Chapter 13
13
COLE
Seventeen Years Old
I grip the phone so hard I feel the edges cutting into my hand. My knee bounces, and I feel the sweat dripping down my back in this stupid suit.
The phone rings and rings and rings.
Just like I knew it would.
“Fucking hell.” I hang up and throw the phone onto the couch.
Jayden’s mom walks by.
Immediately, I put on my fake smile, pissed that she saw me like that. She doesn’t act like she’s noticed. She’s getting dressed up for graduation, putting on an earring as she walks. His mom got her life back together after she met Pat. Well, she stopped shooting up with my mom. She definitely doesn’t have her life together.
“She didn’t answer?” his mom asks.
I clench my jaw and then put on a smile. “It’s all good. She’s probably busy.”
“Oh, honey.” The pity that enters her dark eyes makes me sick.
I dart my eyes to my feet, putting on my charming persona that everyone loves. “You look nice today.”
She smiles. “My son doesn’t graduate high school every day. My sons .”
Internally, I cringe. I didn’t think Jayden or I would make it. Jayden got into fights almost every day. I couldn’t because I’d get kicked off the wrestling team, but I wanted to. I helped Jayden a few times when he threw a mask at me and said he needed help. Things with his classes got so bad he got set back a year. I spent most of my time hunting, taking my aggression out in the woods so I wouldn’t kill anyone at home.
Neither of us should be here right now. But here we are.
My mom should be here, too. I haven’t asked much of her. This’ll be the last time I come crawling to her, begging her not to abandon me.
Jayden’s mom continues to stand there, her eyes filling with tears. “I’m sorry she isn’t here.”
“Come here.” I open my arms. I try to pretend Mom not being here doesn’t hurt—like her not being here for my whole childhood doesn’t hurt.
I hate her. I’ll never give another woman the power to leave me again.