“I can’t come get you today. Eric is having surgery on his collarbone. Darn boy went and broke it in football. I wish I had girls,” Nancy sighs.
Hearing her voice almost sends me into a fit of tears. “It’s okay, Nancy. I’ll get someone to take me.”
“How are things?”
“Okay,” I lie.
“Did you forget who you were talking to, girlie?”
I smile into the phone and sit on the edge of my bed, watching my feet sway over the carpet. I know she knows me better than anyone. I've never been a good liar anyway. “I love my room,” I change the subject.
“I knew you would. It took me five stores to find that Paris picture.”
I glance above my desk at the huge Eiffel tower. “It’s gorgeous. I can’t wait to go. I’ve almost saved enough from taking out tiny portions from my allowance from Dad. I’m thinking summer in Paris.” Alone. All alone. Alone in Paris. Those words do not fit together, and make me feel even more alone than before.
She laugh
There are at least fifty people crammed into our apartment. Probably more. Will wraps his arm around my waist, guiding me toward the kitchen. My brother is standing in front of the keg, helping hold a guy upside down. They’re all shouting Chug! Chug! Chug! When Adam drops him, he stumbles against the cabinet and laughs hysterically. It's straight out of some lame college movie. “Hey! There’s my sister! My sister is here!” Adam screams, running toward me and pulling me to his side. “You having fun?” he screams over the music, leaning down to my ear. The smell of alcohol on his breath hits me hard, and I push against his chest. “Get your nasty beer breath off of me.” Will laughs and wraps his arm around my shoulder, pushing Adam out of the way. Adam doesn’t even think twice before jumping back over to the keg. I know he’s drunk if he’s letting Will put his arm around me. But I don’t think about it. My second drink is starting to make
Something feels off. I’m in a bed, but not my bed. The white sheets are bunched around my waist, and someone is pressed tightly against me. A tight, round ass from what I can tell. Opening one eye, I see Paris and London … and definitely not my room. Suddenly I’m awake, sitting up, and staring down at Jaden. She’s pressed against me, one tanned leg sticking out of the covers and one arm hanging over the side of her bed. Everything from last night swarms back. Will got her drunk and was carrying her to bed. Like some kind of knight in shining armor. But I know better. It took some talking, but I got him to leave. Then she asked for him, and I could have thrown him out the window. Jesus, did I really kiss her thigh? Seeing him touch her made me mad. We can’t touch Adam’s little sister like that. And that’s the only thing I think about when I’m around her. I know I’m on thin ice with her but I want her. I tell Will to back off, b
My palms sweat against the kitchen table. The breakfast I made is now on all three roommates’ plates, but my own hasn’t been touched. “You not going to eat?” Will asks from across the table. He gives me his best bedroom smile. Placing his fork into his mouth, he pulls it out slowly, keeping his eyes on me. It makes me want to barf. “Not very hungry,” I say. A snort comes from the kitchen. Cade smiles as he leans against the cabinet, ankles crossed while shoveling food into his mouth. It would disgust me if he didn’t have that tight shirt on, which grips his biceps. “Or because you may throw it up like last week.” Adam lifts his head and furrows his dark brow. “You threw up?” I give Cade my best go to hell look. “I was just nervous.” Adam leans closer to me. “Have you had any more symptoms? The medication. Ya know—” “No,” I say, standing and grabbing my plate. I feel Will and Cade staring at me. “I haven’
The old man gave the girl a job. She could have gotten a job anywhere and it just had to be at Dan’s. Like I need anymore temptation. I roll the sleeves of my shirt to my elbows and tuck the hem deep into my pants. The sound of her blow dryer is loud from the next room over, but not as loud as her screams from last night. I didn’t know what was going on, but before I could rush to her room to see if someone had broken in, I realized it was a nightmare. Just to be sure, I looked through the slit in her door. She thrased around in her sheets, swinging her arms wildly like someone chased her. My fingers wrapped around the knob, and I thought about going inside, but I wasn't sure how she'd react to having someone wake her. A few seconds later, she sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes and wiping away stray tears. My heart thumped at the sight of her so vunerable. It wasn't that she didn't wear her feelings on her sleeves already, but th
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t stoked about my job. It’s easy, and it’s going to get me a car. My own car. It’s all I’ve been able to think about all day. I pull open my laptop and flop down on my bed, sending my feet into my dresser drawer. Ooof. I grab my toe and squeeze. My gaze drops to what I hit, and my pill bottle is lying on the floor. I have an appointment tomorrow but I don’t think I’m going to mention it. It’s not that I think I’m better because I’m not. But I take my pills religiously and I know that sitting in that room isn’t helping me. I wouldn’t be surprised if sitting in that room didn’t worsen my depression. Before I change my mind, I crawl back onto my bed and pull up F******k. A loud thud sounds from Cade’s room and a stream of cuss words fill the house. I try not to laugh too loud. That’s what he gets! The way he sounded disgusted that his mother thought we were dating. It hurt worse than I wanted to admit. I st
The writing scribbled on a Post-It taped to the fridge is from Will. I can tell by the crap handwriting. It looks like they’re having some douche frat meeting at the condo tomorrow because the frat house is being renovated. I crumple the note into a ball and toss it in the trash. Like we don’t have enough douchebags in this apartment already. *** My mom is sitting in her room, which contains a twin-size bed with a dresser and nightstand. She looks so small curled up in the middle of her crumpled blanket with her knees under her chin. A small glass of water is on the nightstand next to her. It looks untouched. The rooms are small, but there’s no dope or alcohol and that’s all that matters. Dark half-moons hang underneath both eyes, and I know she’s having a hard time. The first few weeks are always the worst. “Mom.” She opens her eyes and blinks at me for a few seconds. A small smile crawls up her lip. “Cade. I didn’t kn
Justin just stood there, like nothing happened. He tried to hug me. Touch me. Vomit threatens my throat, and I push it back down. I never wanted to see him again. I didn't think I'd ever see him again. He wasn't supposed to be at this school. Why are they both here? Adam locks the door behind him and comes straight to my side, like he did when we were little, and pulls me to his chest. “He’s gone, Jaden. I’m so sorry he was here. I can’t … he won’t be back.” I relax into his grip. “I thought I’d never see him again. I don’t want to.” Adam kisses the top of my head. “You won’t, Jaden. You won’t.” He rocks me against him for a few seconds. “You’re okay, right?” I stop the sob riding on my lips and pull back. “Yeah.” “You’ve been gone a lot lately. Are you … ?” he trails off. “Sane?” I ask, trying desperately to keep the bitterness out of my voice. He’s just asking, but I hate it. I hate that anyone has to ask
The scalding shower water rushes down me, heating and soothing my body. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. The softness of her skin or the delicious sweet taste of her mouth. Don’t even get me started about how she felt around my finger. I wanted to go hulk mode on her—rip her clothes, my clothes, everybody’s clothes, but the panties were probably enough. I won’t be able to keep myself out of her for too much longer. That innocent gaze, the smart mouth hidden beneath such a submissive demeanor. How could anyone not want her? I finish my shower and get ready to go pick Jaden up for work. I’ve been avoiding Adam since this morning. He’s never tried to fight me before, but I’d never messed around with his sister before either. I can’t believe he even bought it to be honest. I grab a drink from the fridge, and my hand is on the door when I hear Will scoot a kitchen stool across the tile. He’s sitting down, leaning his elbow against t