Chapter 6
“I don’t do favors,” Liv says, popping her gum. “If you want something, it’ll cost you.”
“You want money? Doesn’t your mom give you a huge allowance?”
“Yeah, but she tracks what I spend it on. I want money that’s all mine.”
I sigh. “How much?”
“Depends on what you’re asking me to do.”
“I want you to get Brock to go over there tonight. He said he wasn’t going to see your mom this weekend because you wanted to do stuff with her. Tell your mom you changed your plans and that she can have Brock over. Tell her he can come there tonight.”
“I don’t want him here.”
“And I don’t want him here, which is why this is a favor. It’s just for one night. You can send him back here tomorrow.”
“What’s tonight? You having your boyfriend over? Wait — doesn’t he live in New York?”
“We broke up, which is why I want to go out tonight. I don’t want to sit in my room, feeling sad about the breakup. There’s a party I want to go to, but I can’t because I’m grounded.”
“Grounded?” She laughs. “Aren’t you a little old for that?”
“Will you do this or not?”
“What’d you do? To get grounded?”
“Punched a girl at school.” I pause. “The principal’s daughter.”
“Shit, that’s bad.” She laughs again. “Even I wouldn’t do that.”
“I didn’t know she was the principal’s daughter. Liv, I really need your help with this. I’m begging you. Will you do it?”
“Five hundred.”
“Dollars?”
“No, cents,” she says sarcastically. “Of course dollars. And I want it in cash.”
“That’s a lot of money just to tell your mom she can have Brock over.”
“You know I hate him, right?”
I sigh. “Fine. Five hundred. How do I get it to you?”
“Put it in an envelope and give it to Brock. Tell him it’s for me.”
“He’ll open it. He’ll think it’s something bad.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. But I know I can’t trust Brock not to open it.”
“Then mail it, but I want it for overnight delivery.”
“I don’t have a car. I can’t get to a post office.”
“That’s your problem, not mine. Get the money to me tomorrow or we don’t have a deal.”
“If I mail it tomorrow, you won’t have it until Monday.”
“You’re really getting on my nerves. I told you when I want it. Now make it happen or Brock stays there tonight.”
“Yeah, fine. I’ll do it. But I want him to leave soon so hurry up.”
She doesn’t respond, and when I look at my phone, I see she hung up.
“Little brat,” I mutter.
Where am I going to get five hundred dollars this time of night?
I should’ve gone to an ATM this week and withdrawn some cash from my account.
But I didn’t think I’d need it. I can’t believe that little monster is making me pay a fee for doing me a favor.
She already has money, and her mom will buy her whatever she wants.
“Rumor?” Brock knocks on my door.
I go and open the door. “What do you need?”
“Morgan just called and invited me over. I know it’s late, but I was thinking I’d go up there tonight instead of waiting until the morning.”
“I thought she was going to spend time with Liv.”
“Apparently Livia made plans with some friends, so she won’t be around this weekend.”
“You’re going there for the whole weekend?”
“I’d like to. Morgan doesn’t get many weekends at home. This may be it for a while.”
“You should go. You didn’t get much time with her when she was here.”
“Will you be okay by yourself?”
“Yeah, totally.” I yawn. “I’m really tired. I was thinking I’d just go to bed.”
“I’ll go pack my bag.” He turns to leave, then turns back. “You’re still grounded. I don’t want you leaving the house this weekend.”
“I know. I’ll just be here studying. Even if I wanted to go out, I couldn’t. I can’t drive.”
He smiles. “I’m starting to see that as a benefit. Easier to keep track of you.”
“You better get going. It’s getting late.”
He leaves, and I wait to hear his shoes going up the stairs.
When I hear his bedroom door close, I race to his office and over to his desk.
I open the top drawer and see a stack of hundred-dollar bills.
I take five, with a plan to replace them before he gets home on Sunday.
I race back to my room and find a small box, stuff the money in it, then wrap it in printer paper, which is all I have for gift wrap.
Ten minutes later, Brock is back downstairs, a brown leather travel bag slung over his shoulder.
“I think I got everything,” he says, finding me in the kitchen. “If you need meals made this weekend, send Ana a text. She has tomorrow off but she’ll come over if you need her.”
He makes her work on her day off? Just to cook? Or to fulfill his sexual needs? I wonder what their arrangement is and when it started. And how much he pays her to be “on call” to meet his needs.
“Oh. Before you go.” I walk up to him. “Could you give this to Liv?” I hand him the wrapped box.
“What’s this?”
“Just a little gift. She really liked these earrings I showed her that night we had dinner. I decided to wrap them up and give them to her.”
He smiles. “That was nice of you.”
“It’s nothing big. I got the earrings at a little shop in Brooklyn. They were cheap and too dangly for me. I’d rather give them to someone who will wear them.”
“I’ve never seen Livia wear dangly earrings. She usually doesn’t even wear earrings.”
“She might now. It’s a new school year. She might be trying a new look. Just give them to her. If she decides she doesn’t want them, she can throw them out. I don’t need them back.”
He slips the box into his pocket. “I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know my plans. I assume I’ll stay through Sunday unless Morgan is called away for work. Could you tell the boys?”
“Sure. I probably won’t see them tonight, but I’ll text them and let them know.”
When he finally leaves, I call up Liv.
“Now what?” she answers.
“He just left. The money is in an earring box. I wrapped it so he wouldn’t open it. Pretend you like the earrings, or just don’t act like you hate them. Can you do that?”
“Yeah. Whatever. Five hundred, right?”
“Yes, in cash.”
“Nice doing business with you, sis.”
“Sis?”
“That’s what you’ll be if my mom is stupid enough to marry Brock.”
“I’d be your cousin. I’m his niece.”
“That’s right. I keep forgetting your parents are dead.”
“My mom is, not my dad. My dad’s in rehab somewhere. Liv, I have to go. Thanks again for helping me.”
“Anytime. But next time it’ll cost you more.”
“Why?”
“Inflation. And because you lied. I hate liars. I do it myself, but I don’t put up with people doing it to me.”
“I wasn’t lying.”
“Bullshit. You wouldn’t pay that much to go to a party. You’re going to see a boy. A boy Brock doesn’t like. And you’re gonna have sex.”
“Liv, I really need to go. Talk to you later.”
“Use protection,” she says with a laugh.
If I didn’t know how old she was, I’d swear she’s in her twenties. She’s far too mature for her age. And I hate how she’s so good at picking up on stuff. How did she know I was lying? Am I a bad liar, or is she just really good at detecting lies?
Back in my room, I text Jackson.
Okay, he’s gone.
A few moments later, he responds.
For how long?
All night. He went to his girlfriend’s house in LA.
What about Braden and Trystan?
I’m guessing they’re heading to a party. When will you be home?
In a few minutes. Cops broke up the party.
My heart races, knowing I get to see him soon.
Should I head over?
Not yet. I’ll text you when I’m home.
Someone knocks on my door. “Rumor! You in there?”
It’s Trystan.
“Hold on.” I open the door and choke on his cologne. “Did you just shower in cologne?” I say, coughing.
“Did Dad really leave?” he asks, coming into my room.
“Yeah. His girlfriend called and asked him to drive up there.”
“Is he gone all weekend?”
“Not sure. Depends on if his girlfriend has to work.”
“Get dressed. We’re leaving in five minutes.”
“I can’t leave — I’m grounded.”
He laughs. “Like you’re really going to listen to my dad?” Trystan goes into my closet and takes out a short white dress. “Wear this. Party’s on the beach behind Kade’s house.”
“You’re not telling me what to wear!” I yank the dress from him and put it back in the closet. “And I’m not going to the party. I’m tired and I don’t feel well.”
“You’re sick?” He stands in front of me, his arms crossed. “You don’t look sick.”
“I have girl issues,” I say, hoping that’ll make him uncomfortable enough to scare him away.
“So shove a tampon in and let’s go.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re so disgusting. Just go without me. I’m staying here.”
“Is she ready?” Braden appears at the door, his knee wrapped in a bandage.
“Hey.” I go up to him. “How’s the knee?”
“Good enough to play. I’m still pissed Coach wouldn’t let me back in the game.”
“Weren’t you in pain?”
“I’m always in pain. It’s part of playing football.”
“She says she’s not coming,” Trystan says.
“Why not?” Braden asks me. “Dad’s not here.”
“She’s got her period.” Trystan laughs.
I smack him. “Shut up!”
“That’s why you’re not going?” Braden asks. “Seriously?”
“I’m tired, okay? It’s been a long week. I just want to go to bed.”
“This is one of the biggest parties of the year,” Braden says. “You miss it and everyone will be talking about you, making up stories about why you’re not there.”
“Just tell them I’m grounded.”
“After you just punched the principal’s daughter? They know anyone who does that wouldn’t stay home because they’re grounded.”
“Then tell them I’m sick.”
“They just saw you at the game. They know you’re not sick.”
“Tell them whatever you want. I don’t care. I’m not going.”
“You going out with someone else?” Trystan asks in a suspicious tone.
“Who would I go out with? The only people I know will be at the party.”
“She was hanging out with Shayla,” Braden says, staring at me.
“The maid’s kid?” Trystan says to Braden. “When was this?”
“Last week. They were at that taco place. I had to go pick her up because Shayla took off.”
“Only because your friends trashed a house and she had to go clean it,” I say.
“Is that what you’re doing?” Trystan asks. “Going out with Shayla?”
“No. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“It’s our business because you being seen with her could ruin our reputation,” Braden says, narrowing his eyes at me. “Stay away from her.”
“You can’t tell me who I can hang out with.”
“You keep doing stuff with her I’ll get her mom fired. And not just from here but around town. Everyone she works for is connected to Twisted Pine. Parents. The teachers. Even my coach has her clean.”
“You’d really do that?” I say, staring into his dark eyes. “Destroy her business just because you don’t want me being friends with her daughter?”
“If that’s what it takes to get you to stay away from her.”
“That’s fucking ridiculous.” I turn and walk across the room. “Go to your stupid party and leave me alone.”
“She goes to Legion,” I hear Braden say. “She’s the fucking enemy.”
I whip around. “Then she shouldn’t be doing your laundry and cleaning your house.”
“I agree. But my dad won’t fucking listen.”
Trystan walks over to me. “Forget about that and let’s go. It’s better than sitting around here all night. And they’ll have food. Like your kind of food — burgers, chips, brownies.” He grins. “No protein bars.”
“Sounds great, but I’m not hungry. And I really am tired. I just want to sleep. Are you guys gonna be out all night?”
“Probably,” Trystan says. “Especially if Dad’s not gonna be here.”
“What’s with you and Peyton?” Braden asks. “I saw you sitting with her and Alyssa.”
“Yeah? So? You have a problem with them too?”
“Not with Alyssa, but Peyton’s batshit crazy.”
“But she’s freaking hot,” Trystan says.
“Ignore him,” Braden says. “He wants to fuck her.”
“Why do you think she’s crazy?” I ask.
“She fucked the principal to raise her grades,” Braden says. “The guy was in his sixties.”
“He was really that old?” I say. “Yeah, that’s crazy.”
“She makes shit up,” Braden says. “Don’t believe anything she says.”
“But she’s part of your group, isn’t she? She said she’s a cheerleader.”
“She is, but she never actually does anything at the games. She always makes up some excuse for why she can’t. I’m telling you, she’s fucking crazy.”
“I’m not friends with her,” I say. “I was just sitting by her so I wouldn’t be stuck sitting next to your dad all night in the parents’ section.”
“I can’t believe he just left like that,” Braden mutters. “My own father didn’t even stick around to make sure I was okay.”
“You knew he wouldn’t,” Trystan says.
“Did he say anything on the way home?” Braden asks me. “Did he even act concerned?”
“Yeah, definitely,” I say, knowing it’s a lie but not wanting Braden to feel bad. It’s clear he’s hurt that his dad left without checking on him. I don’t need to make him feel worse.
“You’re lying,” Braden says. “If he gave a shit, he wouldn’t have gone to LA tonight.”
“He knew you guys would be at a party,” I say. “He said he wouldn’t even see you until tomorrow.”
“Let’s go,” Braden says to Trystan.
There’s a tapping noise on the sliding glass door.
“What was that?” Braden says.
“Probably the wind.” I race to the slider and peek out the side of the drapes. Jackson is standing there. Shit!
“Is someone there?” Braden asks.
“No, it was the wind.”
“Sounded like someone knocking.” Braden heads toward me, going fast for someone with an injured knee.
“Braden, just go. It was nothing.”
But it’s too late. He’s standing at the slider and yanks open the drape.