Page 471 of Filthy Elites

“Well one of us has to be the grown-up,” I snap, then instantly regret it.

“Young lady, I have kept a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food in the cupboards your entire life. You go to an expensive private school, we live in a nice house in a nice area, I suggest you check your attitude right now.”

This is what drives me crazy about my mom. Yes, we have all those things, but for the last few years, I’ve been the one reminding my mom to pay the bills and covering the difference with my wages if there’s not enough in her checking account. I’ve been the one saying I don’t need to go to an expensive private school. I’ve been the one working every shift that’s been available to cover the deficit in our income when her books have had a bad sales month. She may be the parent, but I’m hardly a child.

“Are you serious right now? Do you know who paid the electric bill last month? Me. Do you know who deposited money into your account to cover the mortgage every month for the last six months? Me. I don’t know if you’re really this clueless, or if you’re just so far in your own head that you have no idea what’s happening in real life, but without me putting all my wages into your bank account, we would have lost the house months ago. You think it’s a fun game to play with the rich folks, have at it, but don’t forget that they’re them and we’re us. Sebastian flashed his winning smile and his parents’ money at you and you’re basically handing him my virginity on a platter, even though I’ve told you over and over that he isn’t my boyfriend, that he thinks he owns me and he’s not giving me a choice.”

Mom’s lips part and for a minute I think she’s actually heard me, that she’s listening to what I’m saying, but then she scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Wow, whatever you pair are arguing about must be quite the teen lovers tiff for you to be so dramatic this early in the morning. Sebastian is smitten with you and you’re smitten with him, I was young and in love once, I recognize the look. Go to school and make up, hopefully you’ll be in a better mood when you get home later, because Miranda has invited us for dinner.”

Tears well in my eyes, but I blink them away. What use are they when my mom, the woman who’s supposed to be my biggest supporter, is so blinded by him, his family and the wealth that surrounds them? “Have a nice day,” I say quietly, grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator and a granola bar from the cupboard. “I’m going to look out for Court.”

“Have a good day, honey,” Mom calls, but I ignore her, hoisting my backpack over my shoulders, stepping outside and then sitting down on the front steps to wait for my friend.

I’m early and she won’t be here for at least ten minutes, so I pull my cell from the bottom of my backpack and call my dad. His day starts about three a.m., so I know he’ll be awake, hopefully he’ll be at the helm and not pulling in pots.

“Starling, is everything okay?” he asks immediately when he answers.

“Hey, Dad, everything’s fine, I just had a little time to spare.”

“Oh well that’s nice, darlin’, how’s school?”

I contemplate telling him about Sebastian, but decide against it when he’s a three-hour flight or a twenty-five-hour drive away. There’s nothing he can do. Hell, he might end up as taken in by him and his family as Mom and Court are, and right now I don’t think I could cope with losing him as well.

“Same old, same old. A bunch of rich kids all talking about their summer in the Hamptons or the Caribbean. Hopefully I can go to public school next year and be around normal people.” Dad knows I don’t love GAA, but he also knows it’s paid for and that it would be wasteful to attend a run-down, no-opportunity public school while my tuition to GAA is there.

“Just make the most of the education that place can give you, work hard to give yourself a good foundation, so you’re ahead of the curve if your mama can’t afford to keep you there. You know I’d help her out if I could.”

“I know you would, but there’s no point you having to work any harder to send me to a school I don’t want to be at in the first place. I’m the poor relation to these kids, apart from Court.”

“Your mama told me you’d quit your job, so you could always come out and visit me during winter break, maybe even for Christmas, if you wanted?”

I haven’t had Christmas with my dad since he and my mom split up. Once a year during the summer we spend three weeks together and we talk on the phone every Wednesday. He’s never suggested I come during any other holiday.

“Wouldn’t you have to work?”

“No, Christmas is the only holiday we have more than a day off for. There’s always something to fish, catch or bait, but the whole crew has a week with their families over Christmas and New Year’s.”

Suddenly I feel five years old again, missing my dad and just wanting to see him. “I’d love to spend Christmas with you, Daddy.”

“Well that’s just made my day, darlin’. I’ll text your mama and let her know, then I’ll get some flights booked. I got to get back to it, I love you.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

Ending the call, I slide my cell back into my blazer and exhale. The melancholy I’d felt since I woke up this morning fades and a feeling of hope settles in its place. My mom might be caught up in the Lockwood hype, but I’m not and neither is my dad. I need this, I need to be away from this town and Sebastian and even my mom and Court too, I need to be somewhere where no one cares who Sebastian is, where he has no power.

An unfamiliar car slows to a stop at the end of the driveway and I watch, waiting to see if someone will get out. No one does, then the rear window rolls down and Court appears. “Morning babe, how cool is this Tesla?” she shrieks excitedly.

My brows furrow in confusion when Sebastian steps from the other side of the car a smug expression etched across his beautiful face. “Good morning, little bird.”

I shake my head and point at him angrily. “We had a deal, I get to ride with Court.”

His smile is pure evil, sin in human form. “We agreed that Courtney would collect you from your house and take you to school and return you home at the end of the day.” He gestures to the car. “Courtney is here, collecting you for school, you never specified that she had to be in her own vehicle, or that you two be the only people present. First rule of business, always read the small print.”

Angry, frustrated tears pool in my eyes, but I blink them away. There’s no point making a scene, fighting one-on-one isn’t how I’ll extract myself from his hold. Instead, I stand up and follow him to the car, climbing into the back row of seats with Sebastian next to me. Court is talking a mile a minute at Clay in the row ahead of us and Hunter and Evan are up front.

“No fighting?” he asks.

I shake my head, rest my cheek against the window and close my eyes.

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