Chapter 5

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and quickly retrieved it, unlocking it to read a text from an unknown number.

"Where is your address, Princess?"

I sighed and promptly sent my address to him. As I put my phone away, Mom stumbled into the living room, a cigarette hanging from her fingers.

"Mom!" Ani yelled and rushed to hug her, while Mom just looked around the room and yawned. Her eyes landed on the bags on the floor, and she looked up at me.

"Who's moving out?" she asked, taking a puff from her cigarette.

"I'll wait outside," Charlie said, picking up Ani's bag.

"Ani, come here," I said, and she frowned, walking to me. I smiled at her and cupped her cheeks. "Go and wait with Uncle Charlie."

"Okay!" She said and ran out the door. Mom scoffed and took a drag from the cigarette.

"I'm going away for a week, and Ani will be staying with Charlie until I'm back," I said, and she lazily placed her hand on the arm of the couch.

She scoffed again and tapped the ashes from the cigarette on the table. Her eyes met mine. "So I'm not capable of taking care of my own daughter?"

"No, Mom, you're not," I glared at her, and she glared back.

"Whatever," she mumbled, waving her hand at me. "I needed space anyway. Mike is coming over."

I gritted my teeth, and my lips formed a thin line. My phone dinged, and I looked at the notification. "I'm here."

I looked at Mom one last time, shook my head, picked up my bag and coat, and walked out the door. There were two cars parked outside, one with Ani and Charlie standing next to it, and the other with Jack leaning on a black jeep.

I walked over to where Ani and Charlie were, and Charlie grabbed my shoulders. His eyes were wide as he looked at Jack.

"Is that him?" He whispered, almost yelled, and I raised a brow at his comical face. "Hell, I see why you would follow him. I would too, girl, because that man is hot as hell, and I would definitely want to be with him too." He sighed, and I slammed my hand over his lips.

I turned to Ani to see if she had heard, and she rolled her eyes. "I'm not stupid."

I sighed and glared at Charlie. "Take care of her and make sure she takes her medications."

He placed a hand on his chest and smiled. "You know I will. She's my sister too."

My heart melted, and I gave him a hug. "Thank you." He broke the hug and entered his car, while I turned to Ani and hugged her.

"I love you," I whispered, and she broke the hug and smiled brightly at me. "I love you too, Amanda."

I opened the door for Ani and fastened her seatbelt. I watched as the car drove away and sighed. Now, to face him.

I walked over to Jack, who was still watching me, and smiled awkwardly at him. "Hi," I whispered and cleared my throat.

"Hi," he smirked, and I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. This is so awkward.

"Are you ready?" he asked, taking the bag from my hand and placing it in the back seat.

"I guess so," I sighed, and he opened the door for me. I sat down, and Jack got in the driver's seat. Soon, we were on the road.

I realized that I had never asked any questions about the job he wanted me to do, so I turned my head to him. "Why would you pay so much money for me to act as your girlfriend?" I finally asked, and he clenched his jaw.

He scoffed and ran one hand over the stubble that was growing on his face. "I need to show them that I have moved on," he said, and I frowned.

"Them?" I questioned, and he nodded. "My ex-girlfriend and my brother."

My eyebrows twitched as I tried to understand what he was saying. "Wait..." I trailed off as I put his words together. "So your ex and your brother--"

"--Yes. She cheated on me with my brother!" He slammed his hand on the horn, and I held onto the seatbelt.

After that outburst, I kept my mouth shut, and we both sat in silence. Soon, I was drifting off to sleep.

I slowly opened my eyes and turned my head to Jack. "Where are we?" I asked, and he glanced at me for a second with a smile on his lips.

"We are just leaving Denver," he said, and I looked at the large signboard that said "Goodbye Denver, Colorado. Welcome to Evergreen, CO."

"Evergreen," I whispered the name, and Jack chuckled. This was the first time I would ever leave Auburn, and honestly, I was kind of excited about it.

It wasn't long before we pulled up at a gate. It opened, and Jack drove in, and I gasped at the mansion.

"You're rich," I whispered, and he chuckled. "My parents are rich," he said as he pulled up at the driveway.

We got out, and I couldn't stop looking at the white building. The front door opened as Jack came to stand next to me with our bags in his hands. I put on my coat as the cold began to seep in.

A woman walked out with a bright smile on her lips. I turned to Jack and saw he was smiling too, and I guessed that was his mother.

She pulled him in for a hug. "I missed you," Jack chuckled and dropped the bags, wrapping his arms around her.

"I miss you too, Mom."

My heart clenched at their interaction, and I turned my head to the side.

"And who's this?" she asked, looking at me curiously. I smiled at her and extended my hand for a handshake.

"I am Amanda Raymond, Jack's girlfriend," I said and glanced at Jack, who nodded in approval.

My eyes widened as she pulled me into a hug. "It's nice to have you here," she breathed, and I tensed up.

She broke the hug, and I smiled awkwardly at her. "Come in," she said. Jack suddenly grabbed my hand and locked his fingers with mine as we walked behind his mother.

"Jack?" a female voice said, and I could feel him tense up. I turned my head to see a slim woman standing next to his car.

"Bertha," he whispered, and she smiled at him and walked up to us.

"It's nice to see you here, Jack," she smiled sweetly at him, while he just stared at her, unblinking. Her eyes landed on me, and her smile dropped.

At that moment, I knew it was her, Jack's ex. I smiled at her and raised our intertwined hands for her to see.

"You must be Bertha," I said with my sweetest voice, and she glared at me. "I'm Amanda, Jack's girlfriend."

Her eyes twitched at my words, and she didn't bother to hide her anger. She just walked away, and I sighed and pulled Jack's

hand.

"Hey," I said, and he turned his head to look at me. I could see the hurt in his eyes. He must have loved her.

"I've got you," I mumbled, to which he chuckled. His hand came up and pushed my hair behind my ear.

"Thank you," he said, and I turned my head to Bertha, who was watching us from a distance.

Maybe I'm enjoying this a little too much.