Luke has no choice but to be here with me, even though it’s not what he wants. I’d choose water over blood any day. I slam the door behind me.
Tanner had my back today. Shane, Dre and Cody would, too, and not because they have to but because they want to.
I have no choice but to walk. I could call Shane, but I don’t feel like partying tonight. He’d be cool and chill with me, but why should I screw up his fun just because my brother is an asshole?
My dad once told me that he liked having a place outside of town because there weren’t as many eyes on him. It made sense to me, and it never really bothered me until tonight, but it’s dark as hell out here. Quiet. I’m not real used to quiet.
And it’s a long ass walk for me to get anywhere.
When the wind blows, I shove my hands in my pocket, hoping it will help to keep them warm. My body shivers but I ignore it and keep going.
It was so fucking stupid to sell my hoodie to try and have a cool night with my brother. It would have been easy for me to get what I wanted without it costing a dime.
Like Dad said, I’m a ghost. It’s easy for me to grab what I need. It’s why they started taking me with them. I remember each and every job, remember when they told me how good I was and how good I would be. They used to tell Dad how lucky he was to have me for a son.
Luke might be perfect in his world, but he doesn’t have the respect I do in mine.
I walk for an hour before a light mist of rain starts hitting my skin. My fingers hold onto my phone. I should call Shane, or Drea. Her house isn’t far from here, and even if we have to go chill in the shed out back, it’d be dry. It’s where she goes when she needs to be alone.
For some reason, though, I keep going.
If you need a ride, call. Please.
Virginia…I could call her. She owes me.
A door slams in my brain, closing those thoughts down before they can grow wings and take flight. The rich girl has better things to do than coming out here to pick up my ass, even if it’s homework or whatever she thinks is so important.
Plus, I’ve always been able to take care of myself, so when a car comes by, I stick my arm out with my thumb up.
Of course, the car passes. Then another. It’s the third car that pulls over. My eyes get big when I see it’s a woman old enough to be my grandma.
“You getting in or what, kid?” she asks.
“Are you sure?” sort of tumbles out of my mouth. Grandmas don’t usually pick up kids who look like me.
“If you’re stupid enough to question a ride in the cold, maybe I’m not.”
An unexpected chuckle falls out of my mouth and I get in. She turns up the heat and I rub my arms to warm up.
“Where you going?” Grandma asks.
“Um…anywhere. Can you drop me off in town?”
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
She turns up the country music as though the conversation is over. Fine with me. We drive for about ten minutes or so when we come up on the stretch of ocean I came to with my friends the other night. It’s kind of like a ghetto beach where no one goes because they know kids like me hang out there.
The light rain has already stopped. It’s like that here. One second it’s dry and the next a fucking storm is slamming down on you.
I lean forward when I notice a car parked ahead. It looks like whoever owns it tried to hide it in a dark corner of the beach parking.
When Grandma’s lights hit it, I recognize the vehicle.
Virginia.
Before I can slam the door on the words, like I did on my thoughts earlier, my mouth opens and they come rushing out. “Stop. You can let me out here.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
~Virginia~
Dad trusts me. He always has. I’ve never given him a reason not to. I’ve never gotten into trouble or lied. I’ve never been late coming home or had a problem telling him where I am. Because of that, I don’t have a curfew. I tell Dad where I’m going and what I’m doing and when I’ll be home. As long as it’s reasonable, he’s okay with
Tanner had my back today. Shane, Dre and Cody would, too, and not because they have to but because they want to.
I have no choice but to walk. I could call Shane, but I don’t feel like partying tonight. He’d be cool and chill with me, but why should I screw up his fun just because my brother is an asshole?
My dad once told me that he liked having a place outside of town because there weren’t as many eyes on him. It made sense to me, and it never really bothered me until tonight, but it’s dark as hell out here. Quiet. I’m not real used to quiet.
And it’s a long ass walk for me to get anywhere.
When the wind blows, I shove my hands in my pocket, hoping it will help to keep them warm. My body shivers but I ignore it and keep going.
It was so fucking stupid to sell my hoodie to try and have a cool night with my brother. It would have been easy for me to get what I wanted without it costing a dime.
Like Dad said, I’m a ghost. It’s easy for me to grab what I need. It’s why they started taking me with them. I remember each and every job, remember when they told me how good I was and how good I would be. They used to tell Dad how lucky he was to have me for a son.
Luke might be perfect in his world, but he doesn’t have the respect I do in mine.
I walk for an hour before a light mist of rain starts hitting my skin. My fingers hold onto my phone. I should call Shane, or Drea. Her house isn’t far from here, and even if we have to go chill in the shed out back, it’d be dry. It’s where she goes when she needs to be alone.
For some reason, though, I keep going.
If you need a ride, call. Please.
Virginia…I could call her. She owes me.
A door slams in my brain, closing those thoughts down before they can grow wings and take flight. The rich girl has better things to do than coming out here to pick up my ass, even if it’s homework or whatever she thinks is so important.
Plus, I’ve always been able to take care of myself, so when a car comes by, I stick my arm out with my thumb up.
Of course, the car passes. Then another. It’s the third car that pulls over. My eyes get big when I see it’s a woman old enough to be my grandma.
“You getting in or what, kid?” she asks.
“Are you sure?” sort of tumbles out of my mouth. Grandmas don’t usually pick up kids who look like me.
“If you’re stupid enough to question a ride in the cold, maybe I’m not.”
An unexpected chuckle falls out of my mouth and I get in. She turns up the heat and I rub my arms to warm up.
“Where you going?” Grandma asks.
“Um…anywhere. Can you drop me off in town?”
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
She turns up the country music as though the conversation is over. Fine with me. We drive for about ten minutes or so when we come up on the stretch of ocean I came to with my friends the other night. It’s kind of like a ghetto beach where no one goes because they know kids like me hang out there.
The light rain has already stopped. It’s like that here. One second it’s dry and the next a fucking storm is slamming down on you.
I lean forward when I notice a car parked ahead. It looks like whoever owns it tried to hide it in a dark corner of the beach parking.
When Grandma’s lights hit it, I recognize the vehicle.
Virginia.
Before I can slam the door on the words, like I did on my thoughts earlier, my mouth opens and they come rushing out. “Stop. You can let me out here.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
~Virginia~
Dad trusts me. He always has. I’ve never given him a reason not to. I’ve never gotten into trouble or lied. I’ve never been late coming home or had a problem telling him where I am. Because of that, I don’t have a curfew. I tell Dad where I’m going and what I’m doing and when I’ll be home. As long as it’s reasonable, he’s okay with
Similar Books
