Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“I grew up poor with parents who struggled to put food on the table for all of their kids, but who still provided the best they could under the circumstances. I grew up with hand-me-downs, shopped at thrift stores, bought secondhand everything just so I could have shoes to wear, a book to read, a calculator to do my math homework with. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth like you did! But I’ll tell you one thing, Jackson, if I had, you bet your ass I would’ve appreciated it, and not have been a spoiled little shit like you who doesn’t know the meaning of the word grateful.”
His eyes glazed over. It was quick, but I saw it.
“It’s not my fault your parents didn’t know when to stop having kids.”
My mouth dropped open. “Wow. There is no getting through to you, is there?”
“And yet, here you are, still trying.”
I shook my head disappointed, stepping away from him. “I have nothing left to say to you.”
“Great, cuz I don’t want to hear anymore. Tell Skyler whatever you want, maybe it will make my dad come home for once.”
I cocked my head to the side, the realization slapping me in the face.
Fast and hard.
“This wasn’t about me at all, was it?”
“Get out of my room, Camila.”
“You want me to rat you out, don’t you?”
“I’m not going to say it again.”
“Jackson, acting out isn’t going to bring him hom—”
He got right in my face, seething, “Get out!” My feet stumbled as he backed me out of his room, forcing me into the hallway before slamming the door in my face.
“Jackson!” I banged on his door. “You can’t do this! You can’t just shut me out like this!”
“I just did!” he shouted through the door.
“Come on! Give me a chance! All I’m asking for is a chance!”
To my disbelief, he actually opened up. Getting right in my face again.
“What else do I have to do to—”
“What’s going on here?” Skyler announced, breaking up our argument.
I turned to face her, still feeling Jackson’s heated stare as I shoved the bag of weed in my back pocket.
Still unsure of what to do.
He watched my every move, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“Yeah, Camila, what’s going on here?” Jackson baited.
Was he testing me?
“I- I- I- I mean … we were just…”
There were so many ways this could go down. I could tell Skyler and then what?
What would that solve?
What would that help?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized Jackson was the All-Star quarterback for his school. Football was his life, and I don’t think he’d risk that for anything.
It was the only thing he truly seemed passionate about, other than making my life a living, breathing hell of course.
It didn’t make sense. He wouldn’t throw that all away for some hits off a joint. There wasn’t even enough in the bag for him to roll one up. Jackson wanted his dad home, even if it meant he had to pay the price to make it happen.
My heart hurt more for him in that moment, than it did all the other times he pushed me away, combined.
I opened my mouth to say something but quickly shut it, looking over at Jackson. We weren’t more than a foot apart, but it felt like miles of distance were placed between us.
Physically and mentally.
There was so much confusion evident on his face, and I felt it deep within my being. We could have been standing there for a minute or an hour. Time seemed to standstill, but the pain seemed to keep going on all around me.
I locked eyes with Skyler, muttering, “Jackson and I were just arguing about his laundry habits.”
I felt him stiffen beside me.
“Jackson knows how to do laundry?”
“Or lack thereof,” I added, smiling over at him.
He narrowed his eyes at me, more confused than ever before. But for the first time since I started working here two months ago, I saw vulnerability run through his eyes. It may have only been for a few seconds, though, it was enough to know I was doing the right thing.
Jackson wasn’t as strong as he pretended to be. Deep down he was just as lost as his father, maybe?
We may have come from two different worlds, but for a few moments that afternoon, we finally reached middle ground. Who knows how long we’d stay there, all I knew was I wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Even if it meant standing on Jackson’s side.
Something or someone needed to bring their father home.
Even if that something or someone…
Was me.
Chapter 15
<>Aiden<>
Then: Sixteen-years-old
__________
“What would you say if I kissed you right now?” I whispered against Bailey’s neck.
“I’d say what took you so long.”
This was by far the best part of her being my girl. I was able to kiss her anytime I wanted.