Page 48 of Toxic Wishes

19

Abigail

“I’ve found that no matter what life throws at me, music softens the blow.”-Bryce W. Anderson

“Nope, hell no. It's not what I had in mind at all. I’ll just figure something out.” I rush out of the front door, and Josh grabs my arm.

“Geeze, when did you get so fast?” I say as he whips me around to face him. “Are you planning on playing football too?” I joke.

“No, but what is your other option? Huh? Go back to your parents? Where you know you can be triggered back into the dark place you were when I met you? Lose all the progress and hard work you put into yourself?”

I close my eyes and shake my head slightly. This is why I couldn’t wait to make my own money. I hated relying on anyone, especially a man.

“No, I’ll just have to,” I take a deep breath, as I feel my head spin, exhaling my frustrations out through my nose. “I don’t know. I guess it will take longer to get through med school. Hell, maybe I’ll start stripping. It can’t be that bad but I’m sure not going to stay here and be under his wing. Taking handouts. Fuck that.” I wave a hand in Colt's direction.

“Ash.”

Now that I know Josh is related to Blake, too, it makes sense why he calls me that. His nickname, Ash, reminds me of when Blake called me Abs.

“Ash, it wouldn’t be like that.” He takes a step closer.

“Are all Killian boys so in your face?” I asked, deflecting from the situation.

“Please, even your counselor said that being around your parents can trigger your eating disorder.”

He was right, but what scared me the most was I don't know why. Why did my parents hate me? Why did they treat me so differently than my sister? Why were they so hard on me? Was I really that ugly in their eyes?

“Think about it. Colt won’t be at the apartment at all, he has another house in the city. I mean what is the big deal? You save money, and you are away from your parents. It's a perfect solution.”

“I don’t take favors. Especially from guys like him.” I point in the direction of he house.

“It’s a favor for me, not you.”

I huffed out a laugh. “Ya, we both know that’s bullshit, Josh.”

“It is not.”

“Why, did you tell him?” I snap my gaze to his, narrowing my eyes on him.

“No,” He holds up his hands in surrender. “I swear. You know I don’t air out anyone’s dirty laundry.”

I fold my arms across my chest and glare at Josh.

“But he does know I’m concerned, and I think this is the best solution. You stay here for the summer, save up what you need, and by the end of the summer, we’ll reassess what we need to do by that point. Okay?”

He eyes me like a wild animal that’s about to strike and maybe I am acting deranged. But my emotions are all over the place and I don’t know what to think. Should I accept? I know Colt has to want something in return. No one does favors for free.

“What are the conditions?”

“None, just keep the place clean and when the main house is being rented out be mindful. Courteous. That sort of thing.”

I narrow my eyes on him, giving him the death stare, the one he knows I mean business with.

“Josh,” I say in a motherly tone. One that would be used in interrogating her child.

He groans. “Damn it Asher, you always have to be so stubborn?”

“No, I just know Colt’s not the type to give handouts, freely. That’s for damn sure. His head is already too big for his body.”

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