Chapter 26
“No,” I say, deciding to lie. “Why are you asking?”
He slowly releases my arm. “Never mind. Move along, Ms. Halliway. I wouldn’t want you to miss your ride home.” He smiles, but his eyes look angry. Is he angry at me or Kristen? He knows one of us is lying, but who does he believe?
When I get outside, Trystan is driving off. I run after him, waving my arms.
He slams on the brakes and barely gives me enough time to get inside before taking off again.
“I told you to wait,” I say, catching my breath.
“Which you know I don’t do.”
“Blame your dad. He’s the one who made me late. He made me cancel my appointment with Ms. Adams. I couldn’t talk to her until after class.”
“He used to fuck her.” Trystan glances at me. “You knew that, right?”
“No, but I thought he might have.”
“It was only a few times. She was too smart for him.”
“Your dad doesn’t like smart women?”
“He doesn’t like feeling stupid.” Trystan brakes hard at a stop sign, sending me lurching forward.
“Watch it!” I yell, bracing my hand against the dash.
“So where’d you go last night?” He presses on the gas, and we take off.
“You were spying on me again?” I sigh. “I couldn’t sleep so I walked on the beach.”
“You’re gonna get killed doing that.”
“I stay away from the water. I just walk on the sand.”
“It’s still dangerous. Shit happens at night. You shouldn’t be out there alone.”
I turn to him. “Why are you always trying to scare me? Did your dad tell you to do that so I never leave the house?”
“I’m just looking out for you.”
I huff. “Yeah, right. You’d be happy if something happened to me.”
He slams on the brakes, stopping in the middle of the street. “What the fuck? Why would you say that?”
“Because you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you.”
A car honks behind us.
“Go,” I say as the car continues to honk. “Hurry up.”
He takes off again. “If I hated you, I wouldn’t be checking the damn cameras. If someone was watching the cameras the night of the party, Andrea might still be alive.”
“Wait, you’re saying there were cameras that saw what happened that night?”
“Yeah, but someone busted them. People were drunk and tossing shit around by the pool and knocked out the cameras aimed at the railing.”
“Then it wouldn’t have mattered. She still would’ve died.”
“The cameras weren’t out the whole night. If someone had been watching, they would’ve seen Andrea stumbling around drunk on the patio. They could’ve stopped her before she got to the railing.”
He pulls into the driveway and parks.
“So that’s why you do it?” I ask, taking off my seatbelt. “You watch the cameras because you’re worried about me?”
He shrugs. “Shit happens. Now get out of the fucking car. I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going?”
“None of your fucking business.”
After I get out, he speeds off. Once again, he’s nice to me and then back to being mean.
When I get inside, I go to the kitchen to get something to eat and find Brock there, talking on the phone.
“Yes, Monday should work.” He nods. “If he’s back in town, get me a time to meet with him. I don’t care what strings you need to pull. Just get it done.” He ends the call, a big smile filling his perfect face.
I’m just now realizing the lines that form in his cheeks when he smiles exactly match mine. I never noticed that before. I also didn’t notice how similar our eyes look — they’re the exact same color.
Growing up, I never thought I looked like Devon, but I didn’t think anything of it. I assumed I looked like my mom, but I really don’t. Her hair was much lighter than mine, and she had paler skin.
“I have some good news,” Brock says, coming up to me. He laughs. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Turning away, I open the fridge and take out the soda Ana bought for me. “So what’s the big news?”
“My audition is set up for next week.”
“For that movie you told me about?”
“It’s not just a movie.” His voice rises and his smile gets bigger. “It’s a summer blockbuster! It’s going to be huge!”
“That’s great!” I say, going around him to the walk-in pantry.
He follows me in there. “I don’t think you’re getting the significance of this. I’m auditioning for one of the lead roles. If I got this, it’d change my career! Brock Halliway would be a household name!”
“People already know your name.” I grab a box of cereal and bring it back to the counter. “Do we have any milk? Real milk, not that vegan stuff.”
“People my age know my name. This movie would introduce me to a whole new generation of fans.”
I open the fridge. There’s no milk, so I just eat the cereal from the box.
Brock watches me with an annoyed look on his face. “You really should be more interested in this. Your uncle could be a huge star.”
My uncle. For a moment, I consider telling him I know he’s my dad, but then I decide to wait.
I was thinking of not telling him at all, or at least waiting until I’m eighteen.
Right now, he’s just my guardian, not my actual parent.
If I told him I knew he was my dad, he might try to be even more controlling than he is now.
But I can at least try to get information from him.
“Have you heard anything from my dad?” I ask.
“No, and I doubt that I will unless he needs money.” Brock goes around me to the fridge and takes out a bottle of water.
I take a seat at the counter, still munching on my cereal. “When did you meet my mom?”
“Me? Or your father?” Brocks opens his water and takes a sip.
“You. I was just wondering.” I pop some cereal in my mouth.
“I met her when I went to see Devon in that play in New York. I already told you this. I assume your mother did as well.”
“She didn’t talk about you. She didn’t say much about Devon either.”
Brock chuckles. “You’re calling him by his name now? I scold the boys when they do that to me. I’m their father, not Brock.”
I cock my head. “Did you ever want more kids?”
“Why so many questions today?”
“I’m just wondering. We never have a chance to talk. So did you? Want more kids?”
“I didn’t want children at all, but Miranda insisted on it. She loved children.”
“You talk about her like she’s dead.”
“In some ways, she is. She’s no longer a mother to the boys. They don’t even want to be around her.” He checks the time on his phone. “I need to make some calls. I’ll be in my office.”
“Are you going to Braden’s game tomorrow?” I ask as he leaves.
“I can’t make it. I need to prepare for the audition. You’re going, I assume?”
“If I can get a ride. Oh, I told Ms. Adams I’m done with counseling. I told her you found me someone else.”
“And what did Ms. Adams say?” he asks, his interest piqued by the mere mention of her name. Maybe he wants to date her again. Is he done with Ana or just wanting to mix things up by having a night or two with Ms. Adams?
“She said I could still talk to her if I wanted to.”
“Tell her no. One therapist is plenty. Don’t forget your appointment next week.” He continues down the hall to his office.
A text pops up on my phone from Jackson.
Are you home?
Yeah. Why? I text back.
My phone rings, and I race to my room to answer. “I thought you were at practice.”
“I am, but one of the guys twisted his ankle. We’re waiting to see if he can play.”
“I miss you,” I say, sounding sappy and in love. But it’s how I feel.
“I miss you too.”
“Is that why you’re calling?”
“Actually, no. It’s about Kristen.”
I sigh with annoyance. “Now what?”
“She just called. She was crying, saying Steven would be home soon and she’s afraid. Her mom left and Kristen doesn’t want to be alone with him. She wants to come to my house and spend the night. I told her I had to think about it.”
“She’s lying. I saw her at school and she was fine. I told her I know what’s going on with her and her stepdad and she didn’t even deny it. All the stuff she told you is made up, just like I said.”
“Wait, she admitted she’s with Steven?”
“Not at first, but then she made a comment about the marks on her neck. She said something about pleasure and pain, like the marks were because of some sex thing she did with Principal Edwards.” I shudder just thinking about it.
“And then I overheard them fighting after school. She told him I know.”
“Are you absolutely positive that’s what you heard? Or are you just guessing?”
“They didn’t say my name, but who else would they be talking about?”
“Don’t confront her again. Just pretend you don’t know anything.”
“What are you going to tell her about coming over?”
“I’ll have to tell her no. But shit, if you’d heard her on the phone, she sounded scared for her life. If that was all fake, she’s a damn good actress.” He pauses, then yells, “Yeah, I’m coming!”
“You have to go?”
“Yeah, but about tomorrow, I want to see you after the game. You think you could talk to Shayla about dropping you off somewhere?”
“I could ask. I don’t know if she’ll do it. Where would we meet?”
“I’m not sure yet. Ask Shayla first and we’ll go from there.”
“Okay.”
“I love you,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I love you too.”
“Talk to you tonight.”
Collapsing on my bed, I stare up at the ceiling, my heart feeling light and full, my cheeks aching from the huge smile that’s been on my face since the moment I saw his name on my phone.
I take a few minutes to revel in the happiness, knowing that in this house, at any moment, it could be taken away.
I hear footsteps stomping around, a door slamming, and music blaring just above me. Trystan is home. Maybe he’d take me to the game tomorrow. He’s been somewhat nice to me this week. It’s worth asking. I get up from my bed and leave my room, hoping to catch him in a good mood.
As I’m walking through the living room, I hear the front door open.
“You can stay here for now,” Braden says.
“Thanks, babe,” I hear a girl say. “God, I’ve missed you.”
Peeking around the corner, I see Kristen standing in the entryway . . . kissing Braden.
What the hell?
Braden wraps his arm around her narrow waist and pulls her against his body. “We’ll finish this when I get home.”
“Can’t wait,” she says, running her hand down his chest.
He smiles. “I knew you were just using Novak.”
She smiles. “It was always you, babe.”
He smacks her ass. “Go wait in my room. I’ll be back after practice.”
I duck behind the wall as Braden leaves, then listen as Kristen runs up the stairs.
Getting out my phone, I text Jackson.
Kristen is here! She was kissing Braden!
Jackson doesn’t respond. He’s at practice and isn’t checking his phone.
What do I do? I want to go confront Kristen, but Jackson would tell me not to. He’d want me to keep an eye on her and see what she’s up to.
I quietly make my way up the stairs, even though there’s no way she’d ever hear me with the music blaring from Trystan’s room.
As I go down the hall, I see Braden’s door is closed.
I text Trystan.
Open your door. I have a question.
The door swings open. Trystan is standing there in boxer briefs and nothing else. “What do you want?”
“For you to put some clothes on, for one. Then I have a favor to ask.”
He motions me into his room and closes the door, his head bobbing to the music.
“Do you always hang out in your underwear?” I ask, almost yelling so I can be heard above the music.
“I was changing clothes,” he says, pulling on his shorts. “Meeting the guys at the gym at six. What do you want?”
“Can I get a ride to the game tomorrow?”
“I guess.” He grabs a t-shirt from his closet. “But I’m not taking you home.”
“Could you drop me off somewhere?”
“Maybe. Depends on where it is.”
“Forget it. I’ll find my own way home.” I hear something in Braden’s room, like something fell on the floor.
“Is that it?” Trystan says, staring at me like he wants me to leave.
I walk over to him. “Is Braden dating Kristen again?”
He laughs. “Hell, no. After she was with Novak? He wouldn’t fucking get near her.”
“I just saw her downstairs with him. He told her to wait in his room until he got home.”
“Yeah, right.” Trystan puts his t-shirt on.
“I’m not kidding.
“Kristen’s not in his fucking room.” He goes over to his door and opens it. “I’ll take you to the game tomorrow. Now get out.”
“Trystan, I’m serious.” I point to Braden’s room. “She’s in there.”
He sighs, then pushes past me into the hall and goes over to Braden’s room. He bangs on the door. “Kristen, open up!”
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
He opens the door. “Hey, Kristen. You here to fuck my brother? Great! Have fun!” He turns to me, rolling his eyes.
“What’d she say?”
“Nothing. She’s not there.”