Chapter 25
ZOEY
Boys suck.
My parents suck.
Life sucks.
And so I’m staying up in this damn room for as long as I can get away with it.
Mom will no doubt lightly knock on my door soon, peeking her head in with a sweet smile and asking if I want breakfast.
She’s always so nice to me… even when I don’t deserve it.
Why do I find that annoying sometimes?
Ugh!
I pull the covers up to my chin, scowling at the ceiling as I think about her wounded look on the plane.
Dammit!
I need to apologize to her, but then Dad took my phone, and… argh!
After a heavy sigh, I bite my wobbling lip and refuse to cry. Curry doesn’t deserve my tears. He deserves my anger and disgust.
I can’t believe I lost my phone and hurt Mom’s feelings—all because of him!
What a fucking douche nugget!
With a loud huff, I pull my arms out from under the covers and slap them onto my thighs before crossing them tightly and squeezing my biceps.
Mom will have forgiven me already. That’s her way. She has endless, boundless love for us kids, and she really does deserve an apology from me. I just need to muster up the courage to go and give her one.
No, not the courage… the humility.
My pride has taken a major hit in the last twenty-four hours, and I’m feeling bruised and wounded myself.
To have to add a shame-faced apology on top of that?
Ah… no thank you.
I’d prefer just to stay up in this empty room sulking.
Besides, I’m tired.
Harley snored most of the night, which is probably why Portia got up and bailed. I think she must have spent the night with her parents, because I never heard her come back in.
Glancing at their rumpled beds, I squeeze my arms a little tighter. Am I the only one not downstairs?
Everyone’s probably having fun without me.
Do I seriously want to miss out on all the cool stuff Aunt Libby has no doubt planned and the fun treats later today for Valentine’s and then our Christmas morning tomorrow?
“Shit,” I mutter, but still don’t throw back the covers.
How am I supposed to enjoy any of this weekend when my parents took my phone and the boy I like is a complete jackass?
My bedroom door pops open and I flinch, steeling myself against whoever’s coming in to coax me out of bed.
“Oh, hi, Zoey.” Jane gives me a shy smile before Aunt Blake appears behind her.
“Hey, Zo.” She waves at me. “Hey, have you seen Harley?”
I shake my head. “She got up hours ago.”
“Yeah.” Aunt Blake wrinkles her nose. “She’s taken off, and we’re trying to find her.”
“What do you mean?” I flick my covers back and swing my legs over the side of the bed.
Aunt Blake sighs and quickly explains, “Portia said something really mean to her, and Harley took off. She’s hiding somewhere in this house, and I think Kendall is with her.
We need to find those two before Kendall burns the house down.
” She grins and then laughs when Jane gasps and looks up at her, all worried.
“I’m just kidding. But it would be good to find them sooner rather than later. ” She cringes.
I rub my eyes. “Does this have anything to do with that screaming I heard earlier?”
“It has everything to do with it,” Jane softly replies.
Aw, look at her sweet little face. I’m guessing she hates conflict with a passion, and if voices are raised, she’ll run for the hills.
Just like Harley has done.
“I’ll help you guys look.” Standing up, I pull a sweater off the floor. It’s one of my dad’s old college ones and completely swamps me, but I love the Cougars logo on it, and I kind of claimed it… without asking. But it’s just so comfy! And it’s not like he’s asked for it back.
Trailing Aunt Blake and Jane into the hallway, I head right and start meticulously checking each room on the upper floor. I call for Harley and Kendall, trying to coax them out. I even offer candy, which I know I’m not supposed to do, but desperate times and all that.
Opening the next door, I jump when I spot Aunt Libby sitting in an armchair by the window. She’s feeding Paris, smiling down at her baby girl while she strokes her cheek.
“Oh, sorry.”
“No problem,” she whispers, turning that sweet smile on me.
“Happy Birthday.” I grin at her.
She blushes and shakes her head. “Thank you, lovely lady.”
“You’re welcome.” I bob my head, then get to the point. “I’m just looking for Harley and Kendall.”
Her eyebrows wrinkle. “Still haven’t found them? Jane was in here a little while ago. They’re not in here, sorry.”
“That’s okay. I’ll keep looking.” I tinkle my fingers at her and quietly close the door behind me, continuing my search.
Seriously. So many rooms. This house is huge.
After what feels like hours of fruitless searching, I head downstairs, figuring the girls have probably been found and no one bothered to come up and tell me.
Typical!
Stomping downstairs, I run into Jane and Aunt Blake at the bottom… and my mom. I avoid eye contact and focus on my aunt instead, about to sarcastically quip, “Thanks for letting me know!”
But… wait a second. She’s looking really worried.
Her eyes are bright and agitated when she glances at me. “Did you find them?”
“No.” My head jolts back. “Wait, you haven’t found them either?”
Aunt Blake’s eyes glass with tears while Jane whimpers, “Oh no,” and throws herself against my mother.
Rubbing circles on her back, Mom softly comforts Jane while I stand there gripping the railing.
“We need reinforcements,” I whisper and head for the living room, forgetting all about my flailing pride while Jane skips after me, clutching my hand as we walk into the living room. As soon as I step through the door, I look right at Dad.
He’s always the guy you want around in a crisis. Well, him and Uncle Grady, but I don’t look for him. All I can see right now is the tall man with a smile just like mine.
He senses my gaze, standing away from his perch by the wall when he catches my eye.
I stare straight at him, and he starts to give me a hopeful grin until he notices how serious my expression is.
And there’s the look I need right now. The protective, problem-solving, I’m here to fix it look I’ve spent my life depending on.
As he moves toward me, I feel this weird mix of relief and tension, but I tell the part of me that wants to split to hold my ground. Because this can’t be about me and my angst right now. We have to find Harley and Kendall first; then I can go back to not talking to him.