Page 6 of The Fake
When our dad died, I was just finishing high school and heading to Valley. I got out, excited to leave behind memories of the happy family that didn’t exist anymore. I was selfish, only thinking about myself. I left Heath to fend for himself and it kills me to think of the things he’s had to deal with while I was out partying and acting like life was grand. Especially since it’s my fault Dad’s gone.
Mom was okay at first. She was sad, as we all were, but she was functioning. Then… I don’t know. One lost job turned to two, bills started to go unpaid. I didn’t even know about it for a while. Heath and I barely spoke my first year at Valley so it’s no shock that he didn’t reach out until it was already pretty bad.
It was the beginning of sophomore year the first time he called and asked for money. I hadn’t gone home that summer so I didn’t see how bad it was. We’ve never been rich, but there’d always been money for what we needed. It must have taken some guts to call and ask me to help. Guts or desperation.
“How’s everything else? Is Uncle Doug still stopping by on the weekends to check in?”
“Yes.” He sounds glum. “I don’t need a babysitter. He just makes things worse. He rags on Mom and makes her feel worse than she already does. Then he leaves, and I’m left to deal with her crying all night.”
“Is it that bad?”
“It’s fine. I know how to handle her. I’m eighteen. I’m not a kid anymore, bro.”
My chest breaks with a chuckle that I keep silent. He reminds me so much of myself at that age. Headstrong and independent, ready to take on the world like I knew it all. The difference is I had two parents keeping an eye on me and knocking me down a peg or two when I needed it.
“Yeah, alright. Listen, I’m at a team event, so I gotta go, but text or call me if you need anything. And if it’s an emergency, call Uncle Doug.”
“I know, I know.”
“Stay out of trouble.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“Love you, bro.”
“Love you, too.”
The conversation sobered me up something awful. Every muscle in my body is coiled tight as I pocket my phone and head toward the party. Coach Daniels still has people all around him, so I walk in front of him slowly until he spots me. He tips his head in acknowledgment and I do the same.
Obligations for the night complete. Tomorrow, I’ll go back to stressing about Heath and my mom, try and figure out how to solve my money issues on the up and up, and start worrying about how bad I’m gonna screw up being co-captain, but for tonight, I just want to forget it all.
At the bar, I grab a Jack and Coke and circle the party. I don’t see any of my teammates, but I spot some of the guys from the baseball team.
“Hey, Mario.” I lift my glass in greeting. He and a few other baseball guys live just down the street so we’re tight. He opens his stance up to let me into the circle. The other guys are all huddled around someone’s phone.
“What’s up, Payne?”
“Not much, man.” I point to the guys. “Some chick make the unfortunate decision to send one of you nudes?”
Mario shakes his head. His gelled blond hair holds perfectly in place and I run a hand through mine, wondering if I look as rough as I feel. “Nah, nothing like that. One of the girls on the volleyball team is some sort of heiress.”
“Freshman?”
“Transfer. Got busted for buying her way into school in California.”
An heiress at Valley? Buying her way into college? My brows pull down in disbelief.
“I think that’s her over there in the red dress.” Mario looks over my shoulder, and I turn to face that direction.
She’d be easy to spot even if she weren’t wearing a dress the color of a fire engine, but as it is, there’s absolutely no way to miss her. Long, tan legs and blonde hair that hangs in loose waves, she looks more California surfer girl than rich bitch.
She’s the only person at this event standing by herself. She’s holding a glass in one hand, perfectly poised and put together but slouched like she’s given up any pretense of pretending to have a good time.
“She’s hot. Hot enough I’d let her be my sugar momma,” Clark, one of the guys standing nearby, says as he steps into our conversation.
“I’d give twenty bucks to see you try,” Mario says with a shake of his head.
Clark tips his beer to Mario’s and clinks the bottles together. “You’re on.”
