friend,” I answer through clenched teeth.
“You’ve lied to me before.”
Maybe it was too good to be true that they were all so forgiving when they learned about the lies I told to keep the family secrets. “You did not just go there, Riss.”
“Yeah, I went there.”
I shove myself to my feet, glaring at her. “I shouldn’t have to explain myself to you, of all people.”
“Better me than Jason.”
“There’s nothing to fucking tell.” I grab mine and Mike’s drinks and go outside. I breathe through the fury, trying to expel it with each exhale.
We’ve never had a low point before. Being accused of cheating and using my past against me is definitely near the bottom. I can’t believe she did it. I don’t know if she’s jealous that I have a friend outside our little circle, or if she’s mad about something else and using this as an excuse to express it.
Mike, Jason, and Andrew sit near the grill.
I hand Mike his glass. He takes a drink and hands it back to me. “Thank you, honey.”
I set our glasses on the low table behind Jason and force a smile. “You’re welcome.”
Jason stands and leads me across the yard. “What’s wrong?”
“Riss and I got into a fight.”
“What? You two never fight.”
“She thinks there’s something going on between me and Hunter. But there isn’t. I swear there isn’t.”
“I know, Parker.” He caresses my arms as he always does when reassuring me. “I know how close you two are. I’ve seen the hand squeezes and little touches. But I know Hunter and I know you. I trust you.”
“Think you could tell Riss that?”
“Definitely.” He presses his warm lips to my forehead.
I should be happy, but my mother’s threat and the fight with Arissa are under my skin. I need to process this. “I’ll be back,” I say, climbing off Jason’s lap.
“You okay?” Jason asks.
I squeeze his shoulder. “Yeah. I just need to do something.”
I step inside and everyone is still buzzing around the kitchen. I go straight to my room, picking up the phone on my nightstand.
“Sam Close,” she answers.
“Sam, it’s Sara.”
“Hi, Sara. How is the trial going?” she asks.
“It’s over.”
“I thought it just started yesterday.”
“It did. She attacked me yesterday and today during the lunch recess she changed her plea to guilty.”
“That’s great, Sara!”
“It is. Do you have an opening this week at all? I really want to come in and talk to you.”
“I had a cancellation for tomorrow. Two o’clock is open.”
“Great. I’ll be there.”
“I’ll see you then.”
Andrew and Mike are in their seats and Jason mans the grill. They laugh with abandon as if every day of our lives is this moment.
Jason arches a questioning brow at me.
“Can you take me to Sam’s tomorrow at two?” I ask him.
“Sure, Parker.”
“Everything all right, sweetheart?” Andrew asks.
“Yeah. I just want to process through the last couple of days with her.”
I know with my parents serving time I am safe. Victoria would have to actively seek me out to harm me if she wanted to. Yet, the fear is the rip current waiting to snag me; always changing direction to make me adjust my escape, exhausting me.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
“I know it’s over, but it just doesn’t feel that way. Her threat really got under my skin,” I tell Sam after detailing the trial and my mother’s attack.
“Is this something you should be worrying about today?”
“Probably not.”
“And the Jerichos’ lawyer already filed a restraining order on Victoria, right?”
“Yes, but the fear is still there, Sam.”
“The fear will always be there, Sara,” she reminds me. “Hopefully to a lesser degree as the years pass, but you already know how to manage it so you can live without it taking over. I feel like there is something else bothering you.”
“What do I do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know what I want to do with the rest of my life.” I spent my life trying to make it from one day to the next without being beaten to death. I’ve never thought about a future. I never thought I’d have one.
“You don’t have to figure it out now. Or even tomorrow. Go to college or don’t go. There is no rule that states if you do go, you have to go right after high school.”
I drop my back against the chair.
“What about this fight with Arissa?” she asks.
We haven’t talked since the fight yesterday. Her accusation still stings. “She’s reading too much into what she sees.”
“Is she?”
I bristle at the question. “How can you ask me that?”
“I’m asking