Page 49 of My Fault
I shoved past him, shouted, “Come on, Thor,” and went upstairs to my room. I slammed the door and got into bed. But I, too, saw that he was right: it couldn’t happen again.
The next morning, a familiar voice woke me, cradling my ribs and rocking me back and forth.
“Get up! It’s after twelve!” my mother said. I opened my still-sleepy eyes and saw her sitting beside me looking radiant. “Did you miss me?” she asked with a big smile. I smiled back and sat up to hug her. Finally she was home! Of course I’d missed her. She was the one normal thing in my life.
“How was New York?” I asked, stretching out and rubbing my eyes.
“Incredible! It’s the best place ever for shopping. I brought you a ton of presents.”
As I walked to the bathroom, I remarked sarcastically, “Great, Mom! Like I don’t have enough clothes I don’t wear already.”
While I washed my hair and brushed my teeth, she sat on the toilet lid and talked to me about all the amazing places she’d been.
“I’m happy you had such a good time,” I said, walking off to my closet and looking through everything hanging there, uncertain what to put on. It was easier when you didn’t have so many clothes, and that was why I kept going back to my suitcase, which was half-open on the floor. A part of me refused to unpack it because that would mean that all this was real, that I was staying here and there was no turning back.
“We’ve got plans today, Noah, that’s why I came to wake youup.” When I heard the tone in her voice, I was sure I wouldn’t like what she was proposing.
“What plans?” I asked, one hand on my hip.
Walking past me, my mother started looking slowly through the dresses in my closet.
“We’ve got an interview at St. Marie’s.”
“An interview where?”
“At your new school, Noah. I told you, it’s one of the best in the country. Not just anyone can go there, but thanks to William’s contacts and the fact that Nick is an alum, they’ve agreed to meet you,” she said patiently. “It’s just a formality, but you’ll want to see the school, it’s something else.”
I wanted to puke.
“Dammit, Mom! Couldn’t you have just stuck me in some regular school?” I shouted, jerking the hangers back and forth. I was completely freaking out. “I don’t want to go to some stuck-up school, I told you that. Plus, why do I need an interview? It’s not a job, for God’s sake.”
“Noah, don’t start. This is a big opportunity. People who go to that school end up at the best colleges, and they’re willing to let you in as a senior, which isn’t something they usually do.”
“So I’m gonna be the weirdo who got in because I’ve got a hookup? Great, Mom.”
She crossed her arms. That was the gesture she always made when her mind was made up, so I knew there wouldn’t be any more arguing about the subject.
“You’ll thank me in the future. Anyway, your friend Jenna goes to St. Marie’s, so you won’t be on you own.” At least that was one thing I was happy to hear. It was consoling to know that I’d have someone to be with at lunchtime. “Now get dressed. We need to be there in less than two hours.”
I sighed and looked around until I found a pair of black skinnyjeans and a sky-blue shirt. I wasn’t about to put on a gown or anything like that. Just the thought of how the girls at that school must dress gave me the creeps.
The one good thing about the outing to visit the school was that afterward, my mother took me to get a new car. I’d had my license for a year, and it broke my heart to have to leave my pickup in Canada, so I had taken all my savings, and with the help of my mother, I was going to get a secondhand car to drive around town. William insisted he would happily buy me a brand-new one, but I had to put my foot down. One thing was him buying my mother stuff or paying for my school and clothes, but the car—that was a different story. I was also thinking of finding a job to cover my expenses. I didn’t like the idea of that man paying for all my stuff like I was a twelve-year-old. I was old enough and capable enough to find a job and take care of myself.
My mother didn’t oppose my decision. She approved of me working. I’d done it since I was fifteen, and I liked not having to beg for money anytime I needed it. She helped me apply for a job waitressing at a well-known spot twenty minutes from our home by car. It was called Bar 48 and served food and drinks; obviously I wasn’t allowed to serve liquor, but they would let me wait on guests. I’d done that before, and I was pretty good at it. I’d start the following week on the night shift.
It didn’t take us long to find a car. I didn’t care much about the details as long as it ran. We chose a vintage Beetle in decent condition. I didn’t know much about cars even though I was good at driving them, but it was cute, and I loved the red paint job. I paid and signed and felt truly free when I could drive myself home.
It was funny parking that little thing between Will’s Mercedes and Nick’s SUV. It was kind of a metaphor for how I fit into the family. I got out in a good mood at the very moment when Nickemerged from the house spinning the keys to his Range Rover on one finger. He took off his sunglasses to look at my new acquisition.
His face was both amused and horrified. I squared off, ready to listen to his comments.
“Please tell me you haven’t brought that car here,” he said, walking over and shaking his head as he looked condescendingly from me to the Beetle and back.
I wasn’t going to let him mess up my good mood, so I bit my tongue and kept the insults to myself.
“It’smycar, I like it, and I’d appreciate you not looking at it like that,” I said, trying to restrain my nerves at seeing him for the first time since we’d made out on the couch.
He looked baffled. Without even asking, he went to the back and opened the trunk to look at the engine.
