Hate me

Aspen

“Can we get you anything to drink?” Detective Phillips—or is it Detective Avery?—asks. 

I shake my head. “No, thank you.” 

They’ve already grilled me relentlessly about my whereabouts after they showed up at the house three days ago, but apparently, they aren’t quite through with me just yet. 

“I know this isn’t easy for you, Aspen, but we have a few more questions for you.”

“Okay.”

“What was your relationship like with your mother?” 

I force myself to remain calm. “Well, Detective Phillips—” 

“Avery,” he corrects. 

Fuck.

“Sorry.” 

He takes a sip of his coffee. “Please continue.” 

“We had our fights like every teenage daughter and mother do.” I look down at the table as I process Detective Avery’s question. Knox told me to stay as close to the truth as possible, but it’s a lot harder than I thought. “We weren’t close. But the older I get, the more I realize we’re a lot more alike than I thought.” 

Detective Phillips leans in. “How so?” 

“Well, I pride myself on getting good grades and doing well in school. And my mother…she was—” I close my eyes. “I’m sorry. Talking about her in the past tense like this… it just…hurts.” 

Actually, it doesn’t because she’s always been a past-tense presence in my life. 

Detective Avery gives me a sympathetic smile. “Understandable. But please, go on.” 

“My mother was a people pleaser. She always cared what others thought about her, always wanted to impress everyone.” I shrug. “I guess I inherited a little of that from her.” 

They both exchange a glance. 

Detective Phillips clears his throat. “Did you know your mother was having an affair?” 

I shake my head. “No. Although, my uncle Leo—” I pause for dramatic effect as my stomach knots with anger. “I’m sorry. Leo was my dad’s best friend, and I’ve known him since I was a child. I’ve always referred to him as my uncle.” 

They nod. 

Phillips taps his pen against his notepad, growing impatient. “As you were saying?” 

“After my dad died, Leo and my mother grew closer. I thought nothing of it. Especially since she married his brother.” 

“How was your relationship with your stepfather?” Detective Avery cuts in. 

“Complicated,” I settle on because Knox told me to stay as close to the truth as possible. 

Avery raises a brow. “How so?” 

“Well,” I begin, looking them in the eyes. “She married Trent shortly after my father died. I guess you could say there was a little resentment on my part.” Swallowing, I look down at the table again. “As far as Trent goes, he was a little…cold. I figured it was because he was a cop.” I quickly glance up, as though I accidentally misspoke. “No offense.” 

Avery’s lips twitch a little as he and his partner exchange an amused look. “None taken.” 

I take a breath, hating the next words out of my mouth. “But he was protective, and he was a provider. He offered numerous times to get me a car, but I declined.” 

Phillips stops writing. “Why?” 

I give them complete honesty. “I didn’t want him buying me…like my mother.” 

Avery’s lips form a thin line as he takes this in. “Can you expand on that?” 

A frustrated sigh leaves me. “It feels wrong speaking badly about her when she’s gone.” A tear falls down my cheek. “She didn’t always do the right thing…but she was still my mom, you know?” 

Phillips’ eyes fill with sympathy. “I know this is very difficult for you, but we need you to tell us everything you know.” 

I brush my damp cheeks with the sleeve of my shirt. “We were broke right after my dad died. Leo gave us money here and there to help, but it wasn’t enough.” Because she didn’t use it to pay the bills like she should have. “But then she started seeing Trent.” My shoulders slump. “She once confessed that she married him so we could have a better life.” 

They exchange another glance. “I see.” 

Detective Avery scribbles something on his notepad. “You said you were at the senior prom the night of the murders. Is that correct?” 

It takes everything in me not to scream. For fuck’s sake, I was still in my prom dress when they showed up. 

“Yes.” 

Avery brings the end of his pen to his mouth. “Did you stay until the end?” 

Oh, boy. Here we go. 

I feign embarrassment, like I’m hiding a secret. Knox told me this was the best approach to take because it would make me seem more honest. 

Besides, they already know the truth. 

“No…I wasn’t.” 

Phillips leans back in his seat, his gaze scrutinizing. “Why is that?” 

“Because I left with my stepbrother, Knox.”

Avery brings his coffee cup to his lips. “There are reports of you two dancing and sharing a kiss on the dance floor before you left. Is this true?”

“Yes.” 

“What happened right after you left the prom?” 

I lick my dry lips. “We went into the backseat of his jeep.” 

Phillips's expression grows curious. “Why?” 

“So, we could hook up.” 

“Is that what happened?” Avery questions. 

“Yes.” I avert my gaze. “Kind of.” 

“Can you explain what you mean by that?” 

“We started fooling around…”

“Fooling around how?” 

My cheeks heat. “Seriously? What, do you need specifics?” 

“Yes,” Phillips deadpans. 

“His hand was under my dress and he was…fingering me.” 

Safe to say I have their undivided attention. 

“And then what happened?” 

“Knox wanted me to give him head before we had sex, but I complained that there wasn’t enough room and someone might spot us.” 

“How long have you and your stepbrother been hooking up?” Phillips questions, and I don’t miss the judgment in his tone. 

“A few weeks.” 

Avery rests his elbows on the desk between us. “When did it start?” 

“The first time was last month. We were fighting—like we always did—but then it kind of just…happened.” I curl my arms around myself. “And then it just kept happening.” 

“Back to prom night,” Avery says. “You stated you were afraid someone would spot you while you were in the backseat of his jeep. What happened after that?” 

“He suggested we go home and wait until our parents went to bed so we could screw in his bedroom like we always did but I…” I let my sentence trail off. 

“You what?” 

“I don’t know…I wanted more. I wanted him to take me someplace a little more…special.” Ashamed, I cover my face with my hands. “So, he took me to a motel.” 

“The Magic Motel,” Phillips says, and it’s clear he’s trying to hide his amusement. 

“That’s the one.” 

Detective Avery, however, keeps a straight face. “What happened while you were there?” 

“We had sex a few times—oral and intercourse—and then we took a shower together before we left.” 

They nod.

Phillips clears his throat before he speaks. “Were you afraid your parents might find out you were having sex with your stepbrother?” 

At that, I snort. “Not just my parents.” 

“Can you clarify what you mean?” 

“Knox is…not my type and not someone I can see myself being with long term. We’re complete opposites. But as far as our parents finding out about us…they probably wouldn’t have been thrilled with the idea, but it’s not like we were pla

“So you didn’t fear any repercussions from your parents?”