Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Offended, I put my hands up in the air. “Hey! I didn’t know you were going to dry my jeans. That’s on you.”
I didn’t.
I thought she’d find it before she threw them in the laundry.
“So, you did know the bag was in your jeans?”
Rolling my eyes, I scoffed out, “No. I didn’t.”
“Then what? Huh? Explain to me what’s going on here, before I explain to Skyler what I think is going on instead.”
I arched an eyebrow, unfazed.
Finally. We were getting somewhere.
Shrugging, I simply replied, “Then here’s your chance to get back at me, Camila. Go tattle, I don’t give a shit. Skyler’s not my mother and neither are you.”
“So, you are smoking weed?”
“Why does it matter to you if I am?”
“You have your whole life ahead of you. You shouldn’t be smoking weed, that’s why.”
“And why is that, Mary Poppins? You’re telling me you’ve never tried it?”
“Nice try. This isn’t about me. This is about you.”
“Actually, this is about both of us. You brought this on yourself. Stay out of my business and we won’t have any problems. Yeah?”
“You know what? You’re right about one thing, I’m not your mother, nor do I want to be. Why is it so hard for you to see that? The stunt you pulled today crossed the line, Jackson! This is not okay! You know Journey is with me all the time, and the house reeked of weed because of your ploy to get me fired! Thank God I found a surgical mask to put on her, or else I would have been beyond screwed! You put your baby sister’s health in danger!”
“Oh bullshit, you’re just being dramatic. There was barely any weed. She was fine.”
I’d never do anything to hurt Journey. I thought she’d find it before her dumbass put it in the laundry.
Some housekeeper she was.
“How would you know? Are you in medical school? Do you have a degree in—”
“Camila!” I shouted over her bullshit rambling.
This wasn’t about her.
It had nothing to do with her.
She was my means to an end.
“What do you want from me? If you’re looking for an apology, you’re shit out of luck, cuz you’re not getting one.”
She stepped up in my face. “Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked to get to this point in my life? I didn’t grow up like you with your million-dollar house, name brand clothes, and overly-priced education you take for granted.” She pointed to herself, standing her ground.
One thing I knew for sure, she wasn’t leaving my room until she got her opinion across.
She was going to put me in my place, regardless of the consequences.
“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.”
My eyes glazed over. It was quick, but she saw it.
Don’t fall for it, Jackson... Stay strong.
“It’s not my fault your parents didn’t know when to stop having kids.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Wow. There is no getting through to you, is there?”
“And yet, here you are, still trying.”
She shook her head disappointed, stepping away from me. “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.”
Shit.
Mary Poppins was smart. It wouldn’t take her long to put two and two together.
She cocked her head to the side with the realization of what my plan was, slapping her 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,” I warned, my temper threatening loud and destructive.
“Jackson, acting out isn’t going to bring him hom—”
I got right in her face. “Get out!”
Her feet stumbled as I backed her out of my room, forcing her into the hallway before I slammed the door in her face.
“Jackson!” She banged on the door. “You can’t do this! You can’t just shut me out like this!”
“I just did!”
“Come on! Give me a chance! All I’m asking for is a chance!”
To both of our disbelief, I actually opened it. Getting right in her face again. “What else do I have to do to—”
“What’s going on here?” Skyler announced, breaking up our argument. Catching us both by surprise.