by Tijan
I gestured back to where I’d come from. “You invite some chick to the party this weekend? Fresh face. Long legs. Blond hair.” Her eyes. “Green eyes.”
Zeke’s eyes narrowed, but they were glazed over. And the effort left him swaying even more erratically. He belched. “Fresh face? What’s that mean?”
One of the girls laughed. “That means hardly any makeup.” She lifted her top lip in a sneer before looking at me and smoothing her face into a seductive smile. “No girls like that are worth our time.” Her hands came over my arm, and she caressed my bicep. “But I’ll make it worth your time.”
I stared back at her, not impressed. Her name was Penny, and she was one of Mara’s best friends. “I just came back with Mara.” I looked her up and down, mirroring the disdainful look she’d shown a second ago. “What kind of fucking friend are you?”
Zeke belched again before pointing at me. Even his grin was sloppy. “Fucking friend. That’s what she is. Get it, man?” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Because you can certainly get it. If you know what I mean?”
Yeah. Loyal. That’s why I liked him.
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, dude. Like your dick wasn’t just in her today.”
He frowned, because he honestly didn’t understand why I’d have an issue with that.
I leaned in. “I don’t share chicks.”
Another reason I liked Mara. She kept herself for me and me alone.
But Zeke’s grin was easy. He was always easy when it came to me. Anyone else said that shit to him, they’d be flattened in two seconds. I almost shook my head, staring at my “best friend.” I was an asshole to him. He was a good friend to me. Why he was okay with me treating him like shit was beyond me, but he was.
There were moments when I had his back. Maybe those went a long way, but that didn’t seem right. Brian and Branston were Zeke’s true followers. They were loyal to a fault. If he jumped over a cliff, so would they. A lot of the other guys were the same. The girls too, now that I thought about it. Zeke had this whole school on lockdown.
Everyone did what he said, until I showed up.
I had a different opinion than his, but no matter how many times I voiced it, Zeke never got pissed with me.
I frowned at him, raking my hand through my hair. “Why you so fucking nice to me, man?”
He blinked, still swaying, and a shit-eating grin split his face. “Because you’re my best friend.”
I sighed. It wasn’t the first time I’d asked, a moment of guilt eating at me. And it wasn’t the first time Zeke had given that answer, as if it made perfect sense to him.
All it did was make me feel like shit, and confused. “Yeah, man.” I nodded, grabbing a beer from one of the girls walking past us. She had a handful of them, and she looked up, smiling coyly, and winked. She wasn’t one of Mara’s best friends, but she was still in their group.
I held a hand up to Zeke, turned, and tipped up my beer.
I wanted to find a room, get wasted, and not think again until Sunday night when we had to go back home. That sounded like a better plan than anything else, except maybe getting Mara to ride my dick.
Or that weird chick.
3
Aspen
Camping was terrifying.
Once Blaise DeVroe had caught me, no way could I stay out here and relax in my weird stalking manner. I’d been discovered. The fun was gone. He knew I was here. He didn’t know I was camping on private property. He probably thought I was attending the party. It seemed half our grade was there, and I knew there were others from Los Angeles too, so I hoped he thought I was just someone he couldn’t track down in the house.
But I couldn’t shake the anxiety that he would come trouncing through the woods and find me in my tent. So after sitting up and shaking for five hours straight—jumping at any sound I heard in the woods—I gave up. I packed it in and trudged back to where I’d parked my car.
I’d pulled Maisie, my 1968 Dodge Charger, over on an abandoned road. The grass was long, but there’d been enough of a crossing for me to know it once had been a road to come onto these lands.
My parents hadn’t wanted me to have a classic muscle car, but when I saw Maisie, she spoke to me. She told me that while she loved having the speed and muscle and girth that’d been built into her, she was truly a diamond princess at heart. I was supposed to free her inner diva, so when my parents asked what car I wanted, I told them Maisie and dug my heels in. It wasn’t like I’d asked for a dog or a cat. It wasn’t like I was complaining that both my brothers were nonexistent in my life. And that seemed to do the trick—mostly because the reason my older brother, Nate, wasn’t around was because they’d tried to control his life. And dude, my brother could hold a grudge. I’m talking years. Actually, the grudge might’ve lingered until the point that he’d forgotten we existed.
I was being sarcastic, but with an edge of truth mixed in.
But it wasn’t the older brother card that won the car argument for me. It was my other brother card, because, you know, Owen wasn’t around because he was dead.
Yeah…
I hadn’t wanted to play either card, because I wasn’t that girl. But Maisie meant that much to me, and after my voice cracked, my parents gave in. They almost couldn’t give in fast enough.
Maisie was in our driveway the next morning, and she’d been mine ever since.
In a way, Maisie was my best friend. She was the one I hung out with the most.
I had lunch with her. I had dates with her. I depended on her for things, like holding my bags and carrying my things from point A to point B. And she always showed up. She was always happy, the purr of her engine told me so. It was her hello to me, and I rewarded her every time with a smile, a hello back, and a pat. Sometimes I tickled the dashboard.
I knew she enjoyed it.
The radio always did a little skip after the tickling. That was her little wink back at me. So yeah, Maisie and me. We were the best of friends.
When I returned to where I’d left her, of course she was waiting. I stowed my camping equipment in her trunk and tossed my backpack in front. I slid behind the wheel and checked my phone.
Zero text messages.
Zero phone calls.
Zero voicemails.
Alrighty then.
I started Maisie, and we were on the road a second later.
Zeke Allen’s cabin was an hour away from Fallen Crest. The drive back was relaxing. I enjoyed the scenery along the shoreline.
I got a peek of it as the road wound in and out.
When I got back to Fallen Crest, my stomach was cramping. I’d forgotten to eat today, and I wasn’t altogether sure I’d eaten the granola bars I’d packed for yesterday either. Either way, I knew there’d be food for me at home. Though my parents employed a chef, I had a craving for a nice juicy, greasy cheeseburger, so I made a stop. One burger. One fry. One soda, and soon I was heading for the newest section of Fallen Crest.
I slowed, pulling up to the gate.
The attendant rolled his window down.
“Heya, Mr. Carl.”
That’s how he’d introduced himself to me, and though I didn’t know if Carl was his first or last name, it’s what I called him.
Mr. Carl was middle-aged. I never knew for certain how old he was, but in my mind he was fifty-three. Gray hair. Wrinkles all over his face. And a smile. He was always smiling. He had a little paunch, but he said it was because the “missus” enjoyed feeding him too many dumplings. Was it sad that I hadn’t known what dumplings were? I’d had to google them, and then I asked our chef, Benny, to make them. He looked as if I’d committed a terrible crime, but he made me dumplings that night.
And chili. I liked his chili the most.
I now asked for it once a week. He made it with turkey meat, said it was healthier that way.
I didn’t care. I enjoyed it.
Mr. Carl was smiling at me like he always did, but then he frowned a little. “You okay, Miss Aspen?”
<
br /> “I’m good.”
“Your parents aren’t home. They’re in the studio editing that new piece they’re working on.”
I nodded, not feeling a thing. “Thanks for letting me know.”
He dipped his head, gave a wave, and the gate opened.
I drove through. These days we lived in the newly gated section of Fallen Crest. We were all the way at the end, set on a peninsula. There were woods and a river winding around the lot. We were the hardest to get to, and we had the most privacy.
Driving up, I pulled Maisie to the far garage door.
We had a five stall, and I used the last one.
Walking through the empty garage, I felt a mix of emotions.
I knew Sandy, our cleaning lady, was likely here. She was Monday through Friday, but I knew she popped in on weekends too. She took care of the entire house, and it was a large one, so there were always places to clean. She and Benny managed just about everything. There was an outside maintenance guy. He mostly tinkered with the lawn and landscaping. We really didn’t need him that much. The back lawn didn’t take too much work.
I think he mostly came because he liked to flirt with Benny.
It wasn’t a lawn day today, so that meant it was just Sandy and Benny inside, and true to form, I found them having coffee when I walked in.
“Miss Aspen!” Sandy jumped up, but I waved her off.
“I’m good, Miss Sandy.”
She wavered, frowning. “We thought you were on a camping trip this weekend.”
See? It was something I liked doing, not just to eavesdrop on parties.
I shrugged. “I decided against it. Mr. Carl said my parents are in the studio today?”
Benny had gotten up, and now was coming back with a plate of cookies. He set them on the table, offering an encouraging smile my way, but he didn’t push them.
I held up my fast food bag. “I got food, Benny.”
He ducked his head with a shy smile. “That smells delicious as well.”
We’d come a long way from his heart attack over making dumplings. Now I could bring fast food in here—and look at that. He’d just smiled and nodded. Progress.
I set the bag on the table and went out to get the rest of my stuff. When I came back inside, the cheeseburger was now on a plate, the fries in a small dish, and Benny had a dipping sauce in another smaller container.
Classy all the way. That was Benny’s motto.
I smiled. “Thank you.”
Another dip of his head. “Do you need anything else, Miss Aspen?”
I shook my head. I’d never really asked for anything.
He hesitated, glancing back before moving into the kitchen. I heard the faucet turn on and the clank of pots. Miss Sandy came in behind me from the garage. She’d helped bring in my bag and was already going through it, pulling out the clothes she thought needed to be laundered. That was everything, even though I’d only changed my shirt once. I didn’t fight her.
“Your parents thought you’d be gone all weekend,” she said, her head bent over my bag. “They’re having a get-together this evening. A lot of business people are coming.” Her head came up, her eyes concerned. “Do you want me to make arrangements for you?”
I knew what she was asking.
This house was huge. It was easy for me to stay an entire week in my room and not hear anyone else. That wasn’t the issue. She was asking if I wanted any kids my age to be invited.
I gave her a look. “Miss Sandy.” She should know better.
She smiled, a sad look flaring briefly before she covered it. She cupped the side of my face. “You spend too much time alone.”
I shrugged, stepping away from her.
Her face tightened before she went back to digging through my bag.
“I’ll be good. I’m going to rent some movies and just crawl in bed.”
I didn’t need a lot of attention. I didn’t need a lot of anything, to be honest. And if I did need something, it was there. I just needed to pick up the phone or wander down a hallway, and I could make a request. Miss Sandy and Benny adored me. They doted on me.
I wasn’t saying my parents didn’t.
My parents loved me. I wasn’t a neglected child. I never felt as if they’d shipped me off because they didn’t want to deal with me. Even when Owen and I went to Hillcrest Academy, our parents checked on us regularly. They were around a lot of the time in the beginning too, but they traveled for their careers. Daily phone calls and sometimes hourly emails became the thing for us. I knew when I checked my computer, I’d have ten emails from my mom. So I never felt unloved. It wasn’t that.
I just preferred doing my own thing.
After Owen, it was easier that way.
“You ask me for anything. You hear me, Miss Aspen?” Sandy’s voice was hoarse.
I felt my throat close, and I bobbed my head. “I hear you, Miss Sandy.”
She nodded, her eyes holding mine as I slipped down the hallway.
4
Blaise
My phone woke me up on Monday morning.
Rolling over, I saw my screen. Marie calling.
I sat up, rubbing a hand over my face and hit the button. “Hey, Mom.”
“Where are you?”
Fuck.
I hadn’t gone home last night.
She was pissed, and glancing at the clock, I saw it was five in the morning. “I’m at Zeke’s.”
“You were at Zeke’s all weekend.”
“I was at Zeke’s cabin all weekend. We came back late, and I crashed at his house.”
She sighed loudly. Her voice went low. “I’m getting sick of this, Blaise.”
Yeah. Well. There was a lot to get sick of, on both our ends.
I didn’t say anything, though, because I got it.
I did my own thing. I never checked in with her.
It was different in New York. I’d been just as independent there, but she’d been busier. Luncheons. Banquets. Charities. She’d had more friends there too. A daily text checking in with her had satisfied her there, not here.
When we moved to California, everything changed.
She went through a quick divorce. There’s money, but now she wants to work too.
She changed. I hadn’t. I wanted to go back to the way we used to be, when she let me do my own thing. Then again, why she was trying to keep a hold on me was beyond me.
“Mom. I have two weeks left of school—”
“Exactly. Two weeks. You’re still under my roof for those two weeks, and then you have the summer.”
Now I was the one frustrated. “I’m in New York this summer.”
She snorted. “Yeah, right. I know how that’s going to go. You’ll say you’re out there, connecting with your father—”
“He’s not my dad, now is he?” I cut in, my hand tightening on my phone.
She faltered a second, and then kept on as if I hadn’t said a word. “But you won’t ever see Griffith. You’ll spend all your time with Jaxon and Connor. And I love those boys as if they’re my own, but I know the trouble you three get in when you’re together.”
“Mom.”
Her voice rose. “I don’t want to be a grandmother! Do not get anyone pregnant, Blaise.”
I stopped, looking at the bed beside me and feeling a bit guilty. A tad bit. Mara lay on her pillow, watching me. I hadn’t lied to my mom. We were at Zeke’s house, but I’d talked Mara into staying too. And we hadn’t gotten a full night’s sleep since the last time I’d reached for her was an hour ago. Hence my exhaustion, and I knew I’d be even more wiped for school because my mom was not going to let me off the phone anytime soon.
I mouthed at Mara, “I’m sorry.”
She nodded, but with a big yawn, she got up.
Silently, she began dressing.
This scene had played out a lot at my house; my mom just didn’t know. Mara would dress, then slip out and head home. She had her own entrance at her house, so I wasn’t sure if her parent
s knew she was gone and didn’t care, or if she was just really good at sneaking out. I’d asked a few times in the beginning when she started sleeping over, but she always told me not to worry about it. So I’d stopped worrying about it.
This morning, I felt a bit shittier than I usually did.
I reached over, taking her wrist. I mouthed, “I’ll drive you home.”
She frowned, pulling her arm free, and shook her head.
“Blaise!” Mom practically shouted.
I scowled. “What?”
Mara slipped from the room.
I rose, padded over to the door, and opened it. She was already down the hall.
“Stephen invited Tasmin over for dinner tonight. I want you here.”
Well. Shit.
Thoughts of Mara vanished, and I knew if I didn’t let go of the phone, I was about to break it. It wasn’t long ago that I’d learned my mom’s new boyfriend was actually my biological father, and that he had two other kids.
The brother didn’t want much to do with me. Fine by me.
Tasmin was not the same.
My sister was trying to force a relationship to the point that it was pissing me off.
My mom had tried this family dinner before, and I’d gone. I’d taken Zeke with me, mostly to act as a buffer because my brother’s hate was palpable. And that’d been the last time they tried to put the two of us together.
Tasmin, or Taz as everyone called her, was a whole other matter.
She was at our house most nights now, and it was becoming exhausting.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like her. I just didn’t want anything forced on me, not before I was ready. Let me relish in hating my non-bio dad for a while before I had to manage a whole kumbaya moment with the new family.
I’d been rifling through years of hatred toward Griffith when I thought he was my dad. When I found out I wasn’t his kid, a lot made sense.
But he was still calling.
He claimed he wanted a relationship, but I didn’t trust the asshole. That was part of the reason I was going to New York. I wanted to find out his real agenda—whether it was to mess with my mom or something else—because I knew he didn’t give two fucks about me.