Chapter 5
Love is a smoke and is made with the fume of sighs.
—William Shakespeare
Fable
Rich people suck. They’re rude, they act entitled to everything, and heaven forbid you look like a poor person.
I’m wearing jeans and a sweater, nothing fancy, and they all sneer at me like I’m some sort of bum.
They flash me dirty looks like I crawled out of a gutter, and then they have the nerve to look scared when I approach them.
Like I’m going to pull a knife on them or something and demand all their money.
This is happening to me as I wander the cute shops that line Ocean Avenue in downtown Carmel.
Drew dropped me off at the top of the hill, explaining that there’s an endless number of shops and art galleries that line the main drag as well as the side streets.
He said I could explore the area for hours if I wanted to, and I eagerly agreed to the arrangement since I knew his dad wanted to talk to him privately.
That’s what they’re doing right now. Sitting in some restaurant pretending to eat lunch while his dad drills him with the “what are you doing with your life” questions, I’m sure.
Luckily enough, Adele had a standing hair appointment and she couldn’t go, though she was ready to cancel.
Drew’s dad stopped her, saying he wanted to talk to his son alone.
Her bitter disappointment was obvious to all over that one.
A shiver went down my spine. That woman gives me the heebie-jeebies. I don’t like her and she doesn’t like me. At all. She tries her damnedest to spend time with Drew and he tries to avoid her at all costs. I don’t get it.
Of course, who am I to judge when it comes to screwed-up families? Mine is an absolute mess.
I stop in front of a store window and peer through the glass. The shoes on display are probably so expensive, I figure I can’t afford to look, let alone walk into the place. Luckily my ringing phone saves me from doing something so daring.
“Tell me everything’s okay,” I answer.
“Everything’s okay,” Owen replies. Damn, even his voice sounds like he’s smirking!
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” It’s only two o’clock. He’s not out until three.
“It’s a half-day today.”
He’s lying. The half-day isn’t until Wednesday, but there’s no point in getting on him about it. I’m out of town. There’s nothing I can do. “Has Mom been home?”
“Yeah, last night she was there, but it sucked.” He curses under his breath. “She had her new boyfriend with her.”
Yuck. Glad I wasn’t there. Though if I had been, my mother wouldn’t have brought him around. She would’ve stayed at his place instead. “Is he nice?”
“No, he’s a jackass. Bossed Mom around and constantly ordered her to get him a beer. I finally told him to get his own damn beer.”
I sag against the wall with a groan, earning a few strange looks from passersby. “You didn’t.”
“I sure did. He’s rude as hell and he’s a drunk. Mom deserves better.”
I couldn’t agree with him because I don’t think our mom deserves better.
She’s made her choices all these years and they’re always the same.
I’ve lost count of how many rude drunken assholes my mom’s hooked up with.
Owen doesn’t see it because I’ve sheltered him from the endless stream of boyfriends as much as possible.
“Did Mom get mad at you?”
“She didn’t say a word, but the guy threatened to kick my ass if I back-talked him again.”
“Holy crap,” I murmur, briefly closing my eyes. This is why I shouldn’t have left. I’ve been gone not even three full days and everything’s already falling apart. “I hope to God he didn’t lay a hand on you, or I’m calling the cops.”
“Pfft.” Thirteen-year-olds think they’re invincible and my brother is no exception. “Like he could touch me. I’d kick his ass first.”
“I should come home.” Panic rises inside me. I know everything can spiral out of control real quick when I’m not around. What Owen’s telling me only proves it. “I’ll hop on the bus or a train or whatever and come home tonight if you need me.”
“What about those bratty kids you’re taking care of? You can’t just ditch your job.”
“I can if you’re in trouble. No job is more important than family.
” I glance around, watching the beautiful people glide past me.
It’s cold, fog still lingering though it’s high, more like clouds, and the sidewalk is crowded with both locals and tourists.
It doesn’t take a genius to tell them apart.
“Stay there and earn all that extra money I’m sure we’ll be needing.” He lowers his voice and I hear a shout in the distance, probably one of his punk friends. God, they were probably all hanging out at our apartment and eating all our food. “Mom lost her job.”
My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach.
She worked part-time in a parts store at a local dealership for minimum wage.
Nothing major, but we need every last dime she makes.
This money from Drew is only going to last for a little while, especially now that she’s unemployed. “Great. When did this happen?”
“This morning. She texted me and let me know. Said she’s going to stay the night at Larry’s.”
“So you’ll spend the night alone.” Hell, no! The last thing I want to happen.
“I’m going over to Wade’s house, so don’t worry. I’ll spend the night there.” The words come out so breezily the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
He’s lying, I can tell. I’m so damn good at reading the kid I should be his mother. “You better. I’ll call Wade’s house later tonight to check on you.”
“Gimme a break, Fable. What, you can’t trust me?” He’s whining, sounding again like the little brother I remember. Another sign he’s lying.
“Nope, not when I’m out of town.” My cell beeps, indicating I have a text message, and I pull the phone away from my ear to check it real quick.
It’s from Drew. And it’s only one word.
Marshmallow.
Crap.
“Hey, I gotta go, but I’m calling you later tonight and I’m going to talk to Wade’s mother. To make sure you’re okay and doing your homework and whatever else you need to do.”
“Fable, that is such bull—”
“ ’Bye.” I hang up before Owen pisses me off more and I immediately text Drew back.
I can’t come rescue you if I don’t know where you are.
My heart is beating way too hard after I send that text.
This is the first time Drew used the “marshmallow” code word and I’m worried about him.
Yesterday was all about hanging out at the house.
I spent the entire afternoon at the beach when Drew and his dad went and golfed at a course not too far from the house.
There are a ton of amazing golf courses there, Drew explained to me, not that I really cared.
I think golf’s boring, but I guess Adele went with them even though she doesn’t play.
She probably chased after them on the golf cart the entire time.
Sunday-night dinner had been a study in weirdness. Adele tried to talk to Drew, constantly asking him really personal questions while virtually ignoring me. His dad, oblivious to the strange vibe, kept pace with a constant full glass of wine and was slurring his words by the end of the night.
I gladly escaped right after the meal, claiming I was tired from midterms and all those papers I had to write, which was a complete lie since I don’t go to college.
Drew pled the same case. We both went back to the guesthouse and to our respective rooms. I’d been so tired I thought I would instantly fall asleep, but I didn’t.
I lay awake for over an hour, thinking about Drew and the crazy family dynamics he has going on here.
My phone beeps and I glance at the screen.
At a restaurant at Sixth and Ocean. I need to get out of here. I’ll wait outside for you.
Looks like I need to go rescue my fake boyfriend from his overbearing father.
Drew
The moment I see her, I let go of the ball of anxiety rolling around in my chest with a deep, cleansing breath. I wait outside the restaurant after telling Dad I needed to use the phone, when really I just wanted to wait for Fable.
And get away from him.
She’s smiling at me as she approaches, her blond hair pulled back into a high ponytail, revealing her rounded cheeks, her pert nose, and her rosebud lips. The more I look at her, the prettier I think she is. Though not just pretty…
Fable’s hot. Sexy as hell, with a fine body that I’ve seen in various stages of undress since we’ve been staying at the guesthouse. I caught her in a towel this morning when she snuck out of the bathroom and darted across the hall into her room. She didn’t even see me.
But I saw her. All that creamy, dewy bared skin on display that made me want to chase after her. Haul her in close and feel her wrap around me. Tangle my fingers into her wet hair and tug, bringing her mouth to mine…
Holy shit. Just remembering that sets my skin on fire. I try my damnedest to keep everyone at arm’s length, especially girls, but Fable’s already getting under my skin and making me want.
Her.
Wearing skin-tight jeans and an oversized black sweater, she looks good enough to eat. And I never think like that. Ever. She’s making me think and feel things that are somehow both uncomfortable and freeing.
In other words, Fable leaves me in a constant state of confusion.
“Here I am.” She stops just in front of me, her head coming only to my chest, she’s so short. I could scoop her up, toss her over my shoulder, and carry her out of here, no problem. “Ready to rescue you.”
Code word “marshmallow” hadn’t been used until now, so I’m pleased at how fast she comes to me. Not that my dad was being particularly bad or yelling; he just wouldn’t stop asking me questions about my future. Stuff I can’t answer because I have no clue what’s going to happen.
I finally couldn’t take it anymore and texted “marshmallow” when I made a bathroom escape.
Now here she is. Ready to whisk me away.
“Thanks for showing up.”
“Is he being hard on you?”
“No, I just…don’t want to answer all of his questions.”