Page 16 of Raise 'Em Up

Lennox moves closer to me as Colt grabs a bottle of water from the small mini-bar. “Think she knows?” he asks and I roll my eyes, then laugh.

“Oh yeah, she’s onto us.”

CHAPTER SIX

Ihave no idea where the guys went off to, but Lennox said they had some business to deal with and they would be back later. They each kissed me goodbye, and Donny gave me a slap on the ass for, in his words, good luck, then they took off, leaving me to try and entertain myself at the hotel.

I’m going to assume that whatever business they had, it has to do with getting me back into school.

Not wanting to wait for them alone in my room, I head down to the hotel bar and pray I don’t run into my mom or dad.

Man, that’s so weird to say. Dad. I have a dad. A rich one, at that. Another weird as fuck thing.

I still don’t understand that if I came from a family of money, why did my mom spend all those years working her ass off so we could have a good life? Wouldn’t it have been easier to take what my grandfather was offering?

Yes, it would have been, but this is my mom we’re talking about. She’s never been one to take handouts, always working hard for everything she has in life. And while I admire her for that, she didn’t need to.

She didn’t need to work herself so damn hard, she could have allowed herself the chance to have some sort of life outside of me and work.

As I step into the lobby, my phone rings. Grabbing it out of my pocket, I look at the caller ID and smile, quickly answering.

“Trevor,” I say excitedly.

“Hey, babe.” His thick, husky voice makes me shiver.

Getting a hold of him has been almost impossible. But I already knew that would be a possibility with him being in the mountains. Reception up there isn't the best, and anytime we’ve tried to call one another since I got to the hotel, we’ve hardly gotten a few words in before the line gets cut off.

We’ve texted a few times, but again, with the reception, a steady flow of conversation has been impossible, so I haven't told him what's going on. That's something to do face to face.

“I miss you.” I smile, stepping to the side and out of the way.

“Fuck, Rylee, I miss you so damn much. I really wish you could have come with us. As much fun as it was just me and Mom, it would have been a hell of a lot better with you here.”

“What about your step-dad? Was he not there with you too?”

“He was supposed to come, but he got called away on business. So it was just me and Mom for Christmas. She was not happy with him. I heard her yelling at him over the phone the other day. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them fight like that before. But Mom knew he took his job seriously before she married him, so she tries not to let it get to her.”

“Ah, I’m sorry,” I tell him. “Maybe he can make it up to you over the summer or something?”

“Whatever trip we do end up going on, I want you to come with us,” he tells me.

“Well, does that invitation extend to the guys?” I laugh.

He sighs. “Only because it would make you happy, and that's all that matters to me.”

My heart flutters in my chest and I miss him even more. “You're too sweet.”

“Never.” He chuckles. “Now, how have you been? Enjoying your vacation?”

My stomach sinks.

“Let’s just say, a hell of a lot has happened since you left for your trip. And none of it’s particularly pleasant.” I snort out a laugh. “Actually, all of it is bullshit, if you ask me.”

“What happened?” he asks, concern thick in his voice.

“It’s a lot.” I sigh. “Short version, the Dean kicked me out of school, and it also turns out I have a dad.”

“What the fuck?” he growls in anger. “Rylee, what the hell?”

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