“Kurt, right?”
“You know about Kurt?” She asks, tilting her head before she remembers I’ve spent so much time with her dad. “I guess you would, though wouldn’t you?” She sasses me. Moving to stand, she says, “Anyway, that was the night my father informed my ‘mother’ he fathered another kid and he’d be coming home to live with us.”
“I can’t imagine that went over too smoothly.” I state, unable to control myself from curling a tendril of her hair.
Almost snickering at her mother’s pain, she says, “My mom wasn’t happy about raising someone else’s kid, but she really didn’t have a say when it came to my dad.”
“I can’t imagine how hard that must have been.”
Lowering her eyes, she whispers, “Not as hard as you’d think. But the day he died, everything changed.” She pushes away. “My mom completely threw a fit because ‘there was no way she was going to continue raising ‘his’ bastard son and whore of a daughter’ alone.” She discloses, as the joint lights up.
“Wasn’t she your mother?” I risk.
“She was yes,” she admits, pausing to hold in her smoke, before exhaling on a “not anymore. I’ve been done with her ever since.”
Growing closer, the only words I’m able to utter are, “I’m sorry.”
“What’s there to be sorry about?” She shrugs, as her walls slowly start to reinforce. “I’m not sorry. I’m kind of glad she was a shit parent. It gave me the opportunity to learn how to care for myself.” She admits dropping down onto the curb with another puff. “I’ll admit I lost my way for a little while there but the mistakes I made during that time brought me Jacob and I wouldn’t trade my son for anything,” she announces, as her eyes search my face for a reaction.
Nodding my response, I take a moment to process. “You have a son?”
“I do,” she beams. “He’ll be three on all Hallows Eve.”
“Wow,” I whistle, I never would have pegged her as a parent.
“Penny for your thoughts,” she speaks up, offering me a hit of her joint.
Taking it gracefully, I use the excuse as an effort to ease the awkwardness, even though I’m sure she can sense my sudden hesitation.
It wasn’t that I had something against her having a son. I drag my hand across my face, it’s just he’d be another person thrown into the mix, one who would eventually need to count on me and I’m just not sure I’m ready for all that yet. Passing the joint back in silence. “It sounds like you’ve been through a lot.” I offer, tossing my own hand through my hair.
“Everyone has their share of baggage am I right?”
“I think that might be somewhat of an understatement.” I chuckle, as her head rests against my shoulder. “Where do we go from here?” I ask, reveling at her closeness.
Letting loose a laugh, she says, “I don’t know about you, but tonight’s girl’s night and I could really use a drink.” She pushes herself to her feet. “Or maybe ten,” she adds, as a grin slowly tugs at the corner of my lips.
“And then?” I ask, as we move closer.
“And then we figure this out,” she smirks.
THE END!!!
Follow Scarlett and Brody’s Story in Bad Decisions & Good Intentions Session 1 and 2 in the Inkspirationz Series.
Acknowledgements
First off, I’d like to thank my husband for reminding me that writing is a choice and my calling no matter how many times I feel like tossing the towel in. Thank you for reminding me I’ve already accomplished my dreams by publishing in general, everything else is a bonus.
Secondly, I’d like to thank Ashley Munoz. (I’m sure she’s being modest and rolling her eyes right now) but really, you’ve helped me a lot girl, I don’t believe Bad Vibes would be so in depth without your encouragement.
Beta’s!!! Never did I imagine I’d gain twenty-six members in such a short time, but I love that you’re here in Heron’s Cove with me, all your encouragement along the way pushes me forward. Lehua Knight you were a life saver with the chapter summaries and timeline corrections. Shelly Tooley for reaching out when I fell into a slump, it meant so much to hear your support (and how cool is that we’re just a town away). Gladys Aviles, Bea Brugge, Amanda McKay Poppin, Brittany Taylor, BL Olson, Stephanie Nichole, Ava Danielle and Elizabeth Barone, thank you all for being in my corner, your encouragement fuels me to do bigger and better things, thank you.
To Aleksandra Taseva Bukvic, thank you sooo much for taking my basic cover and running with it, the changes you made are amazing and I honestly can’t picture this cover looking any better. I’d also like to thank you for all the wonderful teasers you created for Bad Vibes, I’m excited to share each and everyone of them.
I’d also like to thank everyone who has taken the time to help promote Bad Vibes, Nese Gordan I see you sharing away, and I love your support thank you soo much.
To my Glowwormz, you guys rock, like seriously, each and everyone of you are truly amazing. I can’t wait to bring you more of these characters in the future.
Bad Vibes (Inkspirationz Book 1) Page 8