You act like Grandma is going to lock you in a basement or something. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
“I’ll be so bored!”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh for fuck’s sake, Alesha.”
“Please, Carly, just let me stay. I promise I won’t get into any more trouble. I’ll work here with you as much as you want.”
I considered her puppy dog eyes for a moment, wondering if she was being serious or if her promise was another empty effort just to save her skin.
“Dad, already hates me,” she muttered, dropping her eyes to the ground. “If you call him and tell him I got drunk, he’ll ignore me for the rest of my life!”
My mouth dropped open, ready to argue with her, but her statement smacked me in the face. “You think Dad hates you?”
Alesha raised her stare and her eyes shifted back and forth sheepishly. She shrugged. “Feels like it sometimes…”
Her words disarmed my anger and a sick knot formed in my stomach. “Dad doesn’t hate you, Leash. You’re his princess. You always have been.”
She shook her head. “No, his whole world revolves around Kelli and work. I’m just some… thing he has to deal with. Do you know that he hasn’t even called me since I’ve been here?”
“No, I didn’t. But I’m sure he wants to,” the words came out automatically, like when a friend asks if her hair looks good. “Alesha, listen, I know it hasn’t been easy for you. Hell, it hasn’t exactly been a picnic for me either. But that’s why I’m so hard on you. Okay? I haven’t always handled things between Mom and Dad with a level head. And I don’t want you making the same mistakes I made.”
Alesha scoffed. “Of course. Let’s make it all about you again…”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I crossed my arms and glared at her.
“You always want to turn everything into some kind of life lesson. Like I’m going to end up in some trailer park with some loser guy just because Mom did it, and then you did it. I’m not you. Okay? I’m not going to fuck up my whole life for some guy!”
“Oh really? Then explain to me why ever since you’ve been here, all the drama has revolved around some guy ? First the guy at the airport. Then some surprise ex-boyfriend back home. Then shamelessly flirting with Nick, even though it’s completely inappropriate!”
“You’re just jealous.”
“Of what?”
“Me flirting with Nick.”
A laugh burst from my lips. “Jealous? That isn’t the word, Leash. Appalled. Embarrassed. Those words make more sense.”
“You just want me out of here so you can have him to yourself. I know you were out with him last night! I remember you were with him when you found me.”
“I’m shocked you remember, considering you were drunk off your ass and stumbling around so bad that you almost got run over!” My body trembled from the anger radiating through me. “You’re lucky we got there when we did!”
“Yeah, you’re my hero. Whatever.” Alesha started for the front door. “I’m out of here.”
“Where are you going?” I demanded, chasing after her with hurried steps.
“Why do you care? In twenty-four hours I’ll be someone else’s problem…”
“Because for now, you’re my problem!” I shouted, unable to keep my tone level.
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about me, Carly. If I end up just like you and Mom, I promise I won’t blame you.” She stormed out the front door and the heavy glass door whipped back in my face. I stopped it from bashing my face and hesitated, watching Alesha stalk across the parking lot.
I started to push forward, but then stopped short, and turned away from the door. It wasn’t worth chasing her down. She wasn’t going to listen to me. And, like she’d said, in twenty-four hours she’d be someone else’s problem.
I hadn’t called my dad yet, mostly because of the time difference, but after locking the front door and flipping the CLOSED sign around, I stomped back to my
“I’ll be so bored!”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh for fuck’s sake, Alesha.”
“Please, Carly, just let me stay. I promise I won’t get into any more trouble. I’ll work here with you as much as you want.”
I considered her puppy dog eyes for a moment, wondering if she was being serious or if her promise was another empty effort just to save her skin.
“Dad, already hates me,” she muttered, dropping her eyes to the ground. “If you call him and tell him I got drunk, he’ll ignore me for the rest of my life!”
My mouth dropped open, ready to argue with her, but her statement smacked me in the face. “You think Dad hates you?”
Alesha raised her stare and her eyes shifted back and forth sheepishly. She shrugged. “Feels like it sometimes…”
Her words disarmed my anger and a sick knot formed in my stomach. “Dad doesn’t hate you, Leash. You’re his princess. You always have been.”
She shook her head. “No, his whole world revolves around Kelli and work. I’m just some… thing he has to deal with. Do you know that he hasn’t even called me since I’ve been here?”
“No, I didn’t. But I’m sure he wants to,” the words came out automatically, like when a friend asks if her hair looks good. “Alesha, listen, I know it hasn’t been easy for you. Hell, it hasn’t exactly been a picnic for me either. But that’s why I’m so hard on you. Okay? I haven’t always handled things between Mom and Dad with a level head. And I don’t want you making the same mistakes I made.”
Alesha scoffed. “Of course. Let’s make it all about you again…”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I crossed my arms and glared at her.
“You always want to turn everything into some kind of life lesson. Like I’m going to end up in some trailer park with some loser guy just because Mom did it, and then you did it. I’m not you. Okay? I’m not going to fuck up my whole life for some guy!”
“Oh really? Then explain to me why ever since you’ve been here, all the drama has revolved around some guy ? First the guy at the airport. Then some surprise ex-boyfriend back home. Then shamelessly flirting with Nick, even though it’s completely inappropriate!”
“You’re just jealous.”
“Of what?”
“Me flirting with Nick.”
A laugh burst from my lips. “Jealous? That isn’t the word, Leash. Appalled. Embarrassed. Those words make more sense.”
“You just want me out of here so you can have him to yourself. I know you were out with him last night! I remember you were with him when you found me.”
“I’m shocked you remember, considering you were drunk off your ass and stumbling around so bad that you almost got run over!” My body trembled from the anger radiating through me. “You’re lucky we got there when we did!”
“Yeah, you’re my hero. Whatever.” Alesha started for the front door. “I’m out of here.”
“Where are you going?” I demanded, chasing after her with hurried steps.
“Why do you care? In twenty-four hours I’ll be someone else’s problem…”
“Because for now, you’re my problem!” I shouted, unable to keep my tone level.
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about me, Carly. If I end up just like you and Mom, I promise I won’t blame you.” She stormed out the front door and the heavy glass door whipped back in my face. I stopped it from bashing my face and hesitated, watching Alesha stalk across the parking lot.
I started to push forward, but then stopped short, and turned away from the door. It wasn’t worth chasing her down. She wasn’t going to listen to me. And, like she’d said, in twenty-four hours she’d be someone else’s problem.
I hadn’t called my dad yet, mostly because of the time difference, but after locking the front door and flipping the CLOSED sign around, I stomped back to my
Similar Books
