“I’m sorry, love. It slipped my mind. I would’ve warned you. And I won’t tell your father or confrontyour brother.”
“Thank you,” Rebel said, hiding her wince.
“Do you want to stay or do you want to go to a burger place?”
Rebel glanced around. “It really is beautiful here and we’re twinning. You also went through a lot of trouble for me. I appreciate it so much. We can stay.”
“I didn’t mean to get so annoyed, Reb,” Momma said quietly. “I want what’s best for you. Nothing more.”
“But it sounds as if you wouldn’t give Diesel a chance even if I was eighteen.”
Pursing her lips, she glanced away. “I’d hate to see you with him.”
“You don’t like him.”
“I love him dearly. I think he’s a fine man, if a little intense. But not for you. However, mymother never supported my decision to be with Christopher. I wanted that so bad, Reb.”
Her grandmother didn’t sound very nice.
“Ifyou were eighteen andifhe wasn’t attached to anyone, I’d stand by your decision. I’d hate it, but I’d support you.”
“Do you think when I turn eighteen, I can go to London if Kaia isn’t back?”
Momma closed her eyes and a bleak look crossed her face.
“Not to live. Just to visit. Every other month.”
“We’ll see, sweetheart.”
Whatever Kaia did, he had toundo. It had to be his decision not to go to London, but Rebel would ask him why her mother was suddenly so intent to get rid of him as soon as possible.
Kaia: Hey. I’m checking on you. I hope you found something to smile about today.
Jana glanced around the lonely treehouse, searching for something that would cheer her up, but finding nothing.
Jana: Not much. Diesel has forgotten me again. I haven’t seen him since Sunday afternoon.
Once Rebel and Meggie went to LA, Diesel disappeared too. Rebel’s absence left Jana even lonelier. She’d thought about visiting Mattie, maybe telling her they were related, then changed her mind. She also thought about calling her parents, uh, Amy and Sue, andrevealing she knew the truth. But she didn’t want to stir the pot.
Miserable, she glanced at her phone again.
Kaia: He’s a fuckhead.
She frowned. Diesel was far from a fuckhead. He was the best thing that ever happened to her.
Jana: He isn’t. I just wish he was more attentive. Any ideas?
Admitting that to anyone, other than herself, sent guilt through her. She knew Diesel had a lot of responsibilities.
Kaia: Tell that motherfucker to spend more time with you.
Jana:
Kaia: You deserve better treatment. He won’t give it to you unless you stand up for yourself and demand it.
Diesel told her to stand up to him as well. But suppose she said the wrong thing and he walked away from her? If he’d really wanted her to be confrontational, he would’ve told her to change before he proposed. He’d taken her just as shewas and always came to her rescue when she was most in need.
Kaia wouldn’t understand any of her reasoning, so she wouldn’t try to explain. She changed the subject.
