first place. But if I did, I’d go to one close by so I can be here for Cole and Bianca.” He shrugs. “I was planning on getting an apartment after graduation with the money I made from Z.I. anyway. And if I’m not taking classes, I’ll have time to develop and sell more games.”
Pride swells in my chest. “You sold a game? That’s awesome.”
His eyes light up. “Zombie Island. Well, that’s what the company who bought it renamed it. Originally, I called it Zombie Nightmare.”
“Zombie Nightmare is way cooler.”
“Right?” He makes a face. “They wanted to market to younger kids though, so I had to change some things and…” He shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. Point is, I don’t have to go to college in order to make something of myself.”
“No, you don’t. Not unless you want to. I mean, I’m going so I can have a business degree under my belt—”
“Not a bad idea,” he interjects. “That way when you start your record label, you won’t need to hire a bunch of schmucks who will take you for a ride and run it into the ground.”
“Exactly.” I chew my thumbnail. “Although it will take a lot more than a business degree to get the ball rolling. I still have to find bands—good bands—that will trust me enough to put their dreams in my hands. Plus, with my dad in jail and the authorities sequestering every dime from his bank accounts, I have to find a way…” I suck in a breath. “I’m getting ahead of myself.”
Just the thought of everything I’ll need to do soon makes my head spin. Not to mention the fact that I’ll be so broke, ramen will be a splurge.
But where there’s a will there’s a way, and I’m determined to make it happen.
“I still can’t believe he’s in jail.” Disapproval lines his face. “I’m guessing Savannah might’ve had something to do with it?”
Does a bear shit in the woods? “Yup. However, she managed to get off scot-free by claiming she was an innocent young wife who didn’t know a thing.” Anger plows through me and I sit up. “Meanwhile, she was the one who got him the job in the first place. The CEO was her friend’s husband. And with the way she kept pushing him for more money after we moved—there’s no way it wasn’t part of her big plan from the get-go.”
“What a bitch,” Jace grinds out. “But with her out of the picture now, your relationship with your dad must be better.”
“Not really.” I avert my gaze because what I’m about to say will no doubt make me sound like a heartless bitch. “I still can’t bring myself to answer his phone calls or visit him.”
“Oh.” There’s surprise, but not a hint of judgment. “Why not?”
“Because I’m angry,” I say, swallowing the lump building in my throat. “I guess it’s my way of punishing him for forgetting about my mom and choosing Savannah over me.” I close my eyes. “Jesus, how fucked up is that?”
“No, I get it.” Swiftly, he withdraws inside of himself again, that cold demeanor firmly back in place. “There are some things you can’t forgive.” The look he gives me slices right through my heart. “No matter how much time has passed.”
I can’t take it anymore. I feel like a blind person trying to dismantle a bomb. “Wh—”
“Don’t.” His gaze sharpens. “Drive me home.”
With a nod, I push a button and adjust my seat. The one thing I didn’t want to do was ruin his birthday, and of course that’s exactly what I ended up doing.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper as a bolt of lightning illuminates the sky and the rain comes down harder. “But it’s killing me—”
“Good.” His tone is clipped, lethal. “Now you know how it feels.”
Frustrated, I slam my hand against the steering wheel. “I don’t want to fight with you.”
“And I didn’t want to ever see you again, yet here we fucking are.”
Jesus. No matter what I say or do, he’s determined to make me pay. I need him to get the fuck over his resentment and realize I’m not his enemy.
I know he wants to go home, but I’m the one with the keys. Which means I still have time to get through all his layers of stubborn.
I glance at the clock on the dash. It’s a little after two a.m.
“Technically it’s still your birthday in Hawaii.” Shifting in my seat, I look at him. “If you could have one thing for