forgiven him for what he did when he found out I was gay doesn’t mean I still don’t want a relationship with him. He’s my dad too.”
“Don’t call him,” she pleads.
Kelsey nods her head at Hollis. “I don’t know what to do anymore,” she says to her daughter. “Maybe your dad can get through to you.”
I know of all the things Kelsey could do to her, calling Char’s dad is the worst. Not because he’d be mean, but because she’s a daddy’s girl. Even with him all the way in Vermont, she has him wrapped around her finger. She and Penny both do. Whatever they want, all they have to do is call and it’s suddenly theirs.
Charlotte starts to cry and I ache to go to her. Instead, I curl my arms around my waist, fighting tears of my own. Kelsey gives me a sad, knowing look. She knows what this is doing to our friendship.
“Dad?” Hollis says. “Yeah, I know it’s late. My stomach is fine.” A pause. “It’s Charlotte.” He pauses again. “Hold on. Let me put you on speaker phone.”
Charlotte shoots me a horrible glare. One that will haunt me in my dreams. She’s never looked at me with such hatred. My gut hollows out as tears leak freely down my face.
“Princess?” Garrett says, his voice tense with worry.
“Hi, Daddy.” A sob from Charlotte. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just talk to me. Tell me what’s happened.”
Kelsey sits beside Charlotte and tries to take her hand, but she swats it away.
“I have a boyfriend. We did some stuff. Now everyone is on my case. I’m sorry, okay? Can we just drop it?” Her bottom lip trembles. “I’m fine.”
“Is your mother there?”
“Right here,” Kelsey says with a tired sigh.
“I’m booking a flight and coming to visit,” Garrett states. “From the stuff Hollis told me this morning, and now this, I think my presence is needed.”
I shoot Hollis a questioning look. He shrugs it off.
“You have work,” Charlotte says sadly, though I notice the hopeful gleam in her eyes. She misses her dad so much.
“Work isn’t my primary concern, honey,” he says softly. “You are. I’m going to fly out there and we’ll work everything out. Okay?”
“Okay,” Charlotte croaks. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying you’re sorry,” Garrett replies. “Just be good and stay with your mother until I get there. Can you do that for me?”
Tears race down her red cheeks and she nods. “I can. I miss you.”
“Miss you too, sweetheart. Hollis, take me off speaker.”
Hollis mashes a button and then disappears with his phone.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and shower?” Kelsey says. “We can talk after you’ve cleaned up.”
Charlotte tries to stand, but her legs give out. Kelsey frowns. My brows scrunch with worry. When Charlotte notices my expression, she goes off on me.
“Stop looking at me like that, Roux! Like you’re better than me! Like your boyfriend isn’t a damn gangster!” She swipes angrily at her tears. “Why are you even here? You’re not wanted. Leave. Leave!”
Kelsey tries to calm her shrieking. I stand up, stung by her words, and start for the front door.
“Don’t walk home,” Kelsey calls out. “Just wait for Hollis. I’m going to get her upstairs and into the shower.”
With Kelsey to lean on, Charlotte manages to stand up. She may still be fucked up on drugs, but her anger cuts through the haze like a knife.
“I hate you,” she whispers. “So much.”
Kelsey shakes her head. “She does not. She’s just upset.”
“I hate her!” Charlotte shrieks. “She’s trying to ruin my life!”
Needing an escape, I turn on my heel and run out the front door. As soon as the warm air hits my face, I burst into tears. I sit down on the front step and hug my knees to my chest.
What’s happening to my life?
I don’t recognize it anymore.
It’s not fun or silly or hopeful.
It’s dreadful and scary and sad.
I cry until I hear the rumble of an engine. A navy-blue Camaro pulls into the driveway and the headlights cut off. The door swings open and Jordy climbs out.
Big, strong, loyal Jordy.
He takes one look at me and strides across the lawn on one mission.
Me.
I cry out when he grabs my arms, hauling me to my feet and into his arms. He hugs me tight, nuzzling my hair. At least if my world is going to break apart, Jordy can hold me together. Gently, he strokes my hair and whispers assurances that I feel more than hear. It isn’t until we hear the front door open, that he pulls away.