“Open your eyes, Alexa. Hunter Cash is hot. He's like the next biggest billionaire or something like that.” It almost feels like I’m being disciplined by a teacher. “I'm sure if you ask Will or even Dad, he'd know who he is.”
“Yeah, sure, I'll ask Dad,” I mumble.
Ava pulls River out of her chair, wiping her down quickly.
“Back to my room. This changes everything.”
Once again, we’re standing inside her closet, but this time Ava pulls clothes off the rack and forces me to take them. With Hunter suddenly in the picture, everything is low-cut or short. I don’t exactly have big breasts, yet Ava made sure all the blouses and bodysuits have low cleavage.
“I don't know what you're trying to do,” I say while eyeing a lacy top that is not professional. “But I'm not going to dress slutty just because he's hot.”
“So, you admit it?”
“I never denied it,” I mutter, annoyed with her and desperate to leave. “Look, I want to make an impression and keep the job so I can earn some money to make it on my own. Not everyone was born with a silver spoon in their mouth to which they gladly eat from.”
Ava places her hand on her hip, annoyed at my analogy. As far as she's concerned, her success isallher.
But we all know the Edwards name can get you places, no matter whether you want it to or not.
My arm is weighted down by all the clothes Ava has added. “I think there’s plenty for me to choose from. Just one more favor?”
“What?” she questions impatiently.
I put on my biggest smile. “A ride home, pretty please.”
* * *
On the twenty-minute car ride home, Eric calls Ava with an emergency. When he says anything is an emergency or even crisis, it’s never life or death.
It turns out that when his dog walker was walking his dog, she stopped to chat with another dog walker. The dogs basically had sex while they were gossiping about something, and now Eric’s dog is knocked up. The other dog’s owner happens to be a long-lost ex of Eric’s, and shit has hit the fan in his house over custody of the puppies.
I couldn’t make this stuff up even if I tried.
Ava eventually gets him off the phone when we turn into the street of April's property.
At the front gates, I see a familiar car. On closer inspection, I notice it’s mine.What the hell?Mom steps out of the car, looking tired. Ava stops the car near the gates, allowing me to get out.
“Mom, what are you doing here with my car?”
She moves closer to me, dropping her eyes to the ground before raising them to meet mine. Standing so close to her, I can see they’re red with dark circles around them. My stomach begins to churn, thinking of how much I’m hurting her. Something I always oversee when I’m so angry with my father.
“Alexa,” she manages, keeping her voice low, “I don’t ask for much. I never ask for much. But please, this time, I’m asking you to think of me.”
“Mom, I—”
She hands out the keys to my car. “I need to know you are safe. Please take your car back. I know this was a gift from your father and me, but I’m asking you to please understand how much I worry about you. I’m not sleeping, Alexa. You’re my baby, and if anything happens to you …” She trails off, choking on her words.
It’s time for me to stop being selfish, not if it means I’m hurting her.
“Mom,” I whisper. “I don’t like seeing you like this.”
“Then please, take your car back. This is not the safest of cities, and I just want to know you have at least this basic necessity.”
She’s still holding out the keys, which I stare at for the longest of times. I may have told my father this wasn’t my battle, but it’s not Mom’s either.
“Okay, Mom,” I say faintly as I take the keys off her. “Thank you.”
Her pained eyes meet mine, followed by a relieved smile. She doesn’t hug me or offer any other affection, turning her back to walk to Ava’s car.