Page 86 of The Breaking Point

Even at fifteen, I knew these people were no friends. I avoided their gazes and took my mom aside.

“I only have forty bucks,” I said as I handed her the cash I’d saved up from my part-time job as a server.

Mom’s face fell. “Only forty? Baby, I have bills. You sure you can’t spare any more?”

I could feel one guy leering at me, and it creeped me the fuck out. “I don’t have any more,” I protested.

Mom’s expression shuttered. She took the cash and stuffed it into her pocket. “Whatever. I know that family you live with. They’re rich. You could ask them for money anytime.”

“I can’t ask them!”

“Then steal it. You think they’d notice when they’re rolling in it? I’m out here, homeless, and you’re acting like you’re too good to help me.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t believe this. Anger made me snarl, “Go fuck yourself. I’m done.”

After that incident, I’d pretty much stopped talking to my mom. When she’d call the Dallases, I’d tell them to tell her that I was busy. Mrs. Dallas had tried to ask me what’d changed, but I’d clammed up.

What was worse was that sometimes I’d consider what she’d said. The Dallases had plenty of money, while Mom was out on the streets. If I could steal enough to get her into a legit rehab center, maybe, just maybe ...

But then I’d shove the thoughts aside, disgusted with myself. The Dallases didn’t need to deal with my mom’s insanity. And I was done with dealing with it, too.

So, yeah, I didn’t have much patience for kids my age drinking and driving. Getting drunk? Sure, whatever. I’d done it, and I’d do it again.

But driving and potentially killing yourself or others? That was bullshit. It also meant you didn’t have control of yourself, just like how Mom had never been in control of herself.

Which meant that if Grace needed me to pick her up when I had a paper to write, I’d do it. If I could do anything to keep her safe, I’d do it, no questions asked.

Because she’s like a little sister to you? Or because you want her to be something more than that?

It took twenty minutes for me to get to the theater. When I arrived, though, I didn’t see Grace outside. I circled the parking lot twice before I finally parked to go find Grace myself.

Had she given up on me coming to get her? The thought of her getting in the car with a drunk driver made me wantto punch something. I went inside the theater, but I didn’t see Grace anywhere.

I was about to call her when I saw two people near a dimly lit wall outside. The couple then moved a few inches, enough that they were now somewhat illuminated by a streetlamp.

That was when I realized it was Grace and some boy I’d seen around our high school. And, to my shock, they were kissing.

I was glued to the spot. Every emotion under the sun ran through me—surprise, envy, annoyance. What the hell was she thinking, making out with some kid right outside the movie theater?

The two clearly didn’t give a shit if they had an audience. I crossed my arms, watching the free show, irritated with myself when I grew hard.

Grace was running her fingers through the kid’s hair. I could tell she was into kissing this nerd, whoever the fuck he was.

I wondered what it would be like if Grace kissed me like that. If she ran her fingers through my hair, arched against me, her body rubbing against mine—

I swore under my breath. I stalked back to my car and called Grace’s phone. I could still see her from where I’d parked. I could also tell that she was ignoring my phone call.

Finally, I saw her pick up. “Yeah?” she answered, sounding breathless.

“I’m here, near the entrance. I’m parked next to a big red truck.”

I snorted when I saw her looking around for me. Was she worried that I’d seen her making out with that boy?

Thinking about Grace like this was strange. She’d always seemed like too much of a Goody Two-shoes to pull a stunt like this. Then again, I’d noticed she’d been hanging around a shitty crowd lately.

It hadn’t helped that Grace’s friend Meredith seemed to be the instigator. Meredith had started dating Tom Garrison, who was notorious for smoking weed out in the parking lot, skipping class, and getting suspended for vandalism. And as far as I knew, Meredith had started joining her fuckboy boyfriend in his bullshit.

Grace finally found my car and climbed inside. Her cheeks were red, and I had to bite back a sarcastic remark when I saw how messed up her hair was.

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