by Delisa Lynn
I lift my chin up to look at her mean, painted face. My mom wears a lot of makeup. Her makeup looks way worse than that Mimi woman’s makeup on TV, the one who always wears blue eye shadow, pink blush, and red lipstick.
“Yes, ma’am, I understand. When will Daddy be home? He said he would only be gone a few days. It’s been a week and I miss him. Friday is my parent-teacher conference. Will you both be attending this time?”
“Your father is working with a big client and it’s none of your business when he’ll be home. This is grown folk business. No need for a child to ask questions. Your parent-teacher conference isn’t your father’s number one priority. If he makes it, then he does. If not, then I will for sure be there. They tell me you have been disobeying, or you have anything other than an A+’s, you will regret it, so I suggest you go to your room and study.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be back down for dinner.” I do as I’m told and march to my room.
My mom isn’t the nicest person. She and my father are two totally opposite people. He’s always nice and doesn’t yell and cuss, but my momma, on the other hand, is mean. I swear she’s the devil under all that makeup and clothes.
My best friend, Tatum Kelley, lives on the other side of town. Her daddy works for Martin’s Farm, and her mother is a nurse. They are a very nice family, but my mom hates them. She says they are trash because their house isn’t as big as ours and they don’t own their own businesses, like my parents do.
My daddy is one of Birmingham’s finest business men. He owns Ridge Custom Furniture, and there are branches all over the world. My momma is an event planner, when she isn’t drunk. I’m an only child, and I honestly believe I was a mistake in my mother’s eyes.
I’m not allowed to hang with any of my friends outside of school and my momma still tries to keep me away from them at school. She tried to enroll me into a private, all-girls school, but my father demanded that I attend public school. He normally lets her make all the decisions, but with this, he said he was putting his foot down.
He tries to let me see my friends, and he allows them to visit when my mother isn’t home. They both travel a lot for their jobs, and I like it that way. Nell is my nanny and she lets Tatum stay over or lets me stay at Tatum’s house when she knows my parents aren’t going to be home.
I’m in my room, studying. I can hear my mom yelling, but I just turn my radio up so I can’t hear her. I thought maybe Daddy was home and they were arguing like they normally do all the time, but she pushes through my door and grabs me by my ponytail.
“You fucking little bitch! I warned you to stay away from that trash. But no, you couldn’t listen, could you? Why is Vivian Kelley calling here asking if you can come to a sleep over? How the fuck did she get my number?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t give it to her, I swear.” She smacks me across my face. “Momma please, that hurts.”
“Oh, it’s going to hurt ten times more if you don’t hold your fat ass still.” She smacks me again. “I told you I don’t like that trash. Now think about what you’ve done and maybe you can come down for dinner. Of course, you don’t need any food the way you look.”
“Ye-yes, ma’am, I’m sorry. I will not talk to Tatum or Zander again, I promise,” I say with tears streaming down my face. I love my best friend and her brother. He’s always so nice and he’s the only boy that doesn’t call me ‘rich girl’ or make fun of my big butt. I don’t think I’m fat, but my momma calls me that all the time.
My daddy says I’m perfect, that God makes us all different for a reason. I’m his little Audrey Pooh. That’s what he calls me. My mom calls me fat ass. Sometimes she calls me other cuss words, like little bitch.
When Daddy finally comes home, I tell him how Momma has been treating me. She’s at work, so he takes me to Mable’s for lunch. We love to go there, but Momma hates it.
He says he will talk to Momma and that I can stay at Tatum’s for the weekend. He drives me there himself and talks to Mrs. Kelley to make sure it’s okay.
***
Audrey
Tatum and I go into her bedroom to change into our swimsuits because we’re going down to the swim hole to swim with Zander and Evan. Tatum has a huge crush on Evan. I know she does. We change and run to the swim hole. The boys aren’t there yet, but we decide to jump in anyways.
“Audrey, what happened to your back?” Tatum asks. “Is that a bruise? It looks awful.”
“Umm…yea, it is. I fell into the shower door last week.” I didn’t want to tell my best friend my momma hurts me because she hates me and Tatum’s family. Making up a story is better than telling her the truth.
“Oh, it looks like it hurts. You are so clumsy.” She rolls her eyes. “Anyway, did you see how Boney Tony was looking at me the other day at recess? He gives me the creeps.”
“Yeah, he does me too, Ta. I think he has the hot’s for you, though. But we know you only have eyes for Evan,” I say in a sing-song voice.
“Shh, here they come.” She smacks the water with her hands so it makes a splashing noise. “And I know you like Zander, so don’t even say you don’t.”
I do like Zander, but I know he doesn’t like me like that. I’m not as pretty as most of the girls he talks to. He is also a year older than Ta and me. He’s very cute.
We swim with the boys and go horseback riding. Then we go to the Martin’s for a hog roast. I didn’t even know what that was until Ta told me. At my house, we don’t eat meat unless it’s chicken or turkey, but Momma says that chicken and turkey aren’t considered meat.
Everyone at Martin’s hog roast seems so nice. My parent’s parties are nothing like this. The ones my mom hosts are elegant and everyone is a jerk. The food here tastes so good. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much.
“Are you enjoying yourself Audrey?” Mr. Kelley asks as he sits next to Tatum and me.
“Yes. Yes, sir, I am.” I smile. “I really liked the food too.”
“Good, you’ll have to come over more often. We normally have a hog roast every few months, but you are welcome to stay over anytime. I’ll talk with your folks when they pick you up.” He pokes Ta in her stomach. “Your mom was looking for you. I think she wants to make the Ridge’s some plates. You two should go help,” he says before walking away.
We go into the kitchen and help Mrs. Kelley make plates for my parents. I know my mother won’t be happy about it, but I help Ta and Mrs. Kelley prepare the plates anyway. At least my dad will eat the amazing food.
***
Audrey
My wonderful weekend at the Kelley’s came to an end way too fast. On the way home, my dad tells me he is going to take me target shooting. He says I need to learn how to use a gun, in case I ever need to.
We drive to the range and he doesn’t mention Momma, so I hope she isn’t too upset that he allowed me to stay with my friends.
“Daddy, is Momma home?”
“Yes, she is, and we talked. You don’t have to stay away from your friends any longer. Your mother is just set in her ways. She thinks you should hang out with the children at the Country Club, but I think the Kelley’s are great people, and I know you like to go over there.”
“Thank you, Daddy. Tatum and Zander are my best friends. They don’t treat me differently because of where we live or how much money we have. That’s why I like them so much,” I say with tears in my eyes. Daddy looks at me and smiles. “Thanks again, Daddy. I’m glad you’re home.”
We arrive at the shooting range to go target shooting and I learn the basics of how to use a gun. I don’t really like guns, but if my dad wants me to learn, then I’ll learn.
Momma isn’t so nice when we get home. She is being her normal mean self, and she is also drinking. When she drinks, she is even meaner. Poor Nell is always getting yelled at.
Every time I hear my parents yelling and fighting, she tells my dad he will never get her money or me. My grandfather, her father, is the governor of Alaba
ma. My mom says that if it wasn’t for her money, my dad wouldn’t be as successful as he is now. Dad just tells her to shut up. I try not to listen, but it’s hard not to.
The following morning, I go downstairs for breakfast and dad isn’t there. It’s just momma, and she is already drinking. I sit at the breakfast table and start eating the food that Nell has prepared for me. The looks my mom is giving me makes me very uncomfortable and scared.
“What did you tell your father, you little bitch?” She slams her fist against the breakfast table.
“I…I don’t know what you mean, Momma.” I place my fork on my plate.
“You know exactly what I mean. Do you know that you’re the reason your father and I argue all the time? It’s all because of you. You’re an ungrateful little brat. I give you all this—a nice house, nice clothes, shoes. And you want to betray me by staying with those people, the people I tell you are no good. You are just like them, trash, and because of your actions, you aren’t going to school today. You will stay with me the entire day. Eat all of your food, and then you and I are taking a little trip.”
“I need to go to school! Can’t we do it afterward?” I jump up. My chair falls to the floor.
“No! Now sit your ass back down and eat.” She walks out of the room.
Nell rushes over to me and wipes my tears. She pours me more juice, and I eat, just as I was told. Once I finish, my mother takes me for a drive.
The ‘little trip’ is to the house she grew up in. My grandparents don’t live here anymore. It’s actually vacant. The house looks like an old mansion. It’s brick, with white columns all around. There’s an armor gate. Trees line the path to the front door. I’m sure it was beautiful once upon a time, but now it looks like something out of a scary movie.
“You know your wonderful friends, the Kelley’s? Well, Dexter Kelley was my boyfriend when I lived here. We fell in love here. Then he went off to the army and came back with her—that trash, Vivian. He broke my heart and left me for her. Then I was stuck with your father because I became pregnant with your fat ass. I never wanted you, Audrey. Your father is the only reason why you are here, so you have him to thank.”
She’s drunk, and she’s scaring me. I need my dad more than anything right now.
“Momma, please, let’s go. I won’t talk to them anymore. Take me to school, please,” I beg. I try running off the porch, but she grabs me and throws me into the door. “You’re hurting me. Please stop.”
“You’ve ruined my life. Everything your father does is for you, not for me. He used to love me until you were born. You ruined the last ten years of my life. We are going to go home, and you’re going to tell your father you want to go to Emerald Falls and you’re going this time.” She’s referring to the boarding school that I refused to attend last year.
“Okay, momma, I’ll go,” I say, crying. We walk to the car and I slide in the backseat. I fasten my seatbelt and watch my mother take another swig of her flask. She slides behind the wheel of her Lexus.
We drive about twenty minutes, and I must’ve drifted to sleep because I’m jolted awake when I hear a loud Boom! My body flies so far against the seatbelt that I still hit the dashboard. My mom starts screaming and everything goes black.
I awake again, my head throbbing. I hear sirens. A police officer appears at the side of the car where I’m sitting. He asks me some questions, but I’m so shocked and confused, I can hardly comprehend him.
He takes my mother and puts her in his car. From what he said, my mom ran a stop sign and hit a tree.
***
Audrey
It’s been almost three years since everything happened with my birth mother. Once my father divorced her, she moved out of Alabama and doesn’t contact us at all, but I still see my grandparents on the holidays.
My father is remarried now and his wife is amazing. She actually treats me the way a mom is supposed to treat her daughter. She spends time with me. She participates in school functions and is there for me. Her name is Carlie, but I call her mom. She treats me as if I were her own.
I’ve never told the Kelley’s about my mother’s infatuation with Mr. Kelley, and they never ask about my mother. My father had no clue that my mother was in love with Dexter until the day I told him.
Chapter One
Eight Years Later, Birmingham
Zander
I watch Audrey Ridge walk down the hall, her auburn curls cascading over shoulders. The black leggings she’s wearing shows every curve she has. I love the way she swings her hips side to side. Seeing her smile that smile makes my heart melt. Then I see him grab her hand. How the hell I let her end up with that douche is beyond me.
Today is my last day of high school, but she still has another year. Audrey is the only girl that has ever made my fucking heart race, the only girl who won’t give me the time of day, but I can’t say I blame her. She knows my reputation. She knows about all the other girls. I’ve never wanted anyone as bad as I want her, and I know she can sense it. She still insists on pushing me away.
Although I know she is with that prick, I decided to make a dickhead move. I want at least one kiss from her before I leave for New York.
I walk quickly down the hall in her direction. He has her pinned up against the locker. He’s running his grimy hands across her beautiful face. Being the guy that I am, no way am I watching this.
“Hey Audrey,” I say as I get a little closer. “Party tonight at the swimming hole. Be there and dick face isn’t invited. Also, last baseball game is next Saturday.” I lean in and kiss her cheek.
The look Ian gives me just makes me laugh harder. Ha, mission accomplished. If she comes without him tonight, I really accomplished my goal. Knowing her and the feisty gal she is, he will be by her side.
***
Zander
Wow, Audrey is here and she’s actually alone. Thank God, because I didn’t want to beat the hell out of her dude tonight. She’s wearing a tight little dress with her bikini underneath. I know she can see me staring her up and down as she’s talking to my sister. I walk over to them, take Audrey in my arms, and hug her.
“You look so fucking good, baby,” I say as I kiss her cheek. “I see you didn’t bring your boy toy. Good.”
“Thanks, dickweed, so do you,” she says with a giggle. “Nope, he doesn’t follow me everywhere, you know.”
“How about you and me go get in the water?” I grab her hand and pull her toward the water. We call it the swimming hole, but it’s just a big circle full of water. Mr. Martin made it years ago, when his children were young. I’ve been coming here as long as I can remember. Hell, I even lost my virginity here when I was fourteen. Yeah, I know that sounds bad. I was a freshman and she was a senior.
As Audrey and I get into the water, I stay as close to her as possible. She pulls all of her hair up on top of her head in a ball, which exposes that beautiful neck of hers. I want to place kisses up and down her body. Her rosy complexion is beautiful. She has a few freckles across her nose.
I wrap my hands around her waist. “I would love to kiss you right now.”
“You know I’m with Ian. You and I could never be together,” she says as she splashes me.
“Why’s that? I know you feel what I feel.” I place my lips right above her ear. I can see the chills I give her, feel the way she shivers in my hands. I have that effect on her.
“I do care for you, but we can never be more than friends. Now, quit looking at me like I’m a damn plate of cheese fries.”
“Oh, trust me, baby, you look better than some cheese fries. Someday you’ll want to be with me. I just hope it’s not too late.” I kiss her neck and watch her shiver again. “See what I do to you?”
“Keep dreaming, playboy.” She giggles.
We swim and have a great time. Later on, Audrey, Tatum, and a few of my other friends sit around the bonfire, playing truth or dare. I, of course, dare Audrey to kiss me. She catches my bluff and kisses my damn cheek. I guess I
should’ve specified.
When the night comes to an end, I walk her to her car and she kisses my cheek again. I’ll take whatever I can get, I guess. As long as it’s from her, I don’t care if she kisses my damn pinky.
***
Zander
Today is the last game of my high school career, and I’m going to miss my teammates. I’m the only one going to New York University. I’ve played baseball since I was old enough to play. I love the game. Standing on the pitcher’s mound and pitching makes me feel alive, and I’ve decided to play in college. I’m good enough to go pro, but I could never play baseball for a living.
When I walk into the locker room, I hear Bosh, one of my teammates and good friends, talking to Ian. I swear I would love to just kick his ass and get it over with.
“Hey Bosh.” I smile, then turn to Ian and ask, “What are you doing here?”
“Audrey invited me.” He smirks.
“Well, you’re not welcome, so get the fuck out.”
I’m so goddamn pissed at her right now, I don’t even finish getting dressed. I walk out of the locker room and see Audrey and Tatum standing right next to the door. Audrey looks perfect. I run my hands through my hair and take a deep breath.
“Why the fuck did you bring that bastard here?” I ask Audrey.
“This is his school too. Plus, he’s my boyfriend. Duh! I know you don’t like it, but just get the hell over it. I am not your girl, Zander Kelley, so quit talking to me as if I did something wrong. You can’t continue to think you own me. You and I will never be together,” she yells.
“We could be if you would quit pushing me away. What the hell does he have to offer you? You and me, we belong together. Can’t you see it? I know you feel what I feel,” I say as I place my hand on the wall behind her.