Page 196 of Did They Break You

“Slim to none,” my mom supplies, but I know she’s not on my side, the way she steps closer, so the three of them are surrounding me in a semi-circle, Chase rocking on the balls of his feet, his hands still in his stupid fucking pants. “But there’s still a chance.”

I look between my ex and my mom. “I don’t understand what your fucking point is,” I finally say to my mother.

She smiles, her mascara thick and melting in the sun, sticking to her brows. “My point is that I don’t want my son in prison, under any circumstances. But if you insist on being seen with her and ruining not only your reputation, but your friends,” she nods toward Chase, “andmine…”She trails off and I feel my pulse ticking in my fucking neck. “I can’t have that. The three of us are asking you, Cortland, to let whatever fling you have with Remi go. I’m glad the girl has come to her senses and understands what, exactly, consent means, but that’s no reason to throw your life away because of her epiphany.”

“Mom, get the fuck out of here.” I say the words calmly enough, but inside my head, I’m imagining wrapping my handsaround her fucking throat. I turn from her and pull open the door to my truck.

But Chase slaps his hand against it, closing it.

I lunge for him, spinning him around and knocking him against the door. “You want me to really choke the life out of you this time, huh, Chase?” I growl in his face, leaning down, my nose to his.

He just laughs as my mom calls my name and Maya is flipping out, telling me to let him go before she calls the fucking cops.

I do let go, stepping back, and Mom goes to put her hand on my shoulder, but I shrug out of her grip.

“Leave me alone, all of you. Leave me the fuck alone.” I round on Mom. “And stay the fuck away from Tristan while you’re at it. Stay away from Dad, and stay away from me.” I spit on the ground at her feet, my chest heaving as I try to remember to breathe.

My mom clutches the necklace around her throat, her manicured nails glistening in the sun.

“You’re poison. I don’t want you in my life.”

“Cortland,” Mom tries, reaching for me, but I jerk my arm out of her grip and Chase moves away from my truck, Maya half-hiding behind him. “I’m warning you. Let this go.” Her voice is so calm, like she thinks she’s actually going to fucking reason with me.

I open my door again and get in the truck, slamming the door shut and rolling the window down. The truck is paid for, and that’s not thanks to Mom. My uncle helped me buy it with all the work I put in over the summers since I was sixteen.

“Cortland, I know you’re not the smartest son of mine, but you are being incredibly foolish?—”

“Fuck you.”

“She’s trash, Cortland,” Maya says, still half hidden by Chase because she’s a pussy. “She might live in a big fancy house, but she’s still trash.”

I raise my middle finger, drop my hand, and peel out of the parking lot, grabbing a cigarette and my lighter from the center console as I do, heading to Dad’s.

CHAPTER

FIFTY-THREE

REMI

I’m late,and the nerves that I’d tried to calm by listening to Dermot Kennedy at maximum volume are now shot.

On top of being late, I have to parallel park in front of the restaurant.

Silas knows I suck at parallel parking. Whenever he bothered letting me drive to practice for my license, he made me do it over and over again while he sighed discontentedly in the passenger seat and offered no shred of information on how to help. His silence riled up my nerves, and in the end, he’d make me get out and switch seats with him because I was “clearly inept at maneuvering a vehicle.”

Besides, night has fallen, and the street is packed.

I smack the heel of my hand against the wheel in frustration, biting my cheek. I didn’t want to come here in the first place. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen Silas. Over a year. And no matter how well I do or don’t park, I know he’s going to rip me apart as soon as I walk in this restaurant.

The people heading through the heavy oak doors are dressed far nicer than I am, in glittering heels with tiny clutches and sparkling earrings. There’s a man in a suit and tie standing justoutside of the door, and as I circle in front of the busy street for the fifth time, I wonder what would happen if I just drove all the way back.

There’s another truth, though, getting under my skin. I’m not worried about Silas.

I’m…Don’t think about it.

Don’t think abouthim.

I yank the wheel and turn down a narrow street with an underground parking sign. It’ll be a long walk, but at least I won’t hit anyone, and I’ll actually have somewhere to leave my car.

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