“Yes, the thing that pays my tuition,” I grind between clenched teeth.
He laughs under his breath. “Of course. Let me call Dante, see what we can work up.”
“Please don’t.”
He doesn’t listen to me. Antonio never heeds my advice. After all, to him, I’m still a child. At least, that’s how he treats me.
He ends the call without so much as a goodbye, and I toss the phone onto the bed. “Fuck!” I run my hands through my hair, tugging at the tendrils, frustration tearing me apart inside and out.
There’s a soft wrap at the door. “Go away!” I shout.
Eventually, I stalk out into the living room, hand Sophia back her phone and collapse into the beanbag chair on the floor.
I need to be alone, but I know both Sophia and Bristol are concerned right now. Probably more so Bristol, because she doesn’t have the slightest clue what is going on or why I’m so damn moody.
Bristol stands from the sofa and comes around the coffee table, sitting next to me on the floor. She wraps her arms around me, doesn’t say a word, and rests her head on my arm.
Sophia breaks the silence. She’s seated on the couch, hands clasped together, leaning forward, eyes on me. “I’m sorry,” she says, staring at me.
Two apologies in one day.
First Bristol, now Sophia.
I’m silent, and Sophia continues speaking when she realizes I don’t have anything to say.
“I don’t want to go back to New York.
Seventeen
Ashton
When the mail comes on Monday, I rush to check it, both nervous and relieved that the letter from the Student Conduct Office has arrived. I’ve been itching out of my skin waiting to see the results.
I tear open the envelope. I wish Nova were home, but she’s still at class. Sophia and Bristol are on the couch, Bristol in front of her laptop doing an assignment, Sophia lounging around without a care in the world.
Must be nice.
I heard she’s dropping out of school. I’m not sure what that means for her future. Is she living with us indefinitely?
Glancing over the letter, I can barely focus on the words written on the page.
I’m terrified that I’ll be expelled, although based on the professor’s remark last week, I’m hoping I’m overthinking it. Maybe it’ll just be a short suspension.
I tear open the envelope and read the words that make my head swim: probation.
It definitely could have been worse for assaulting Henry Bennett, that asshole.
For the next six months, I have to keep my nose down and remain out of trouble.
“Everything okay?” Sophia asks, noticing me staring at the letter longer than necessary.
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Yes, it’s better than expected.” I had convinced myself that I’d be fine, but deep down, I’d been worried. What happened if I had gotten expelled? What next? Would Nova even want to be with me?
Dropping out of college was one thing but, to me, being expelled would be far worse.
“That’s good,” Sophia says, and forces a smile.
I grab a seat on the edge of the coffee table, facing Sophia. “What’s your plan?” I ask.
