Hate me

Aspen

“So,” my mother a

Despite no one looking up from their plates, she continues to prattle on.

“I’m going to rent a few long tables and set them up outside on the patio. I’ve hired an excellent catering company, as well as a company that’s going to transform the backyard into a beautiful extravagant oasis while we dine. We’ll even have a dance floor and a DJ after di

“Sounds boring,” Trent says as he shoves another piece of steak into his mouth. “And expensive.” 

She tries hard not to show it, but it’s clear his comment struck a nerve.

“I think it sounds nice,” I mumble, throwing her a bone. “I’ll be around that day if you need any help.” 

Ignoring me, she turns to Knox. “Knox, what do you think about the party?” 

He shrugs, not looking the least bit interested. “Whatever.” He looks at his father. “Do I have to go?” 

Not missing a beat, Trent wipes his mouth with a napkin and answers. “Yes.” 

He looks at my mom. “Well, in that case, I think it sucks.”

“Watch your mouth, young man,” his dad scolds.

“May I be excused?” 

Trent takes a sip of his drink. “Excused for what?” 

“I’m hanging out with Shadow.” 

Seriously? It’s barely been twenty-four hours since she declared they were over.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with her lately,” his dad notes. “What exactly do you two do while you’re together?” 

It takes everything in me not to cover my ears. 

Knox pushes some food around his plate. “Study, watch movies…”

Fuck and fight. 

Trent clutches his fork so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t bend in half. “Well, all this supposed studying isn’t paying off since you only received a C on your last math test.” 

In all fairness, that test was hard. Even I got two questions wrong and Math is my best subject. It’s like Mrs. Monsen specifically went out of her way to choose the hardest problems known to man. The fact Knox got a C when most people bombed is awesome. 

“No one did well on that test,” I mutter, scooping some mashed potatoes on my fork. 

He turns his irritated glare on me. “What grade did you receive?” 

“Ninety-four.” 

Trent slams his hand on the table, startling my mother. “See? If your sister can manage to get an A, why can’t you?” 

“She’s not my sister.” Knox gets out of his chair with so much force it tips backward. “But she is a brainiac who can solve math problems in her sleep.” 

“Where do you think you’re going, young man?” Trent sneers when Knox stalks out of the kitchen. 

“Out,” is his only response before the front door slams shut. 

My mother looks around anxiously. “I need to make a phone call.” 

An uncomfortable silence falls over the room after she leaves.

I quickly grab my dish and head for the sink. 

“I know you probably think I’m too hard on him,” Trent begins. 

I scrape the remaining food off my plate into the garbage bin before putting it in the sink. “Your relationship with your son is really none of my business.” I can’t help but add, “That test was difficult, though. Only five people in the class passed, and he was one of them.” 

Heaving a sigh, he rises from the table and walks over to me. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my son isn’t right in the head.” His nostrils flare on an indrawn breath. “Ever since his mother’s death he’s been battling with a lot of mental issues, and it’s my job to keep him in line and make sure they don’t…get out of hand.” 

I don’t like the weird turn this conversation has taken, so I shoot my gaze to the clock on the wall behind him. “I’m supposed to meet Violet.” 

His eyes narrow. “You’ve been studying with her a lot.” 

“Studying got me a ninety-four on that exam,” I point out. 

He laughs, but it’s devoid of humor. “Right.” 

I start to leave, but he grabs my wrist. “My brother tells me Trenton has been bothering you.” 

Fucking hell. I told Leo not to say anything. 

“That’s not true.” 

He tenses and I can practically see the indignation rippling through him. “Are you calling my brother a liar?” 

“No,” I state, because I’m now caught in a catch twenty-two and I have no idea how to get out of it. 

“So my son is bothering you?” 

“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I settle on. 

I motion for him to let go of my wrist, but he doesn’t. 

“I want you to come straight to me when that happens so I can take care of it. I don’t like the thought of you feeling uncomfortable while you’re here.” 

I want to point out that I’m feeling pretty uncomfortable right now, but my brain snags on the other half of his statement. 

While I’m here. 

Like my stay will be temporary. 

“Sure thing,” I grit through my teeth because I just want this conversation to be over. 

I nearly jump out of my skin when he runs his free hand down my cheek. “Good girl.”

A rush of uneasiness wells up inside me, but I can’t focus on that because someone clears their throat. 

When I turn my head, I see Knox standing there. 

Briefly, his gaze flicks to his dad’s hand on my cheek before he walks over to the counter. 

“Sorry to interrupt.” He plucks his keys off the counter. “Forgot my keys.” 

With that, he storms back out.

“Can I go now?” I ask, motioning to the wrist that my stepfather’s hand is still tightly wrapped around. 

The wrist that wasn’t visible to Knox. 

“Of course,” Trent says, finally releasing his hold. 

I’m so exhausted after my shift at the Bashful Beaver, I can barely see straight. If it weren’t for Leo pressing me to meet him for a quick screw in his car, I would have gone straight home and into bed. 

I try to suppress my yawn as he drives down my block, but it slips out anyway. 

“Maybe you should stop studying with Violet so late,” he remarks, pulling to a stop in front of the house. 

“I can’t.” I need the money. “You know how important getting into a good college is to me and the only way I can pay for it is to get a scholarship.” 

Or take my clothes off for men twice my age. 

A resigned sigh leaves him as he turns toward me. “I told you I’d help pay for college.” 

Shaking my head, I reach for my school bag containing my stripper shoes. “I don’t want your money.” 

“I know. You don’t want my money. You don’t want my help. And as of late, you don’t even want to text me words containing more than one syllable.” His jaw works. “So apart from the thing in my pants, what exactly do you want from me?” 

I’m not sure what he means. “I don’t—”

“Goddammit, Aspen. Don’t play dumb.” 

“I’m not,” I snap. “Just stop skirting around whatever your problem is and spit it out.”

“Why have you been acting so distant?” His brows furrow. “Is it someone else? Is that who you’ve been sneaking off to see instead of this Violet girl?” 

It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. “Are you serious? I barely have time to see you, let alone another guy.” 

His expression softens. “Well, if it’s not someone else, then why the sudden distance?” 

Oh, for fuck’s sake. He literally came inside me ten minutes ago. 

“There’s no distance, Leo,” I assure him. “I’ve just been busy.”