Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
She didn’t mean it.
Of course she didn’t fucking mean it.
Nobody wants a broken teen in their house.
She was just being nice.
Deep down, I know she’s hoping I don’t show up.
“Mom, stop,” I say through gritted teeth as I dodge something else, god knows what, a shoe I think.
“How could you?” she screeches. “Now they’re going to gossip about me, telling all their friends how pathetic I am. The whole town will know.”
I take a calming breath. “They’re your friends, they want to help.”
“They don’t want to help me!” She laughs bitterly. “They were never there for me when I needed them.”
God, the drugs have really messed her up. Those women spent days, weeks, months coming around here trying to help Mom after Dad left. She must have forgotten that she was the one who pushed them away.
“Those women stood by your side when Dad left, you were the one who pushed them away.”
“Don’t you dare say that, don’t you dare call him Dad in this house. Don’t you dare. He left us, Bohdi. He left you. He can’t stand you, or me. He has a new family now, a new baby.”
A new baby?
I didn’t know that.
“You’re still looking him up?” I ask, my voice shaky.
I haven’t looked him up. I have never been brave enough to. I don’t want to know how happy he is without us.
“Of course I am,” she screeches. “He left us. That pig owes me.”
I glance at my watch. I need to calm her down so I can leave. That’s not going to be an easy task.
“Mom, you need to go and lay down. I have to work soon. Let me get you a sandwich ...”
“Fuck you,” she bellows, picking up a nearby remote and hauling it at me. This time, it hits me in the head. Pain shoots through my forehead, and I let out a bellow as I slap my hand over the spot she hit. I can feel warmth. It’s bleeding.
Her eyes widen.
“I didn’t mean to hit you. I didn’t ...”
“Didn’t you?” I roar, losing it. “Because you’ve been fucking throwing shit at me for the last hour. What sort of mother are you?”
She presses a hand to her chest, horrified. “You’re just like your father.”
“Of fucking course I am. Have you thought about looking in the mirror lately at yourself? You’re way fucking worse than he is. Look at the kind of mother you are.”
“Get out,” she screams, so loudly the shrill sound pierces my ears.
“Gladly.”
I turn, grab my things, and walk out, blood still running down my forehead. I have two hours before work starts, so I head to the beach. I use the salt water to wash the blood from my head and then I sit and put my head in my hands, exhaling.
I don’t know how much longer I can do this.
“There you are.”
I lift my head to see Isla walking toward me in her bikini, a board under her arm. She takes one look at my head and her eyes widen. She rushes over, kneeling down. “What happened?”
“My mother happened.”
“She did this to you?” she gasps.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
I exhale. “Doesn’t matter.”
“It does, Bohdi. You can’t keep letting her treat you like that.”
“She’s all I have, Isla,” I growl. “The only family I have left.”
“Maybe so,” she says, carefully stroking my cheek, possibly the nicest thing she’s ever done. “But family shouldn’t treat you like that. They’re supposed to love you, support you, and protect you.”
I glance at her. “She’s my mother.”
“Yes, she is. But abuse is not okay.”
She’s right, it’s not.
I sit down, staring out at the ocean. “I have to get to work soon.”
“Stay with me for a few days, have a break.”
“Nobody will be there to look after her.”
“You can’t be there forever, Bohdi. Eventually, she is going to have to clean herself up or live with the consequences.”
I nod, just slightly.
“Stay with me?” she urges, grabbing my hand.
“A few days.”
“Yeah, a few days.”
“Okay.”
She smiles, putting her head on my shoulder. “Okay.”
The beginning of the end.
7
NOW – MERLEIGH
“This is so nice,” Briella says, sweeping through my cabin with a gleeful look on her face. “Seriously, wow.”
“She’s right, this is somethin’ else,” Alarick nods. “Good for you.”
Waverly hugs me, pulling me close. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I say, squeezing her. “Thanks for the money—I’ll pay it back.”
“Don’t even mention it. Mykel and I were happy to help.”
I flash Mykel a grateful smile, and he winks at me.
“Are Kendric and Zariah coming?” I ask Waverly.
“Nope, they’re off celebrating Kendric’s freedom. No doubt they’re still in bed. Cohen and Avi will be here soon, though.”
“Awesome.”
“The beach is so close,” Briella claps. “I can hear it!”
“How’d you go getting a job?” Mykel asks, glancing out the window.
“I got one,” I say, smiling. “I start Monday. It’s only part-time, but it’s enough for me. The rent here is super cheap, and I don’t need much to live. The hours will be negotiable once I’m settled.”