“You have your dad’s confidence and self-belief,” she says, gently cupping my cheek. “Nothing ever fazed him either.”
“You have self-confidence and belief too,” I reassure her, because you don’t build a multimillion-dollar business from the ground up without those qualities.
“I didn’t possess those traits at your age. I’m not sure I’d have been capable of enduring what you’ve endured these past few months.” She reels me into a hug. “I’m proud of you, honey.”
I ease out of her arms, staring at her with my mouth trailing the tile floor. “You’re proud of me for making a sex tape?”
“That’s not what I meant.” She sighs, tucking my hair behind my ears. “I’m not pleased my little girl had a foursome with three guys, but I’m more enraged that those assholes recorded it without your knowledge and then enabled that scumbag to distribute it to everyone at school. I still think we should have sued them.”
I gave Mom scant details on purpose. She knows the tape exists. That I had consensual sex but wasn’t aware it was being recorded. I didn’t tell her the guys were The Sainthood, and I didn’t tell her the scumbag who shared it online was my scumbag ex. I know she won’t watch it, and she’s better off not knowing the truth.
Although, if she knew, she’d understand better.
You don’t sue The Sainthood and live to tell the tale.
Dad always said we had to protect Mom, and that hasn’t ended just because he’s no longer here to fulfil his part of the bargain.
I love my mom, and I’m always going to look out for her.
She’s a big part of the reason why I’m not letting it go.
The other is the fact I’m hurtling toward a destiny I don’t want and the only way to halt it is to act first.
I need to keep her safe, and unraveling the truth is the only way to ensure it.
Dad is gone, but the mission isn’t over. Not even close to it.
“I’m not having my sex life hauled through the courts or being forced to sit in some lawyer’s office, facing any of those assholes, while pricks in suits pick my character apart. And it would’ve only prolonged the whole situation. It’s died down now, and we got it removed from the internet,” I say, purely to appease her.
I’m not naïve. Once it’s out there, it’s accessible forever and ever. Just talk to Kim K. Although, at least, she found a way of profiting from it.
I know tons of guys must’ve downloaded it and are probably regularly jerking off to it, but there isn’t anything I can do about that now, so I refuse to lose sleep over it.
What’s more upsetting is the number of guys hitting on me now. The suggestive comments from the guys, and the slurs from the girls, roll over my head like water falling over a cliff’s edge, but being pawed at, stared at, messaged at all hours of the day and night, and followed around the school halls pisses me off to no end.
So, no, I’m not sorry to be leaving my snobby academy school behind.
Although, I’m under no illusions. I know my rep precedes me at Lowell High, but Sariah and Sean have been working on damage control, and I’m hoping it won’t be as bad there.
Even if it is, I’ve only got to survive another ten months before I can wave sayonara to this shithole town.
“You’re probably right.” She glances at the clock. “You should go. You don’t want to be late your first day.”
I grab my Prada backpack from the table and snatch up my jacket.
“You’re sure you want to wear that?” Mom asks, and I know I’m offending her uber-feminine proclivities with my tight ripped jeans, scuffed boots, and off-the-shoulder sweater complete with battered leather jacket.
“Yep,” I say, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl. I tuck it in the front pocket of my bag. “It’s great not having to wear that stuffy uniform.”
Her tongue darts out, and she wets her lightly glossed lips. “Well, have a good day, and let’s talk when you come home.”
_______________
I swing by Sariah’s grandma’s place fifteen minutes later to pick her up. “Oh, boy,” she says, buckling her seat belt. “Rocking up in this car is just asking for trouble.”
“They can bite me.” I shrug, easing my SUV back out onto the road.
I’m not changing who I am to fit in, and this car was the last gift from my father. I remember how adamant he was that I drive this and not the Gran Turismo Sport that’s my favorite of his flashy cars.
She throws back her head, laughing. “Have I told you how cool it is that you go to my school now?”
I grin as I honk my horn at two asshats crossing the road directly in front of me, as if there isn’t a car waiting to mow them down. “Maybe once or a thousand times.”
Her azure eyes pin mine in place. “Seriously, though. I’m so fucking excited for senior year now, and that’s all thanks to you.”
“I’m sure a certain six-foot-four football player has something to do with it too,” I tease.
“To be honest, I wish Sean didn’t go to Lowell High. It’d make things easier.”
“Hey.” I reach out and squeeze her knee. “If any of those cheerleaders even look funny at you this year, they’ll have me to answer to.”
Sariah and Sean started dating a year ago, much to the disgust of the cheerleading squad, and most of Sean’s teammates, according to my bestie. A few of the girls threatened her, and when that didn’t work, they resorted to pushing her around. But my girl knows how to defend herself.
We’ve both been attending kickboxing classes downtown for the past two years. I only started attending so I had an explanation for my defensive skills. But it’s come to mean so much more to me. The classes keep me fit, and they help to alleviate stress. It’s also how I met Sariah, and we became instant best friends.
Still, no amount of skill can help if it’s ten on one, and Sariah’s taken a few beatings. She’s a loner, like me, so she had no one to back her up. At least now, I’ll be there. And it’s not like I need much incentive to get involved. The pent-up rage inside me has grown even worse since Dad died. Now, I’m constantly battling a wild inferno that blazes out of control inside me, and I grasp any opportunity to uncage the beast with both hands.
“I have a feeling they have a new target this year.” We share a look.
“How bad is it?” I ask.
“You’re all anyone is talking about. I’ve heard the usual bullshit from the guys, and the girls’ claws are already drawn. Sean has spread the word around, but he’s not sure if it’s enough.”
“If he couldn’t keep the bottom-feeders away from his beloved girlfriend, I doubt he’s had any more success defending me, but I appreciate he tried.” I squeeze her knee again. “Don’t worry. I know how to take care of myself. It’ll be cool.”
“Watch out for Parker Brooks,” Sariah warns as I take the turn that will lead us to the school.
“She’s the reigning queen bee, right?” I signal and pull off onto the road.
“Yes, and she’s also dating Finn Houston. He leads the crew that controls Lowell High.”