“I have to go watch you andher? How would you like it?”
“I can’t believe you. You’re fucking him again, and you’re so fucking ashamed that you’re making it my fault. You made your choice. I told you already what that meant. Your daughter is in her best friend’s wedding. Grow up and suck it up. I’ve been living with you for years while you’ve been banging some douche behind my back, Ash. I’m giving you a chance to be the mom they need—”
“I’m not Katherine, Lucas!”
I’m so damn thankful that Logan is at a friend’s house, because I want to kill the bitch.
“Shut the fuck up, Ashley. Because the way I see it, you’re no different than she is. Where were you for Ava’s prom, Ash?”
“Not in a rehab.”
I throw the beer bottle at the fucking wall, and she jumps. “Fuck you!”
I walk out the door and slam it behind me, jump in my SUV, and drive around for an hour. Because no, I can’t kill her. No, I don’t want to. And no, the urge to throw her ass out isn’t lessening. I’m pissed. Beyond pissed. She’s playing on a childhood insecurity.
My mom was no fucking prize, but things have changed. She has changed. She and my stepfather, Bob, are good. She has been sober for years, and she was fucking there to take pictures of Ava at prom. Ash was not.
Logan calls and says he’s staying at his friend’s. I turn around and drive by to make sure he’s where he says he was going to be. He is, and so are four other cars. I’ll be checking again later to make sure he stays put.
I drive past our place, hoping she has left, but she hasn’t, so I drive over to Ryan and Jade’s, who bought their house from me. It’s my childhood home. It’s also the place Tessa lost her virginity … to me.
When I knock on the door, Tessa answers.
Now, old Lucas would be making a phone call, hooking up with someone to fuck the frustration out on. Old Lucas still lives deep inside, so fuck yeah, I’m probably looking at her a little differently than I was earlier.
She steps back. “Come in.”
“Ryan around?”
“Yep.”
I start to walk by, and she grabs my arm, stopping me.
“You all right?”
“Yeah, fine. Why?” I laugh, making it look good.
“You sure?”
“I’m good, Tessa. Come on, girl. Shut that door. It’s cold out there.” I look toward my house. “Real cold.”
“What’s up?” Ryan asks as he walks into the kitchen.
“Saw the light on; thought I’d stop by. Sorry if I’m interrupting.”
He hands me a beer.
“Perfect.”
“No, you’re not interrupting, Lucas. Come on in. We’re just putting labels on the wine bottles for the reception.” Jade smiles knowingly at me.
Jade and Ryan know everyday things about what’s going on, and Jade has been asking me where I have been the couple times I disappeared. I never tell her. This is mine to deal with. I don’t need any help or hindrance.
I shrug off my jacket, ready to dive into helping my friend,Tessa. She and Jade are sort of helping. They are actually drinking. By the looks of them, they have been. Tessa has the perma pout going on, the one that holds back a smile that plays just beneath her pink lips. Her eyes are lit up and not sparkling. I mean, lit the fuck up. So are Jade’s, but she’s grinning.
I look at Ryan, who shakes his head.
“Been a long night, Ryan?”