Chapter Two
LEXI
Thirty minutes. That’s how long it would take for the bus to arrive at the station. Mom would be waiting, putting a fake smile on her face like she was happy to see me. My phone was turned down so I couldn’t see the screen, counting down each minute knowing I would meet my doom sooner or later.
What was wrong with me? Shouldn’t I be happy for her? That she had found someone who could make her happy?
The sane part of me knew this was a bad idea.
Losing a husband and son changes a person.
It changed her drastically. The woman I’d known to love us unconditionally, to put our needs before her own, had completely gone off her rails.
Instead of the sweet, caring woman I once knew, she had turned into a different person.
There was a pang in my heart because it was like I hadn’t just lost my dad and brother; I had also lost her. The woman she once was died right along with them.
She didn’t care about anything except finding a man with a giant pocketbook, because she had already spent all of my dad’s life insurance. She’d never been great with money, and she wasn’t starting off well on her own.
When she called and told me she had met someone, I instantly knew the guy had to be rich.
Just give him a chance, Lex. You never know; you might like him.
And he has a son your age! You could have another brother...
Right there after she had said those words, I knew she had lost her mind.
Another brother? I didn’t want another brother.
I wanted my brother back. I didn’t want another dad.
I didn’t want to replace the two people who meant more to me than anything in the world.
I would be respectful, sure, but that was it. I wouldn’t go on family outings with them. I wouldn’t hang out with the stepbrother like I was sure she wanted. These people would never bring them back.
My hand immediately went to my wrist, pulling my sleeve down in an effort to hide the scars. If she knew, she would lose her shit and send me to a mental hospital. She couldn’t worry about her daughter being in pain because the only thing that mattered was her pain.
“Alright ladies and gentlemen, we are now reaching Woodland Park. Please make sure you collect all of your belongings. The bus will be leaving soon after drop-off, to move onto the next destination.” The driver came on the announcements, and my heart did a little flip.
Woodland Park was much smaller than Colorado Springs. The town I grew up in had about 9,000 people, and everyone mostly knew everyone. I let out a big sigh, and reached for my backpack when the bus stopped. I waited for people to shuffle around me, clearly in no hurry to get off the bus.
When there were about five people left, I put my backpack on my shoulder and shuffled out of my seat. I thanked the older driver and got off the bus.
There she is.
Tall, blonde and beautiful. Dad always said Mom was the most stunning woman he’d ever seen. That’s probably how she had managed to snag someone so soon after everything. A bright smile that didn’t reach her eyes appeared on her face when she saw me.
She rushed over, took me in a hug that lasted a little too long, and grabbed my bag. “It feels like forever since I’ve seen you!”
Yeah, well that’s what happens when you forget to be a mom.
It was spring in Colorado, with temps in the seventies. The bus station had trees and flowers all over the place. To a tourist, it was beautiful. To me, it wasn’t snow and ice.
Winter was always my favorite because I could go outside and skate without a care in the world. I guess I should say it used to be my favorite. Now, I didn't have a favorite season because I couldn’t enjoy the thing I loved most.
Mom led me out of the bus station and over to her brand new, white 4Runner. Where part of that money went. She opened the trunk and tossed my bag back in before closing it. Her blue eyes met mine as she huffed impatiently. “What are you waiting for?”
I looked away from her and toward the SUV. I swallowed the lump in my throat as memories threatened to rush back. I closed my eyes and tried breathing through my nose. Deep breaths. Focus. Slow your breathing; think about the essay you’re working on. You’re okay. Everything is okay.
I went through my mantra, trying my best to calm down when her voice cut through my focus like a broken vase. “Get in the car Lexi; you’re fine.” Her voice was cold and detached. Straight to the point, wanting to cut off all emotion.
I gritted my teeth and opened the passenger door. I slid in, refusing to say a word or acknowledge her. She started the car, and as I trained my gaze on the outside of the window, focusing on everything else around, she pulled out and made the fifteen minute trek to the house.
She drove us through town and everything seemed normal.
People were out and about downtown, some regular folks and others who were tourists.
They were shopping, laughing, and eating without a care in the world.
She ditched taking a left at the light, and once we reached the end of downtown, she took a right.
I sat up straight. “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
“I’m not sure if you’ve been so busy that you forgot, but home is back that way.” I pointed behind us, doing my best to alert her of the mistake.
She hummed to her music, completely ignoring me. I pulled the phone out of my pocket and texted Hazel.
Lex: She has completely lost her mind.
Three dots appeared on the screen.
Hazel: What do you mean?
Lex: She is taking us in a completely opposite direction from where our home is. WTF.
Hazel: Maybe she’s taking a detour?
I scoffed.
Lex: Highly unlikely.
I shoved the phone back in my pocket, and that’s when I realized we were at a completely different house.
She pulled up to a three car garage home that looked like a miniature castle.
The home was beautiful. It was outlined with tan brick, big windows, and balconies on each side of the house.
The yard was covered with trees and shade, and the mountains were a painted view on the backside of the property.
Two of the garage doors were opened with a shiny, black BMW inside. Mom pulled up to the second garage and parked in front, like she owned the place. She reached for the clicker on her shade, and pushed the button.
“Mom, what’s going on? Where are we?”
I knew for a fact that she didn’t own this house. There was no way. Not even with the insurance money Dad had.
“We’re home, Sweetie.” I clenched my eyes shut. Don’t call me that. I breathed in through my nose, trying to refrain from lashing out at her.
Stay calm, stay calm.
You can do this, Lex.
It’ll be okay.
No the fuck it won’t.
“Lexi, come on! I want you to meet everyone.”
I gritted my teeth and unbuckled my seatbelt. Slowly, I opened the door and got out of the car. It was as if I stepped into a completely different dimension. A twilight zone, perhaps.
I’m losing my mind. She gave me the backpack, and I slid it over my shoulders. “Why are we here?”
“I’ll explain everything in a bit.”
I don’t want you to explain everything in a bit; I want you to explain it now. That needy little voice said in my head.
I followed her in through the garage and into the house, which led right to a massive kitchen with grey granite counters and white cabinets. It was beautiful.
“Ben, we’re here!”
I walked further into the house; the windows glowing from sunlight shining through. There was a fireplace on one of the walls, with tan couches framing the area.
The place was huge, but there were pictures and trophies everywhere. They must really be into sports.
A tall guy came from the hallway with a big smile on his face. He had short brown hair, green eyes, and he was easily six feet tall. I froze when I recognized him.
No, there’s no fucking way.
He came to give Mom a kiss and I forced myself not to vomit.
How could she? I wanted to run, to find anywhere but here. I knew him well. Hell, my whole family did, considering he was best friends with Dad, and his...
I couldn’t even think of it.
Fuck.
I knew what was coming next, and I wanted no part of it.
How could this be my life?
Did he know?
There’s no way he could know, unless...That knowing smile he had at the arena...
No, there’s no way he knows. If he did, he would lose his fucking mind.
Ben tore away from Mom, and his green eyes met mine. I gulped, not knowing what to say, or do.
“Alexis,” his smile dipped into a frown when he saw the reaction on my face.
“Mr. Daniel,” I said, the last name rolling off my lips with venom.
He came closer, but I stepped back. “Please, call me Ben. This is your home now.”
No, this wasn’t my home. Had Mom lost her freaking mind? Her dead husband’s best friend?
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
“Dad, are you here?” Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck.
He’s here.
I wanted to disappear, be invisible. Anywhere but here.
“In here, Son,” Mr. Daniel yelled back.
My hands clenched into fists, and I took several steps back. My head was shaking, not believing this was my actual life right now.
I met Mom’s gaze, and for the slightest moment I thought I’d seen a pinch of regret on her face, but it was gone as quickly as it had been there.
“Mrs. Carrington, what are you doing here?” I swallowed, the lump in my throat growing bigger. He was here, and I could feel his gaze on me, but I didn’t dare look. Instead, I was too busy glaring at Mom, wishing she would look at me and take me home.
“Well, Son, I called you here so you could...”
I cut him off, my eyes turned to slits. “So you could what? Tell us you’re dating? Tell us you’ve moved in together? I mean, what the actual fuck, Mom? Have you lost your goddamn mind?”
“Hey now, don’t talk to your mother that way!” Mr. Daniel said, his voice low, dangerous. It reminded me of his son and how he was when he was pissed off...
Kayden didn’t say a word, and I’d never wanted to know what he was thinking more than right now.
I glared at him, “Oh, you mean the same way she talks to me? I find that interesting, seeing as how she doesn’t even talk to me unless it’s something hurtful to say.” My gaze went straight to hers, and I didn’t feel bad for throwing any of this in her face.
“It’s only been a year, Mom. How do you go from being someone’s girlfriend to moving in with them a year after your husband and son leave this earth? How could you not think to see how I would feel, or even Kayden would feel in this situation? This was his best friend’s dad for fucks' sake.”
“Lexi,” she tried, but I held up my hand.
“I’m going back to campus. Clearly, coming here was a mistake.”
I didn’t wait for any of them to say a word. I went back the way we came in, through the garage that was still open. I’d walk myself back to town and find another ride out of here.
Screw this.