Page 114 of I Blame the Club

“Have you heard from him?” My sister tilts her head, watching my reaction carefully, “Since you last spoke.”

I shake my head, automatically glancing at my phone. Ever since I walked out of Jonathan’s office, I’ve been waiting for my letter of termination to make its way into my inbox, but so far there’s been nothing.

Truthfully, I don’t know how to feel about the situation. My father may have crossed a line but he’s still my father. I no longer view him as a role model, but he's still the man my mother once loved. And as pathetic as it sounds, that fact alone makes me think I could forgive him.

“I’ve heard nothing yet.”

Stella sighs, “You will. It just might not be what you expect.”

Before I can answer, Nico lets out a groan, “Babe, why do you insist on drinking this shit? It’s tequila or cocktails. There’s no in-between.”

I give him a pointed look, “You could always buy your own drink.”

He perks up, “Round of tequila everyone?”

Cody frowns, glancing at the clock on the wall, “It’s 1 PM on a Sunday.”

“So?” Nico nudges me, his dark eyes twinkling, “There’s no time limit when we’re celebrating.”

Stella brightens, “I’m in.”

I look at her in shock, “Are you sure?”

She takes Cody’s hand, giving him a small smile before turning to face me.

“I’ve been working my way up to this. Last week, I had one of those slushy drinks.”

Nico lets out a hoot and snags the attention of our waiter, “In that case, what are we waiting for? Tequila for the table, please.”

My chest starts to ache as I watch my baby sister take her first shot of alcohol since the accident. Her hand never leaves Cody’s as she takes a hesitant sip before pulling a face and tossing it back. Cody whispers something in her ear that has a smile replacing the grimace and I feel something inside me break.

Stella doesn't need me anymore.

Feeling like my chest is collapsing in on itself, I excuse myself from the table and hastily make my way to the bathroom. My breathing grows ragged as I yank open the door, and my knees give out the moment it shuts behind me.

I collapse to the ground, struggling to catch a breath as my throat thickens to the point of suffocation.

What the hell is happening to me?

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to push the emotions back down, but its no use. My control cracks then shatters as unwanted emotions break past the surface, the years of repression ripping apart my barriers like a man starved. My hands start to shake as I gasp for air, the pressure in my chest building until all I can hear is the angry thud of my heart.

My chest caves inward as the wave of grief crashes down on me and a broken sound escapes my throat. The foreign noise echoes around the empty bathroom and it takes me a moment to recognize what's going on.

I'm crying.

For the first time in twelve years.

“Mi amor? Are you alright?”

I jerk back against the door, forcing it shut with my bodyweight. My vision refuses to clear as more tears stream down my face.

"Not now, Montez."

There's something wrong with my voice, something missing, but I don't have time to decipher it before another wave of sorrow hits me. I hunch over as sobs overtake my body and the next thing I know, the blurry outline of Nico's jeans step into view.

I jerk away, turning my head so he can't see the streaks marking my cheeks.

"Get out."

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