Never His Girl (Kings of Cypress Prep #2) - Rachel Jonas Page 0,59
is all I say, seeing as how I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want the details.
“Infidelity is about the only sin my dad’s not guilty of,” she shares. “My mom’s the one who steps out. Way out. So far out she seems to have forgotten her way home this time.”
Southside lets out a humorless laugh before lowering her gaze to where she fidgets with the hem of her shorts.
“Sometimes, I think it’s the reason he drinks so much. Kind of like, it’s his way of numbing the pain of being so attached to someone who’s not nearly as devoted. When she’s here, they fight like cats and dogs, but when she’s gone, he’s never quite sure what to do with himself. So, he drinks more, passes out more. Sucks more,” she adds.
I’m fixated on her, on her story, wondering if she fears she’ll become one of her parents one day. That’s something I wrestle with all the time. Not wanting to be a total asshole like my father. Also, not wanting to be the doormat my mother’s turned into. Deep down, I know this fear is what’s turned me cold.
“I found something this summer,” I reveal. “Something I didn’t question at the time because I didn’t know the whole story, but I damn sure know Vin Golden.”
I watch her when I say his name, and she doesn’t even flinch, just holds my gaze as I speak. It adds to what I’ve started to believe over the past couple weeks—that she has no fucking idea who my father is, meaning he’s woven this entire story on his own.
But why?
Why lie and pretend to know her? Why lie and pretend she’s one of his side bitches just to keep me away?
When I reach for my phone, I feel Southside’s eyes on me. My hands are shaking like crazy, but I’m not changing my mind about what I plan to do next. Even with the possibility of her freaking out on me again.
I scroll to the pic I keep of her. The one that’s fueled untold anger that I aimed right in her direction, without question.
Her gaze follows when I stand and walk closer to hand over my phone.
And when I finally do… blank stare.
No words.
I lower back down to sit on the carpet, but closer this time, leaning against the bedpost. That’s probably a pretty stupid idea, since she’s known to punch me when I’m least expecting it.
“Where did you get this?” Her voice is quiet when she asks, as if she’s equal parts stunned and confused.
“My dad had it in his phone. Well, he had it in a secret phone he keeps locked in the safe in his study,” I clarify. “I found it before the school year started, after I saw you at the bonfire a couple months earlier.”
“And you thought—”
“I thought this was more evidence of Vin being Vin,” I cut in.
She’s quiet again, staring at the image on the screen.
“And you never thought to just fucking ask me?” she snaps.
When I peer up, I’m not surprised she’s furious now—red in the face, angry tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.
She shakes her head at me, disappointment marking her expression, and I feel like shit.
“It didn’t seem necessary, because I thought I knew everything I needed to know,” I admit.
She swipes at a tear and turns to look out her window, instead of looking at me or the naked image on the screen.
“A simple conversation, West. One conversation could’ve cleared all this up.”
I’m completely aware that this is how a normal person probably would’ve handled the situation. Instead, I saw the picture and saw an opportunity to right a wrong. Unfortunately, I never even took into consideration that Southside might be innocent in all this.
Which I’ll never let myself live down.
“This is bullshit,” she hisses, drawing her knees against her chest.
My gaze lowers when it becomes hard to look at her, knowing how royally I’ve fucked this whole thing up.
“For what it’s worth, I’ve never met your dick of a father,” she hisses. “Couldn’t pick him out in a damn crowd even if I wanted to.”
Feeling like shame has me in one hell of a chokehold, I nod. “I think I already realized that.”
I’ve done some pretty ugly shit to her, all in the name of revenge. Not realizing at the time that she didn’t even deserve it.
I peer up and she’s glaring at the photo again, concern marking her expression.