Page 30 of Ashton

“Don’t. Atticus is trying to find your inhaler.”

Tears pool in the corner of my eyes the more I struggle to breathe. I glimpse at Maddox, and his face is rumpled with something haunting. The more I try to draw air into my lungs, the more my chest aches.

“Here, exhale and open.” Atticus shoves my inhaler in my face. Inhaling that dry powder always relaxes my mind, but I’m exhausted.

“Come on, baby, I’ll get you dressed, and we’ll get you back to your room.”

I give him a sleepy gaze. “I can get there by myself.”

“Don’t be stupid, Jinx. You still have a stalker out there, and you can hardly hold your head up,” Atticus barked back.

“Don’t be so stubborn, Jinx.” Aston holds my bra out for me. I grab it and my dress.

So much for getting a smidge of independence, it was nice while it lasted, but now my babysitters won’t let me see an inch of freedom again. I should’ve told Dad aboutUnknownthis morning when he walked me to class.As much as I would hate telling him, maybe he could’ve offered help. I can’t keep living like this.

I jump when warm fingers stroke my cheek, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Atticus asks, taking a seat next to me.

I pull my knees to my chest and wrap my dress over them. I watch Maddox and Ashton clean the room before turning to Atticus.

“I think I might tell Dad about the stalker.”

“What do you think he’ll do?”

I shrug. How am I supposed to know? It could go two ways: him dragging me out of this school or bringing in security.

“I guess we’ll see when we visit tomorrow for supper. Figured it would be best to do it while we aren’t at school.”

He quirked a pale brow at me. “You better make sure Mother isn’t around when you tell him.”

Fuckin’ Serena. She’s been pissed with me ever since I told her she doesn’t get anything from Dad and that the school belongs to him. I haven’t been back to the house since.

Now, I have no choice but to show up.

Chapter fourteen

Jinx

The only thing I want more in life is to sleep in on a Saturday and hang out with Spence. I feel like I haven’t seen him in ages, and I miss my bestie. I’ve been the world’s worst friend, yet he still won’t make the first move. He’ll make me come crawling to him because, let’s face it, it’s all my fault for ignoring him. I haven’t even watched one of his streams in a week. Some supportive friend.

I haven’t said much since last night, and the guys never asked about the meeting. Honestly, I’m glad. If they knew what Cam’s grandfather is like, they probably would lose their shit all over again. And you can’t touch legacy status here. I’m trying to figure out how to tell Dad about mylittle unwanted friend, and luckily for us, Serena wants us to show up early for dinner. So now I’m stuck in the back seat of Maddox’s Impala heading into Grovedale.

I can already tell how this supper is going to go. Serena will act all holy for the first hour, but as soon as the food hits the table, she’ll start in on everyone. She’ll complain about how we don’t love her or that nobody has time for her. She is like a broken record.

I hate coming back to this house.

“How long do you think it’ll take Mom to blow her top?” Ashton laughs from the seat next to me.

“With how Jinx talked to her last time, not very long. I’m just curious why she wanted us to show up early,” Atticus replies.

Maddox just shakes his head but continues to drive. I stay quiet, too, because the twins are right. We won’t hear quiet once we step foot into that house again. I stare out the car window, watching the trees pass by. I used to enjoy watching the scenery pass by, but now it’s like watching time slowly drift away. Sooner or later, everything we know will just disappear.

The street I grew up on hasn’t changed at all. Every house has a pristine lawn, and brick pillars stand on either side of the driveway. The only thing that makes Dad’s house stand out is the little flower bed he planted in the front. The HOA had a huge hissy fit over it, but in the end, Dad won.

Maddox pulls into the driveway and my heart races. Dinner, and then we can leave. I’m not staying here longer than we have, too. I’ll eat, tell Dad what I need, and try to ignore all the rude comments that are gonna spill from Serena’s fat, fake lips.

“Are you ready because it’s going to be a long-ass night?” Maddox asks, putting the car into park.

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