Page 30 of Filthy Few

“Mom, she has her own family to do that shit with, why?—”

Olivia cuts Ezekiel off. “Enough! Nova and her friend will take photos, won’t you?” I shoot Ez a look imploring him to help me but the asshole just huffs and looks away, leaving me no choice but to smile and agree to the woman’s terms. Waylen is a good sport and doesn’t complain as we cross the lawn to stand in front of Vox's house. Their mothers position us how they want us but when they step back and ready their phones, Jane calls forWaylen to switch with Vox. I nearly choke on my own spit when Vox shoulders Waylen from behind and claims his place. I shoot my best friend an apologetic look, as he stands beside Vox.

My breath hitches when Vox wraps an arm around my front and pulls me back until I am flush against his chest. I gasp just as they begin snapping photos. The moms tell us which way to look and turn but the whole time Vox never takes his hands off me. I’m starting to feel overwhelmed and the need to get the fuck out of here is strong. Just as I’m about to say we have to go, Olivia speaks up.

“Ezekiel, I want a picture of you and Nova.” Both Ez and I snap our heads toward his mother utterly at a loss for words.

“Why?” he grits out.

His mother narrows her eyes. “Do as you’re told,” she scolds, then looks at me with a smile. “You don’t mind, do you?” I open my mouth to refuse her but to my horror no words come out and I just nod. I shift to free myself of Vox’s hold but he doesn’t release me. I look up at him over my shoulder only to find him glaring at his best friend.

“I’m gonna need you to let go now, Voxy.” He keeps his glare pointed at Ezekiel as he reluctantly releases me. I force myself not to read too much into whatever the fuck that was as I walk toward Ezekiel stiffly. Out of the four of them, he is the one I genuinely fear as there is a darkness that clings to him. I stand beside him, keeping a body space between us. To his defense he looks just as awkward as I do. His mother purses her lips and looks disapprovingly at us.

“Come on, you can do better than that.” Both of us sigh and take a step closer to the other but there is still space which his mother clearly doesn’t like. “Ezekiel, wrap your arm around her.” My eyes widen in horror, I can feel Vox glaring at the both of us and it takes everything inside me not to turn on him and tell him that none of this is my fault.

“Fuck,” Ez grits out, then closes the space between us. When his arm comes around my back, I tense and hold my breath.

“Smile,” Olivia calls out.

“Take the freaking photo, Mom!” Ezekiel snaps. She doesn’t argue as she snaps a few pics. The second she lowers her camera, I tear free of his hold and rush to Waylen, grabbing his hand and dragging him to my car as I call out my goodbyes. The second we are inside the car I still don’t relax, until we are out of the driveway and halfway down the street.

“What the fuck was that?”

I shake my head. “I have no idea,” I answer truthfully.

“Why the fuck did his mom want a picture of just the two of you?”

I shoot Waylen a perplexed look that has his face softening. “I have no idea. I have never met her before and it's not like me and Ezekiel are even friends.”

“Does she know your mom?” I shake my head again. “Maybe try calling your mom and ask her.”

“I tried calling her last night, this morning and while I was getting ready but she hasn’t called me since Friday morning,” I admit bitterly. I know I said I was fine with Mom being away and everything but I never thought she wouldn’t call. This is my first dance and I guess a part of me had hoped she would come home and surprise me.

“Oh, that’s not like her.” I nod my agreement. Waylen knows my mom is a helicopter mom and is always there and wanting to know everything and to make sure I am okay. I’ve never gone this long without speaking to her. Waylen reaches over and places his hand on top of mine. “Hey, let her have this time to enjoy herself.”

I force a smile to my face and nod but I can’t shake this feeling that something is wrong. It’s not like her to not call or even text. She always checks in and makes sure I have eaten. It’sstupid, I’m turning eighteen soon and I shouldn’t need my mom to check in on me but… I do.

“Come on, get out of your head. We have a couple of hours of fun before the doom and gloom looms over us.” I can’t help the laughter that bursts out of me. “What?” I can hear the mirth in his tone.

“Doom, gloom and loom, seriously?” Waylen’s boisterous laughter sounds out and I can’t help but join him, he always knows how to get me out of a funk and make me smile without even trying.

“Babe, we have the rest of the night to be angry and scared out of our minds but for right now, let’s have this moment of teenage fun and enjoy this stupid dance. If I have to feel like a penguin for a few hours the least you can do is smile and enjoy my torment with me.”

“Deal!” I concede. He’s right. The least I can do is try to have fun before we go in search of theFilthy Fewand ask the favor that will cost me my freedom.

Chapter Twenty

Vox

I stand with my back against the wall and watch my sister, Nova and that bitch boy dancing. They are all laughing and look like they are having the time of their lives. It must be nice not having a fucking care in the world. My phone vibrating in my pocket has me snapping out of it and pulling it out. The sight of the name on the screen has me gritting my teeth, I answer and bring it to my ear.

“Couldn’t this wait until you get back tomorrow?” I snarl.

“When you are fucking summoned, you appear. It isn’t a request, Vox, it is mandatory for all members to be present. You are not exempt from that rule!” I grind my teeth side to side, praying that I can control the anger thrumming through me.

“Yeah, well, I had shit to do,” I clip out.

“Want to walk the line as punishment, boy?” My nostrils flare.

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