yes, Skyla .” He looks at me with a magnetic intensity that seems to weld our souls together. “Looks like our holy war is well underway.”
Chapter Fourteen
My Ride
Driving rain strums relentlessly against my window, vexing me with its wild tapping thumps, until I manage to crawl out of bed and head downstairs for breakfast.
The lights flicker in rhythm to the storm as the steady hum of a thousand drummers penetrates the walls with its insistent frenetic pace. There won’t be any peace in our world today.
“Morning.” My mother yawns and stretches, exposing her pink lace negligee from beneath her terry robe. Mia and Melissa speed past me upstairs, already done with their breakfast. “Hey,” Mom leans into me as I head to the fridge. “I don’t want to say anything around your sisters, but apparently that kid that died the other night was murdered.”
“Murdered?” The word feels rugged coming from my lips like corrugated cardboard.
“Yes!” Her eyes widen. “I don’t want you going off alone. Make sure to stick with Brielle or Gage.”
“Gage?” I ask sarcastically plucking the juice from the counter and filling a glass. “ Taddy wants me to break up with him remember?”
She glances in the direction of his office. “I know you really care about Gage—I like him too. Just for the sake of maintaining household sanity, would you please let Tad think you’ve cooled it on the relationship?”
I examine her up and down. Is this what she’s become? Why are we sneaking around behind Tad’s back with my relationship status? Shouldn’t she stand up for me and tell him I can see whomever the hell I want?
“OK,” I reply. Maybe the two of us keeping a secret from Tad is a good thing, in a bonding sort of way.
Tad and Drake meander into the kitchen. I’ve never noticed until now how much they look alike. Something about this early morning disheveled state makes Drake look like a thinner, younger version of his father.
“Anyway, guess whose seventeenth birthday is right around the corner?” My mother chirps in an effort to change the subject.
Somehow I’ve managed to push my birthday as far out of my mind as possible. I’m too numb with the recent horrific developments in my life to have any genuine excitement over it. Then a thought hits me, and I take an emotional U-turn.
“You know what?” My mood spikes a little. “I think I’m finally going to get my license. Have I mentioned I already have a car?” I restrain myself from jumping when I say it.
“A car?” Tad echoes, disbelieving. His disapproving tone comes in clear—the one he seems to reserve just for me.
“Yeah, Logan and Gage have some old beat up car they want to get rid of and they offered to give it to me.”
“That’s right, Skyla ,” Tad starts in sarcastically. “Let boys run around giving you expensive things, and see if they expect nothing in return. That’s exactly how you want to start off in life.” He shags out his paper.
“Honey,” my mother bites her lip. “He’s right. It’s not a good idea. I don’t think I can let you accept that kind of gift. I don’t care how old or beat up it is.”
“And who’s going to pay for insurance?” Tad cocks his head. “It’s bad enough we need to fit Drake on our policy.”
“What?” I look over at Drake shoveling in his cereal.
“I found an old hatchback for like two thousand bucks,” he mumbles through a mouth full of food. “Plus, I already have my license, so it’s a no brainer.”
“So Drake can get a car, and you’re going to pay for the insurance, but I can’t?”
Tad shakes his head with exasperation. “Look, you don’t need a car. You don’t have anywhere to go that you canheigt have that giant of a football player take you.”
“Oh, so now you want me to use Gage for a ride? He’s suddenly become economically convenient to you?” My blood races through my veins, amping me up to the point I could knock a wall
Chapter Fourteen
My Ride
Driving rain strums relentlessly against my window, vexing me with its wild tapping thumps, until I manage to crawl out of bed and head downstairs for breakfast.
The lights flicker in rhythm to the storm as the steady hum of a thousand drummers penetrates the walls with its insistent frenetic pace. There won’t be any peace in our world today.
“Morning.” My mother yawns and stretches, exposing her pink lace negligee from beneath her terry robe. Mia and Melissa speed past me upstairs, already done with their breakfast. “Hey,” Mom leans into me as I head to the fridge. “I don’t want to say anything around your sisters, but apparently that kid that died the other night was murdered.”
“Murdered?” The word feels rugged coming from my lips like corrugated cardboard.
“Yes!” Her eyes widen. “I don’t want you going off alone. Make sure to stick with Brielle or Gage.”
“Gage?” I ask sarcastically plucking the juice from the counter and filling a glass. “ Taddy wants me to break up with him remember?”
She glances in the direction of his office. “I know you really care about Gage—I like him too. Just for the sake of maintaining household sanity, would you please let Tad think you’ve cooled it on the relationship?”
I examine her up and down. Is this what she’s become? Why are we sneaking around behind Tad’s back with my relationship status? Shouldn’t she stand up for me and tell him I can see whomever the hell I want?
“OK,” I reply. Maybe the two of us keeping a secret from Tad is a good thing, in a bonding sort of way.
Tad and Drake meander into the kitchen. I’ve never noticed until now how much they look alike. Something about this early morning disheveled state makes Drake look like a thinner, younger version of his father.
“Anyway, guess whose seventeenth birthday is right around the corner?” My mother chirps in an effort to change the subject.
Somehow I’ve managed to push my birthday as far out of my mind as possible. I’m too numb with the recent horrific developments in my life to have any genuine excitement over it. Then a thought hits me, and I take an emotional U-turn.
“You know what?” My mood spikes a little. “I think I’m finally going to get my license. Have I mentioned I already have a car?” I restrain myself from jumping when I say it.
“A car?” Tad echoes, disbelieving. His disapproving tone comes in clear—the one he seems to reserve just for me.
“Yeah, Logan and Gage have some old beat up car they want to get rid of and they offered to give it to me.”
“That’s right, Skyla ,” Tad starts in sarcastically. “Let boys run around giving you expensive things, and see if they expect nothing in return. That’s exactly how you want to start off in life.” He shags out his paper.
“Honey,” my mother bites her lip. “He’s right. It’s not a good idea. I don’t think I can let you accept that kind of gift. I don’t care how old or beat up it is.”
“And who’s going to pay for insurance?” Tad cocks his head. “It’s bad enough we need to fit Drake on our policy.”
“What?” I look over at Drake shoveling in his cereal.
“I found an old hatchback for like two thousand bucks,” he mumbles through a mouth full of food. “Plus, I already have my license, so it’s a no brainer.”
“So Drake can get a car, and you’re going to pay for the insurance, but I can’t?”
Tad shakes his head with exasperation. “Look, you don’t need a car. You don’t have anywhere to go that you canheigt have that giant of a football player take you.”
“Oh, so now you want me to use Gage for a ride? He’s suddenly become economically convenient to you?” My blood races through my veins, amping me up to the point I could knock a wall
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