“You’re not to have anyone around.” She finally straightened and fixed me with a firm look. So, this was what was making her pause. She needed to lay down the law.
“That won’t be a problem.” There wasn’t a single soul in Devilbend I would consider a friend.
“I’m not messing around, Hendrix. I need a night to spend with my boyfriend, but leaving you alone makes me nervous. I won’t tolerate . . . insubordination.”
If I hadn’t felt like shit to my very core, her attempts at a firm reprimand would’ve been amusing. She was a petite woman with strawberry-blonde hair and a tasteful manicure. I had a foot and a hundred pounds on her. There wasn’t much she could do to make me do anything, which made the fact that she hadn’t had her boyfriend over to intimidate me even more perplexing. I admired her, really. She was taking me on all on her own. But she had nothing to worry about.
I’d spent the month since I’d arrived doing nothing but what she’d told me. She had only two rules, which she’d made crystal clear within half an hour of my arrival: maintain a B average, and stay out of trouble. The slightest hint of my breaking either rule would result in immediate removal from her home. I had no intention of letting her down.
We’d hardly spoken since then, but I’d been respectful, cleaned up after myself, gone to school, stayed out of her way. I was doing all I could to show her I was serious, but she still felt the need to remind me I was on thin ice every few days. As if she was worried I was just waiting for her to let her guard down so I could go back to being the douchebag I’d been before.
I’d avoided talking to her about it because I really didn’t want to discuss the reason I was here in the first place. But I needed to man up and say something. As frustrated as I was with the constant side-eye, I knew I deserved it, so I made sure my voice was calm, contrite even, as I leaned on the counter opposite her.
“Aunt Hannah, I know my being here isn’t easy for you. I don’t know what you discussed with Mom and Dad—they don’t really tell me anything—but I want you to know I’m not here because my parents made me. I want to be here. I want to be anywhere but . . . there, where it all happened and everyone looks at me like I’m a monster.” Because I am . . . fuck it. I swallowed and made myself own it. “I know it’s because I am. But I’m trying not to be. I’m really, really fucking sorry for what I did, and I promise I’m not interested in causing any trouble at all. Sorry for cursing.”
She straightened her shoulders, and her expression visibly softened as she scrutinized me for a few minutes. “I believe you. I don’t know if I would’ve handled the situation like your parents did, but I’m not your parent. But then, I guess you’re not your father either . . .” She looked to the side, lost in thoughts I suspected weren’t directly related to our current situation. “Anyway, I’m sorry if I’ve been a hard-ass. I’m just still trying to figure out how to navigate this.”
“It’s OK. I don’t want you to change your life on my account. Go out, spend time with Robbie. Have him over if that’s what you used to do. Just know I won’t cause any trouble. I can take care of myself, and as soon as school is over, I’ll be out of your hair. I’ll figure something out.”
“Tell you what, I’ll stop being such a bitch and be more relaxed if you promise to come to me if you need help with something or if you’re struggling. I agreed to this for many reasons, but I do want to be here for you, Hendrix. If I can.”
I had to clear my throat around the lump that had suddenly formed there. If my parents had, even once, made me feel as supported as this virtual stranger had, maybe things would’ve turned out differently. “Deal.”
“And I don’t think you’re a monster.” My gaze flew up to hers, the emotions flying around in my chest too many to process. “I think you made a mistake—a very bad one that you have to live