Page 97 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

“I will deck you,” he threatens. “Don’t fuck this up for me.”

“Fuck you,” I hiss.

“Alright, boys,” Mom comes out.

Peter throws his hands up and storms inside. “You take care of him.”

I get up and make a beeline for Sky’s house. Mom’s gentle hand on my wrist stops me. I peck her cheek, then aim in the same direction. She doesn’t let go. “Honey, not right now.”

“But.” I see the door open. “But I love her, and I need to tell her.”

“Yes, I know. Wait until you’re sober, okay? It will mean more.”

My stomach does hurt. And I’m pretty sure I have vomit breath. I look over anyway as Sky’s mom walks out. She waves to us, and I feel the irrational urge to fighther. But then I see Sky, arms wrapped around herself.

“I need to go there,” I insist.

“Later, honey. Give her until the morning.”

Sky shuts the door without looking over, and that settles it. I pout as Mom helps me up the stairs and tosses my ass in bed. She takes my phone and does a few other things while I try to fight my drooping eyelids.

“Mom. I love you too.”

“Means more when you’re sober, honey.” She kisses my cheek anyway. “Say it in the morning.”

Chapter 30

Sky

Two Hours Earlier

“She’s here,” Chase mutters, peering through the window.

Dad makes a sound like a cross between a groan and a whimper. He looks nervous. Keeps touching his hair and adjusting his button-up shirt.A button-up shirt,for hell’s sake. One would think we’re having a formal dinner with the mayor or something. It’s just Claire, the abandoner.

It’s not the best description, but you get the gist. She doesn’t deserve all this dressing up. That glow on Dad’s face is a stark contrast to how haggard he’d looked when we found him the other night at the hole-in-the-wall where he’d met Mom years ago. I know that glow is there because of her, and it irks the shit out of me.

She left! She fucking disappeared, leaving only a stupid note. Why is he now smiling like she’d left for a short trip or something? How can they be okay with this?

Even Chase is wearing a dress shirt that’s tucked in his jeans. Pathetic.

Her car engine shuts off as Chase releases the curtains and turns to regard me. “You could’ve least made some effort, Sky. Sweatpants and a T-shirt? Really?”

“I agree. Go put on a dress or something,” Dad says.

“I make an effort for people who’ve earned it,” I reply snappily. “Just be grateful I agreed to put up with this joke of a dinner, okay?”

Chase’s displeased expression fades as he opens the door. The petite, dark-haired stranger enters with a cautious smile.

Yes, I said, stranger.

No way this is my mom.

At least, not the mother I remembered. Gone are her long, silky locks. She’s wearing a pixie cut. She’s trimmer, dressed in a romper that fits her body so well, unlike the loose clothes she used to wear. Her skin has a healthy glow. There are no bags under her eyes anymore. She looks like someone coming back from two-week vacation.

In this case, a two-year vacation.

Away from us.

---