Chapter 16
“You really think I’d do that?” I ask.
“I don’t know. How do I know I can trust you?”
“You let me drive your car and I didn’t destroy it.”
“That doesn’t prove anything. How do I know you showing up here wasn’t all a setup?”
I pause. “Maybe you’re right and this isn’t a good idea. I’m not sure I trust you either.”
We’re both quiet, sitting in the car and staring out the window.
“I’m not spying on you,” I say. “But if that’s what you think then—”
“It’s not.” He looks down. “I shouldn’t have said it. I’m just paranoid, I guess.”
“I am too. I don’t trust people so doing this plan with you is making me nervous.”
“Then don’t do it.”
“I want to. I’m just not sure.”
“Think about it. Get back to me tomorrow.”
I nod as I open the door. “I’m going around back so Brock won’t see me.”
“I’m gonna head to the gym. See you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Same time, if that works.”
“You did really good today.” He smiles, and it’s one of the few genuine smiles I’ve seen since I moved here. Everyone here seems fake, but I don’t get that feeling from Jackson.
Even though we just met, I feel like I know him. Maybe because he’s a lot like me. Alone. No parents around. Unable to trust people. Feeling angry and hurt but not able to show it.
We’re different and yet we’re alike. Maybe that’s why I keep showing up here. I finally found someone I connect with.
As I’m about to close the door, I stop.
“You forget something?” Jackson asks.
“No. I um, just wanted to say that I don’t need to think it over. I’m good with the plan.”
“You sure?”
“Not entirely but I want to at least try it. Maybe it’s wrong to go against my cousin like this but I really don’t consider him family.
I never even met him before I moved here.
I don’t owe him anything. And it’s not like I’m hurting him.
If the football team doesn’t go to State, it’s not the end of the world.
So I guess the question is, do you trust me?
Because if you don’t, then we don’t have a deal. ”
“Trust is earned. And you’re still earning it.”
“Same for you.”
“Then I think we might need to spend more time together. You know, in order to build that trust.”
The way he’s looking at me — that intense stare, that slight smile on his face — I feel that flutter in my stomach coming back.
“I agree. See you tomorrow.”
He drives off, and I’m left with this dumb smile on my face, which I notice when I see my reflection in his windows as I go around back.
I really like Jackson. When I’m with him, it’s the only time I feel happy here, which makes me feel guilty because I shouldn’t feel this way.
I have a boyfriend. A guy that I love. But being with Axl is different.
He’s familiar. Safe. Even when we first started dating, there wasn’t that rush of excitement I feel when I’m with Jackson.
On my walk back to the house, my phone dings. It’s a text from Brock reminding me that my curfew starts tonight. Why does he think I need a curfew? I can’t go anywhere. I’m stranded at the house.
Back in my room, I go to my closet to try to figure out what to wear to dinner. If we’re going to another fancy restaurant, I’ll need to find something nice to wear.
“Rumor!” Brock’s voice booms through the door. “Are you in there?”
I open the door. “What do you need?”
“Where were you?” he demands.
“In my room.”
“You weren’t here an hour ago. I knocked several times and you didn’t answer.”
“I was sitting by the pool. Why are you so interested in what I’m doing every second of the day?”
“When I need to find you, I should be able to. I shouldn’t have to search for hours.”
“Hours? Really?” I roll my eyes. “Do you know where your sons are right now?”
“I assume they’re at the gym.”
“Meaning you don’t know. So it’s okay for them to take off and do what they want but I have to sit here in my room.”
“That is not what I’m saying.”
“Let’s straighten this out right now.” I look him in the eye. “If you want us to get along, you’ll leave me alone. You’ll stop demanding to know where I go, or who I’m with, and treat me like an equal to your sons.”
“Boys aren’t the same as girls.”
“You’re right. Boys are dumber. So they’re the ones you should be keeping track of, not me. And I’m not following your stupid curfew unless Trystan and Braden have to follow it too.”
His face tightens as he takes a deep breath through his nose. “Dinner is at six. We’ll be leaving at five thirty so be ready.”
“What am I supposed to wear?”
“A nice dress. The place we’re going to is comparable to the one we went to the other night.”
“Are Braden and Trystan going?”
“No. Morgan and Livia will be accompanying us tonight.”
“Your girlfriend and her kid? I thought they lived in LA.”
“They do, but they’re driving down for the night.”
“Are they staying here?”
“Yes, and I’d appreciate it if you would do something with Livia after dinner. Maybe let her play with your makeup or do her hair. She likes that kind of thing.”
“Play with my makeup?” I say, laughing. “I thought she was fourteen.”
“She is.”
“I’m pretty sure she knows how to put on makeup at fourteen. And do her own hair.”
“Then figure something else out. Just keep her entertained.”
“Why? Are you and her mom going to be in your sex room?”
His brows draw together. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
“I saw it. Trystan showed me. I wasn’t impressed. The one in that movie was better.”
“You’re so much like your mother,” he mutters under his breath.
“Meaning she could see past your bullshit? Yeah, she passed that down to me.”
He takes a deep breath through his nose again, then says, “If you continue to disrespect me, you may just end up in foster care after all.”
“Works for me,” I say with a smile.
He glares at me. “Be ready at five thirty.”
“I’m not babysitting for you for free.”
He hesitates. “How much do you want?”
“I don’t want money. I want you to take me somewhere.”
“Where?”
“I want to see my dad.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“If you don’t take me, I’ll just go there myself.”
“You don’t even know where he is.”
“I can find out. I’m sure someone around here knows. Or maybe I’ll call him.”
“They don’t allow phones. You should know this by now, given how many times he’s been in rehab.”
“Assuming that’s where he is. If he’s not actually there, he’ll pick up.” I get out my phone. “I’ll try him right now.”
Brock watches, a smug grin on his face, as I make the call. It immediately goes to voicemail.
“Are you done making accusations?” he asks.
“It wasn’t an accusation. I wanted to know if that’s really where he is. Someone told me they saw him in town last week.”
Brock laughs, but it’s too exaggerated to be real. “Someone saw your father here? Did this someone happen to be you? In some delusional dream?”
“I’m not making it up. This person saw my dad.”
“Who?”
“I’m not going to tell you.”
“Where did they see him?”
“They didn’t say.”
“So someone you don’t know says they saw your father, but they can’t say where.”
“I know the person.”
“You don’t know anyone. You just moved here.”
“Whatever,” I say, walking away so he’ll stop questioning me. I don’t want to tell him it was Shayla and have him yell at her for it, or even worse, fire her mom over it.
“I’ll pay you for watching Livia. The money will be in your account by tomorrow.” He leaves, slamming the door behind him.
Why won’t he take me to see my dad? I know those places don’t always allow visitors, but Trystan said Brock visited my dad just last week. So why won’t he let me see him, or at least tell me where he is?
At five thirty, I go out to the living room wearing a black dress and heels.
I usually love black dresses, but this one makes me feel like I’m going to a funeral.
It has a lace panel along the upper part of the chest, and I always associate black lace with funerals.
The lace is probably meant to be sexy, showing off some skin.
I don’t find it sexy at all, but apparently Jackson does.
Before I left my room, I took a selfie and sent it to Jackson with a text that read, Going to a funeral?
I didn’t think he’d know what I meant, but he texted back, Not at all. I think it’s hot.
His response surprised me, then made me feel guilty because I should’ve sent the photo to Axl.
So I did, along with the same message I sent Jackson, but Axl didn’t get what I meant.
He called me and asked who died. When I explained it, he got mad at me for taking up his break at work for what he said was a stupid joke.
Things haven’t been going well with Axl and me. He’s been working more hours at the store, so when we finally get to talk at night, he’s tired and cranky. And I’m cranky because I can’t see him.
I miss him so much. I need to get back there, but I don’t know when I’ll have time.
“Rumor, I’d like you to meet Morgan,” Brock says, coming into the living room.
Right behind him is the woman from the movie I saw with Axl right before I moved here. It was a superhero movie, and she played a scientist. She’s been in action movies too, along with a few romances. She’s been in a ton of stuff, actually.
“Hi, I’m Morgan,” she says, coming up to shake my hand.
She’s even prettier in person. And really tiny. Short and thin but with big boobs that are nearly popping out of her low-cut white dress. Her hair was blonde in the movie I just saw, but now it’s a dark brown.
“Hi,” I say, staring at her. “I didn’t know you were that Morgan. I’ve seen a ton of your movies.”
She smiles. “You like action films?”
“No, but my boyfriend does. And he loves superhero movies. We saw the one that just came out.”
“She has one releasing in the fall as well,” Brock says. “And two next spring.”
“Liv, come meet Brock’s niece,” Morgan says, looking behind her.