Page 30 of Cruel Love

“Hi, honey. How are you feeling?”

There was an odd note in her voice, and I braced myself for whatever she was going to tell me. “Fine.”

“Good. Good. I have some bad news. Your father has been having some trouble at his job.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t think anything much. He hasn’t said what exactly, just that there are some issues. I wanted to let you know because he was so distant and I know you thought it had to do with you. It doesn’t. Just… give him the benefit of the doubt right now, okay?”

“Sure, Mom.” I let my head thunk back into the wall then tugged my comforter over my legs. It was too much to deal with. My mind spun from the night’s events, and I barely listened. By the time I hung up, I didn’t even remember the rest of the call. Unable to face more bad news, I kept my phone silent and burrowed under the blankets.

I was screwed, and I knew it had to do with Phoenix’s grandfather—who, for whatever reason, seemed to hate me especially after finding me there with his grandson after sex.

I had no idea what I was going to do. If the problems Dad was having would result in him losing his job, that would mean no more health insurance for me. And I had no idea how many thousands of dollars it would be to have a baby. The ultrasounds alone had to cost a fortune.

I spent the night tossing and turning, trying to come up with a solution. There was nothing. I was well and truly screwed.

When morning came, I went to classes like the zombie I was. After the last one, I skipped the meeting with his grandfather. What could we possibly have to talk about that would be positive? I suspected Max was right. It would be a whole lot of nothing.

I spent a few hours in my room, catching up on homework and trying to get through to Phoenix. I left another message. So far, we hadn’t been able to connect.

When a knock sounded at my door, I opened it without thinking then swore my life flashed before my eyes.

Phoenix’s grandfather stood in the hallway, his eyebrows lowered and pinched together over those cold, flat eyes.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

PHOENIX

Aspen still wasn’t answering any of my texts or calls, which had me worried. The way Grandad had talked about her and our baby… I couldn’t let go of it. I had to get ahead of any damage Grandad could do to the progress she and I had made and figure out what the fuck his problem was.

It was ridiculous that I couldn’t drive to see her. There were other options, though, and it was Friday, so Shane didn’t have classes and was home. The game was at home the next day, so he wasn’t traveling. He could take me to Aspen after we talked because he had some fessing up to do.

Mom and I had eaten breakfast together, and then she’d crashed, needing to sleep for third shift. Not long after she went to bed, I got out of the shower to find my brother playing video games in the family room. I dropped onto the couch next to him, waiting for him to reach a good point to pause as frustration beat in soft staccato against my temples. I wanted his full attention when I cornered him about his lies.

The minutes ticked by, and I checked my phone far too many times. Once his game ended, I grabbed the controller from his hand before he could start another.

“What the hell, man?” Angry blue eyes met mine.

I glared at my brother. We looked so alike but so different, and those differences weighed on me. “Why did you lie to me about working for Grandad?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You weren’t around the other night because you said you had work to do for him. I’ve already talked to Grandad. Stop lying to me.”

Shane turned so we faced each other on the couch, and his grimace made him look guilty as hell. “I am doing too much for Grandad, and it's hell. So if he told you otherwise, he’s full of shit. I don’t know what the deal is, but he’s extra demanding lately.”

“Get to the point.” I was losing my patience fast. “You’re my brother—my twin—and you’re keeping way too much shit from me. It’s not sitting right. You need to tell me what’s going on.”

“I know.” Something that sounded like resignation or even devastation replaced the anger and frustration in his voice. “You’ve been in recovery mode, and none of us wanted to do anything to set you back. And this… I know how you’ll react.”

“I know about Aspen and the baby. Do you see any problems resulting from that? I’m here. Not back in the hospital. Stop treating me like I can’t handle anything without having a relapse.”

“Did she tell you?” He clenched his fists and pressed them into the leather couch.

I narrowed my eyes at him. The tension between him and Aspen hadn’t escaped my notice—I noticed all of those little things they said or didn’t say. “No. Some chick named Jillian showed up and tried to feed me a bunch of lies.”

Shane’s laugh was dark. “She’s your stage-five clinger.”

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