“I didn’t say that.” I try to smile. Right now, I don’t need any shit from him or anyone else, so I’ll play nice. If I don’t, I’m afraid I’ll break down, and that’s the last thing I want to do in front of Zac or Rob or anyone else for that matter.
“Do you ever go home to visit your parents?” he asks.
I furrow my brow. “Why are you asking me that?”
“I noticed you didn’t stay on campus when we had that break.”
“You did, huh? Why didn’t you visit your parents?”
He scowls.
I lift my eyebrows. “You have issues with your parents, too, huh?”
“You bet your ass I do.”
“I’m not betting my ass or anything else,” I mutter.
“No, I don’t visit my parents. I haven’t seen them since I was…” He rubs his throat. “I was ten, I think, the last time I saw them.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t even know the specifics.” He shrugs. “But they basically abandoned me. Just upped and left.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yep. Fun times.”
“I’m sorry.”
He grunts. “You actually sound like you mean that. Most people say that when they find out, but they don’t really mean it.”
“You tell a lot of people about them?” I ask, surprised.
“Why not? It’s the truth. My parents are terrible wastes of space. I’m not going to sugar coat it.”
“You shouldn’t feel the need to, but you have to have a guardian, right? You were only ten…”
“I’m well past ten now,” he says dryly. “I don’t need a guardian.”
“Just like you don’t need anyone.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I have my friends. I don’t need people who are related to me through blood and will just disappoint me like my parents did in my life. No thanks. I’ll decide who I spend my time with.”
“Ah, so I should count my lucky stars, huh?”
Zac smirks. “Maybe you should.”
“Hmm.” I stroke my chin and glance upward. The day has somehow wasted away, but the sky isn’t dark enough for any stars to be visible yet. “I don’t see a single one.”
“Maybe I’m you’re shining star,” he jokes.
My smile is actually genuine, which makes me feel guilty because of everything with my mom. I really should try to call her again.
“You aren’t too terrible when you’re by yourself,” I murmur.
“Isn’t that a miracle?”
“It really is,” I tease.