Once I reach my car and climb inside, I slam my door shut, praying it symbolizes the end of a now wildly fucked up first day. I know this shit is only the beginning and that Sam is going to be more than a problem. One that I have no fucking time for.
These rich kids wouldn’t know the full extent of the bullshit happening in my world. If they were smart, they’d know that just because I don’t come from their kind of money doesn’t mean I’m going to take their shit.
I take one more deep breath. As I start my car, Crime Mob Crew’sKnuk if You Buckbeats through the speakers.How fitting.I throw it in reverse and try to come to terms with my new reality.
* * *
Fire rises in my chest,cresting the tip of my ears. I’m annoyed at my day, even more so when I see that our mom’s car is still not here. I grabbed the things I needed from the nursery for the front yard, hoping that she’d be here when I pulled into my driveway.
I don’t know what’s happening to our family, but the loss of our dad has turned this family on its axis.
Groaning, I walk toward our front door, mentally checking off the list of things I have to get done before my shift at the diner. Once I’m in the house, I set my stuff down and head toward the kitchen to get dinner started.
I must have zoned out because the next thing I know, the front door flies open, and in come the twin tornadoes, speaking so animatedly that I can barely keep up with what they’re saying.
“Take a breath, you two. I can barely understand anything you’re saying,” I say, turning to cover the pot with the pasta sauce in it.
Before they can continue with their excitement, Jamie strides in, a huge grin also on her face. “Our new school is so much better than our last ones.” Their elation brings a smile to my face. The last few moves were so rough on them, so seeing them this happy fortifies my need to make this place work.
“Oh yeah? Tell me all about it while you grab a snack.” They head to the cupboards, and it gives me a moment to turn to Jamie. “How was it?” I ask her.
“Riah, this place is so great!” Jamie is smiling, like extra scoops on her sundae beaming. “I made so many new friends today, and the teachers are so nice. I even signed up for choir and orchestra. I get my viola on Monday,” she gleams.
“That’s amazing, Jams! I’m so glad y’all had such a great day.”
They all take turns telling me more about their school, who’s in their classes, and how much fun they had.
“Okay,” I begin, “let’s get cleaned up, and everyone can go do their reading while I finish up dinner. Unfortunately, I have to work again tonight. What are the rules while I’m gone?”
“No answering the doors, keep the lights on, shower, and be in bed by nine,” they say while rolling their eyes.
“Look, I know it feels redundant to go over every time I leave the house, but it’s important. If we bring any attention to ourselves, we can get in trouble. No one can know Mom isn’t home. I’ll be at the diner until ten, but I’ll have my phone on me if you need me.”
Turning, I look to Jamie, “I’m counting on you to keep an eye on them. I’ll set out everyone’s food, so the only thing you’ll need to do is warm it up.” I feel like shit having to leave, but with no other money coming in and our mom’s disappearing acts, I have no choice but to work. “I’m so sorry, Jamie. I wish you didn’t have to do any of this,” I start to say, but she cuts me off.
Her jewel-green eyes, looking far older than she should ever have to be, lock on mine, and she says, “Listen, Riah, this sucks, but we have to do what we have to do until we can do better, right?”
I wrap her up in my hold and then reach for the boys, hugging them. We’ve been through a lot, but we’re going through it together. I’ll do anything to make sure they don’t have to suffer much more than they already have.
I take all three of them in, and a stitch begins to form, working to heal the crack in my heart. I’m happy that this place might just work out for them. My worry, however, refuses to ease. My parents being missing will have a profound impact on them if I’m not careful.
“I promise I’ll find Mom, but until then, we’ll make this work,” I whisper, kissing the top of each of their heads and head for the door.
8
LEV
“That slap was so fucking hot. She bodied that skank,” Wyatt shouts over the music before turning it down as we drive through town headed for The Tombs.
“No, it’s fucking disruptive,” Wes retorts from the front of Wyatt’s truck, his arms crossed across the broad expanse of his chest. His face is still fixed in a permanent scowl. Wes’s a broody hothead on a good day, but one day with the new girl and his jaw is set tighter, his posture’s more rigid— his temper is liable to explode like a tripwire trigger. Staring at Wyatt from the passenger seat, gritting his teeth so intently, it’s a surprise we can’t hear the grinding of his molars over the music.
“Stop acting like you just sucked powdered milk from an old dusty tit,” Owen heckles next to me.
Nostrils flared, Wes growls, “You idiots would team up. Which asshole is going to stalk her first, possessive or obsessive?” I think he’s going for an insult, but these two wear those traits with a badge of pride.
“Says the dude who had a whole file on her before returning from his trip across the pond. Kettle, meet pot,” Wyatt adds, his laughter bouncing off the car’s interior.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing to know what you want and go after it,” Owen replies, eyebrows furrowed in bewilderment at the idea that someone would give less than everything to something they care about.
