He gets in the car and I bang on the window. "Trystan, open the damn door!" He starts up the car. "Trystan, I swear to God, if you don't open this door I'll—"
He rolls down the window, laughing. "You'll what?"
"Forget it. Just open the door."
"You're not going home with me. Dad's picking you up."
"Brock is? Why?"
"He's taking you to counseling. The lady's in San Diego. I'm not driving you there. I'm going to the gym."
"Counseling is tonight? I thought it was tomorrow."
"Dad said it's tonight."
"Shit. Think I can get out of it?"
"No. Dad will make you go at least three times before he'll even consider letting you stop. That's what he did to Braden and me, and you're even more messed up than us."
"I'm not messed up!"
He laughs as he backs out of the space. "Have fun!"
As he drives away, I see Brock's car pulling up to the school entrance. I walk back there and get in the car.
"I thought counseling was tomorrow."
"She had a conflict. She had to switch it to tonight."
"Can we cancel? I'm not in the mood for this."
"That's perfect." Brock smiles. "She specializes in moody teenagers."
"Yeah, funny." I roll my eyes. "Seriously, though, I don't want to do this. I need to go home. Jackson is coming over."
"Jackson is with his father, talking to an investigator about the case. Roman mentioned it earlier when I ran into him while taking a walk."
Brock doesn't take walks. He must've walked down there, hoping to run into Roman. Does he not understand Roman is busy trying to save his son from prison? Casting his next movie is the last thing on his mind.
"Jackson's being questioned again?" I ask. "He already told them everything."
"The investigator isn't working for the police. This is a private investigator. A man who consulted on one of Roman's movies. They've hired him to see if he can find out who killed Kristen."
Why didn't Jackson tell me that? I text him to make sure Brock is telling me the truth.
Brock said you're meeting with an investigator.
My dad set it up,he texts back.I'll stop over when we're done. Probably won't be for a few hours.
Brock's taking me to counseling. He won't let me get out of it.
You can tell me about it later. Love you.
Love you too.
"Rumor," Brock says as I put my phone down. "I know you have strong feelings for Jackson but he may not be the boy for you."
"Do I comment on who YOU date? Because if anyone's making bad choices here, it's—"
