Page 137 of Say You'll Stay

“We have done everything in our power to do this nicely, Allison. Mr. Vandenburg and I have ensured you will be cared for. This isn’t some naïve scheme here. We have plans and priorities, dear, and you keep getting in the way. All you need to do is back off. What part of that don’t you understand?”

“I’ve done nothing to you. Why do you even care?”

Vivian sighs and shakes her head. “Because, doll face, just like we told Tom when he came sniffing around, we don’t need the trouble. My husband has his affairs, and just because he made one mistake with your mother doesn’t mean you need to tarnish his future and our family’s future. Your parents took the money, and this was a done deal. You are the one that got in the way when you got pregnant. Just like your mother.”

I didn’t know my mom well, and I only know what my dad tells me about her. What I heard today is that Mark is slimy, and he didn’t tell her he was married.

“You're the one that hit me, aren’t you?” I already know the answer. She’s the coldest one of them all. “You tried to kill me.”

Vivian shrugs. “Necessary maneuver. Couldn’t help Theodore drove a piece of shit tin can for a car back then.”

I swallow and stare at the door. “Why did you use Ted’s car?”

“In case you remembered,” she says with that same air of nonchalance. “In the event you both lived, and you remembered the car, it needed to be his. He agreed to it, and guess who fixed it, covering up all the evidence?”

My stomach drops. “You used Lucas’ dad to fix his car?” What a way to keep all of us close together, and under their thumbs.

Vivian shrugs again. “It doesn’t even matter. Now get up.” She steps forward, yanking me up to my feet. “Hand me your cell phone.”

She takes it from my pocket and shoves it into hers. I notice something, but Vivian shoves me out the front door. “Get in the car, Allison. I won’t hesitate to demonstrate on the kid first.”

Chapter54

Lucas

The first time I saw Allie, the words “good girl” may as well have been tattooed on her forehead. It was clear she didn’t fit in with the party scene. It’s not Allie. She was a nervous wreck when I cornered her in Kat’s kitchen. I could smell her nerves from across the room like perfume amusing all my senses.

She may have been wearing a dress that was too short and she looked damn good, but that’s not what sealed the deal for me. Those eyes held my attention first, but what stood out were Allie’s red cheeks, nervous laugh, the subconscious nibble on her lip. She was out of her element, unknowingly waiting for someone to take advantage of her. She was one timid snort away from passing out from embarrassment. It’s not like I wasn’t trying to throw her off. I needed to be in control so I could have her. I needed to make her comfortable enough to second guess walking away from me.

It worked, since we are where we are. One night that I am eternally grateful to have had shitty luck with Kat, and some sort of grace to have seen this girl pass by without noticing me.

None of that changes who Allie is at her core. It’s no surprise she’s instilled basic rules, and is raising Jadon to be like her—a good kid.

But Allie has a weakness. She has never been the best with her phone. The night we met, she walked around with the flashlight feature on, and didn’t realize it until she was getting out of my car. She’s not technologically deficient, but she doesn’t always pay attention to her phone. I suspect it’s just one of those things that isn’t important to her, which I respect.

There is a more recent incident revolving around the neglect of her phone. Specifically, not hanging up her phone and not muting herself when she means to. For today, I’m thankful she isn’t paying close attention to her phone to realize she never hung up on me. I noticed it this time when I heard her voice in my pocket while Tom and I left school.

Since we’ve been hurrying back to my house, I mentioned stopping by Ted’s to get the ring back. So long as I can hear Allie and Jadon are home safe—and not running away—I think we can afford a pit stop.

The oblivious Allie is on speaker while Tom and I listen on mute.

“And if someone tells you they know me and say it’s okay for you to go with them?” she asks Jadon. She’s given him every plausible scenario for the “stranger danger” talk. He gives her the practiced answers enough that it’s clearly drilled into his brain.

With enthusiasm, he shouts back at her. “I scream and run. If he chases me, I kick him in the shins! Then I punch him in the nuts so he knows he’s a loser!”

Tom snorts beside me. “You’re kidding me.”

“Damn straight, Tom. My boy won’t be picked on, picked up by a stranger, or any of that dumb shit.” I taught Jadon that last part, and Allie reversed that in ten seconds, correcting him from my devious ways. She told him to just run and hide or keep screaming until he finds an adult he knows.

It’s smart, sure, but at some point we’ll be teaching Jadon how to swiftly knock a fucker down and not run scared. If he keeps up with her solution to run from everything, Jadon will not grow. He needs to learn no one will push him around. Allie needs to give in to this one.

She already has him on the plant diet.

“You’re sure you want to head over to Ted’s?” Tom asks.

“Yeah, they’re almost home. I just need that ring back and he’s going to hand it over.” Whether it’s by force, or through his cold, dead fingers.

Tom grimaces, but makes a turn down a street halfway to my house.

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