Zac: What, babes? I gotta go. Tristan and I are going to that coffee shop you like.
Katherine: Have fun. We’ll talk later.
“Girl, why are you going? Just dump him on the phone. He’s horrible.” Brielle hands me back the phone. “All he goes on about is sex.”
“Exactly. And I bet he’s not even that good.”
“Just dump him and go to the movies with me and Willow instead. We’re going to grab a pizza before as well.”
“Oh, I would, but I want to just see him one last time and see … how it goes.”
I don’t want to admit that I’m going, hoping to see Jack. Hoping that we will have that connection again and he will give me another chance. I’m eighteen in two weeks, and I’m hopeful that once he realizes how mature I am, he will let everything else go. I still can’t forget how magical and fun it was that night when we bantered back and forth. I wanted a big bad wolf to ravish me, not a pitiful, desperate boy, like his younger brother.
“It’s not going to go well, but I suppose it may be fun,” Brielle says with a small, thoughtful nod. “It’s always cool to see how the other half lives.”
“Right? And his parents have loads of money. And such a nice house.” I frown as I think of my own abode. “Did I tell you my dad is behind on the house payments again? I’m going to have to get a part-time job to help out. I wish he would just get a real job instead of coming up with all of his get-rich-quick ideas.”
“What was the last idea he had again?” Brielle asks curiously. “I thought that one was kinda good.”
“You mean the door-to-door unloading-the-dishwasher service or his freshly baked cheesecake that he made from the Jell-O No-Bake Cheesecake box?”
“The dishwashing one.” Brielle giggles. “People hate unloading the dishwasher. I know I would pay for that service if I had money.”
“Girl, he was charging twenty dollars per visit, and he wasn’t putting the dishes into the cupboards or anything. Nor would he load the dirty dishes.” I roll my eyes. “Mrs. Townsend hired him, paid him for a year up front, but then when she found all the dishes on her countertop, she asked for a refund and told everyone in the neighborhood not to hire him.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh, and her dog, Waggle, jumped up and knocked two of the dishes onto the ground and broke them, and Dad had to pay twenty-five dollars to replace them, so he was actually in the negative.”
“Oops. Did anyone buy the cheesecake?”
I just stare at her, and we both burst out laughing.
“Would you pay fifty dollars for a Jenkins Cheesecake that you could buy at Walmart for four ninety-nine?”
“Maybe not.”
“So, yeah, hopefully, he gets it together. I heard Mom and Dad arguing over the fact that they keep getting phone calls from the mortgage company about the payments being behind, but Dad just keeps saying the universe will provide.” I sit back and just shake my head.
The truth of the matter is, I’m dreadfully scared that we will lose the house and have nowhere to go. Mom’s job at the Whispering Haven Boutique is not going to pay the bills. And I know they have no savings left because I saw the bank balance in their last statement.
They’ve spent every last penny Granny and Granddad sent to them to put away for our college funds. I just hope they get it together for Holly and Ginger. It’s already too late for them to help pay for me. Unless they win the lottery or something.
“I’m sorry.” Brielle makes a face. “If it helps, my dad won’t help with my tuition unless I attend WHCC.” She offers me a wry smile. “Why would you want to go anywhere other than Whispering Haven Community College, Brielle?” She fakes a deep voice to sound like her dad. “Your mother and I think it’s the best decision. And that way, you can stay in your old room as well.” She rolls her eyes. “Cut the strings already, Mom and Dad. It’s so frustrating.”
“They just want the best for you.” I try to speak up for her parents because her mom is a housewife, who always cooks wonderful meals for us, and her dad is the sort of dad that you know would always be there for you. He’s the sort of dad who would kill any guy that did you wrong, hide the body, and continue on with his life without looking back—which is kinda crazy, but I respect it.
“I know, and I love them, but let me fly, you know.” She grabs her phone as it beeps. “Oh, it’s Willow. She’s on her way. She’ll be here in ten minutes.”
“Awesome.” I beam at her. “I’m glad I get to see her before I head home and grab my bags. I have to get to the train station in about two hours. And then I’m on the way to the city.”
“I can’t wait to hear how the weekend goes.” She looks excited. “Please remember not to skip any details.”
“I won’t,” I say, laughing at her eager expression. “I will tell you everything.”Except for if I lose my virginity to Jack. If that happens, I’m keeping it to myself … at least for a couple of weeks.
“It’s so good to see you again, Katherine.” Mrs. Heathcliff offers me a warm smile as she welcomes me to her home. “Zac said you came down from Whispering Haven today?”
She observes me with a pleasant expression, as if she is truly glad I’m here. Which I know she likely doesn’t care about. Brielle and Willow should take some acting classes from her.
