My jaw drops.
“Yeah,” he says. “I know about that. A lot of people do. It’s not a secret.”
“But—”
“He played you. He wanted you to think he was being vulnerable with you, so you’d trust him and believe whatever he tells you.”
“So did that really happen? The story about his mom?”
“Yeah. He wasn’t lying, but he also wasn’t confiding in you. He just wanted you to think he was.”
“He said Brock helped her, not covered it up.”
“He covered it up. Hired a whole team of people to help him and used her money to pay for it.”
“But that’s wrong.”
“That’s how it works when you’re rich and famous. Why do you think you never hear about famous people being convicted of murder?”
“There’s been a few.”
“Not many, and the ones that make it to the news end up getting off and then everyone forgets it ever happened.”
“So Brock’s a criminal.”
“Depends on who you ask.Youmight think it’s wrong, but in Brock’s world it’s perfectly normal. My dad would do the same thing if my mom got in trouble. Or if I did.”
“You’d let him cover it up?”
“No, but he’d do it anyway. Having a son in jail could hurt his career. He doesn’t want that kind of publicity.”
“Is Braden’s mom really crazy or did he make that up?”
“I wouldn’t say she’s crazy, but she definitely has some mental issues. Hitting that kid really messed her up. She used to travel. Hang out with celebrities. Do all this charity stuff. And now she just sits in her house.” He checks his phone. “We need to get going. I have practice at six.”
As we head to the parking lot for my driving lesson, I keep thinking about Braden and what he told me last night. He seemed so sincere. So honest. I really thought he was confiding in me. Trusting me with his secrets. But it turns out it was all for show.
He played me. But it’s not going to happen again.
Chapter 18
As the week continues, I get better at sneaking out. I put on running shorts and a tank and bring headphones and a water bottle, so if Trystan sees me on the camera, he’ll think I’m actually going on a walk or running. Then, before I come home, I go into Jackson’s house and wet my shirt and face with water, so it looks like I’ve been sweating.
It must be working because Trystan hasn’t questioned me about it since that talk we had. As for Braden, I haven’t seen him. He’s been living at the gym or the football field. I haven’t seen Brock much either. He leaves during the day and spends evenings in his office. We don’t even have dinner together anymore, which is good. I’m trying to stay away from him, so he doesn’t come up with more rules for me or order me around.
By Friday night, I’m desperate to go out and do something. Trystan went to a party, and who knows where Braden went. I think Brock is out, too. I haven’t heard him in the house.
I’m so bored. I already talked to Axl for over an hour. He was going out with Greg, this guy who works at the guitar store. Greg’s old and a little strange, but he knows all the good bands and invited Axl to a concert tonight.
Looking through my phone, I see Shayla’s number and call her.
“Hey, Rumor,” she says. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. That’s why I’m calling. I know it’s last minute, but do you want to go out tonight?”
“I can’t. It’s my grandma’s birthday and we’re having a party. You can come over if you want. We have tons of food.”
“I would but I can’t drive. I don’t have a license.”
