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Not only did I not save enough money, but I also couldn’t find it in me to do anything other than fall into this deep depression.
“Haven, come on!” Cove exclaimed in my kitchen. “Derrick is throwing his epic yearly party. Let’s go!”
I shook my head, doodling random stuff in my notebook.
She snatched it out and away from me.
“Hey!”
She sighed deeply, showing me the page. “How many times are you going to write Chase Hayes in your notebook? It’s like we’re back in middle school. You remember your obsession with Ryan Gosling?”
“The Notebook is one of the best movies ever made.”
“Yeah, if you’re looking to cry for three hours.”
“Cove…”
“Don’t Cove me, Haven Beckham. I’m trying to be the supportive best friend, but like how much longer do you plan on being—” she gestured at me “—this.”
“You know you can go to the party by yourself?”
“Rude.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just not in the mood to party.”
“Trust me, I’m fully aware. When’s the last time you washed your hair?”
I thought about it for a second. “I don’t remember.”
“When the last time you put on real clothes?”
I looked down at myself.
“This is real clothes.”
“You have literally been living the same sweatpants and hoodie for I don’t know how long.”
I shrugged. “I wash them.”
“This isn’t you.”
“Maybe it’s the new me.”
“No. This is moping you.”
“Why are you giving me shit?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she remarked sarcastically. “Probably since you’ve completely given up on life.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“Am I though? How many times are you going to look at that newspaper article?”
“Billy was murdered, Cove. By the same men the who almost attacked me if it weren’t for Hayes. I’m allowed to be affected by that.”
“They all got what they deserved.”
“I know, but I can’t stop thinking what could have happened to me had Hayes not shown up. I mean they’re capable of murder. What if—”
“They didn’t. You’re safe. Billy’s gone and they’re in prison. You could put it behind you now.”
“I can’t help but to wonder how Hayes is handling it?”
“I’m sure he’s probably celebrating.”
“Cove…”
“What?” She nodded. “Haven, don’t pretend like they had this lovey, dovey relationship.”
“He’s still his father.”
“So?”
“You’re being really insensitive.”
“No, I’m being realistic.”
“I’m just worried about him that’s all.”
The sound of my brother’s footsteps trampled through the house, making their way into the kitchen. I may have said a handful of words to them since the night they ruined my life.
Grabbing my notebook out of Cove’s hand, I was about to walk out of the kitchen and go to my bedroom, but Jace announced, “Teeny, you don’t have to haul ass anytime we enter the room.”
I glared at him.
“Enough with the death stares,” Reid demanded.
“Anything else you’d like to boss me around about?”
“For fuck’s sake,” Ledger breathed out. “How much longer are you going to give all your brothers the cold shoulder?”
“Not all my brothers, just you three.”
“You think because Alexander and Troy weren’t there, they didn’t agree with what we had to do?”
“I don’t really care what you think you had to do, Jace. You lost my respect the second you didn’t take into consideration what I wanted or how I felt about it. You didn’t give me a choice at all. You three made it for me. How fair is that?”
“Listen,” Ledger stated. “I’ll admit it wasn’t one of our finer moments, but can you put yourself in our shoes for one fucking second? Waking up to a phone call from the sheriff that your little sister is hanging out with the wrong crowd. Then come to find out, it’s the son of the woman who killed our mother. How do you expect us to react?”
“I’m sorry, Haven,” Cove chimed in. “But he’s kind of right.”
I gasped. “Whose side are you on?”
“Yours, always.”
“Really? Because it just sounded like you’re on theirs.”
“I’m not. The way they handled the situation was completely out of line, but I can understand why they overreacted in the way they did. I can imagine what it was like for them to find out you were at the jail yelling at everyone.”
“Cove, you’re not helping.”
Jace narrowed his eyes at her. It was obvious he was caught off guard with how levelheaded she was about what happened. I think he was mostly surprised she was defending them.
She called him out, “Don’t look at me like that, asshole. I still hate you.”
The amused expression on his face didn’t waver.
“All I’m saying is they’re your family and despite the outcome of what occurred, they were just trying to protect you.”
“And when does that stop?”
“Haven, as much as their a pain in the ass and trust me, they’re a huge pain in the ass, at least you have brothers who look out for you. My parents don’t give a shit about me and I’m the only child. They spend more time on their careers than they’ve ever been involved in my life. If it wasn’t for you and your family, I wouldn’t have anyone.” She pointed at Jace. “Except for you. I fucking hate you, but the rest of you.” She sweetly smiled. “I like all of you.”
