"No. I'm not." He lets out a sigh and then slams his phone down on his desk.
"Fuck! How did this even happen? How were we not notified?" He chokes out. I can hear the tears in his voice, even if they are visibly absent. His hurt runs deeper than the fact that his dad got out of prison. I feel like he is bottling it all up inside, and honestly, I'm scared of what the outcome will be when he implodes. I take a deep breath and turn his head to face me.
"Everything is going to be okay. Let's talk about what we are going to do about this."
He pushes me off his lap and stands in one motion.
"Wearen't going to do anything. I am going to figure this out, but you can't get involved in this, Blakely."
Just like that, Blakely falls off his lips, rather than his usual Blake, and I feel like a stranger.
CHAPTER 31
JUDSON
Sophomore Year, Duke University
"Jud, let's go! We gotta stop and get booze." My friend, Carter, yells as I shove all my books back down in my backpack. When I say friend, I mean lifeline, my boy since basically our first day here.
"Shhhhh! I know you don't come here much, but this is the library, you dumbass." He smirks and swags by the next table, winking at the ladies. He is such a flirt, probably the biggest ladies' man here, including all the upperclassmen. Which isn't hard to do when you have more money than God, well, when your family does. I'm not poor, but I also don't flaunt it and wear my money like Carter does.
We jump into his black Jeep and make our way to the frat house. We stop at the liquor store because neither Carter nor myself are beer men. We prefer whiskey. And even though I need to be at the library studying for exams next week, I am going to a party, for the 3rd time this week.
We pull in and jump out of the Jeep. It's like an instant swarm of flies around us. I have tried my absolute hardest to be invisible around here, but it's hard to do when your best friend is Carter Graham. Last summer was spent at his family's house in the Hamptons, and if you think he is popular here, you are mistaken. He is like a God there.
"Hey Carter, can I get you a drink." A brunette in daisy duke shorts brushes his arms and drawls. If there is one thing I like about school here, it's still in the south. I know for sure I want a southern girl. Probably not now, not here, but someday. All I want from my time here is sex, because well, I'm still a dude.
Carter raises the bottle of whiskey at her and shakes it back and forth, like, "No bitch, I have a drink." Sure the girls fall at his feet left and right, but he isn't nice to them.
She rolls her eyes and retreats back over to her friends. We spend most of the night doing shots and talking about our upcoming trip to the Virgin Islands after finals. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to take a look. It's an unknown number, so I let it go to voicemail, and take another swing of the bourbon in my hand.
My phone dings again. I pull it out, half expecting it to be Jay, my little brother since he's the only person who would text me this late since he is probably playing video games all night.
It's a voicemail, so I press play and hold it up to my ear.
"Judson, It's Dr. Baker. I need to reach you concerning your mom. Please call me. I can't get ahold of your father."
I press his number, wondering what could be so important that he calls me at 11:30 on a Thursday night.
"Dr. Baker, It's Judson. Is everything okay?" He takes a deep breath before responding.
"No, Judson, your mom's cancer has spread. She is refusing treatment, says she doesn't want to go through Chemo again. I thought maybe you would speak with her. I know she doesn't want anyone to know. You didn't know it was back, did you?"
I find myself feeling instantly sober as I reply, "No, I didn't. Does Dad know?"
"I would assume she hasn't told anyone, Judson. I think she is just depressed and wants to die. I know that sounds morbid, but maybe you could talk to her. I shouldn't even be telling you this, but technically you are listed on the release information paperwork."
I sigh, "Is she at the hospital?"
She told me she was going to the spa for the weekend, but obviously, that was a lie, and she is getting sicker.
"Yeah, she's here." I instantly feel the alcohol coming back up, burning my throat. I choke it down, barely, and decide on finding Dad and going straight to the hospital. Drunk or not.
I shut my flip phone and set out to find Carter. I bust through every upstairs room and finally find him, his dick buried deep inside a busty blonde.
"Carter. We have to go."
"Shit Judson! What is wrong with you? I'm a little busy, obviously."