My father wrapped an arm around me and pulled me against his chest. “Proud of you, Ladybug.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“Mama will come around. She’s struggling with all the change that’s coming and this desperate need to hold on to you. To say she’s handled this poorly is an understatement, but I know that she loves you.”
I nodded. What more could I do?
“Okay,” I whispered.
“And what she said to Jett.” He paused to shake his head with disbelief. “Well, he’s a fine young man. I’ll make things right with him.”
I pushed to my feet and set the letters in the top drawer of my desk. “Thank you.”
Dad moved to his feet and kissed the top of my head before leaving. Closing the door behind him. I texted the girls and let them know what had happened. The response was a mix of horror and excitement that I’d gotten into three great schools. But the sadness over my mother had definitely cast a shadow over my joy. Things with her had gone from bad to worse.
I reread the text from Jett. I didn’t want to tell him what happened with my mother before his fight. He needed to focus. He didn’t want me there, but I was going. I’d have the girls with me, so nothing was going to happen. Because nothing could keep me away. I needed to be there for him.
A few hours later, I’d flipped my lights off, pretending to be asleep, and listened to my parents arguing for the next hour. Doors slammed. Feet stomped down the stairs, as obviously my father had decided to move to the couch. My stomach wrenched with anxiety. My family had always been solid. The four of us were a unit. Or at least I’d thought we were. Right now, there was such a separation, and I felt it in the depths of my soul.
And it hurt.
Mama T had barely spoken to me since Alec and I had broken up. She avoided my gaze when she came over and had made it apparent that she wasn’t happy with me. My own mother had taken sides with the boy who’d cheated on me, so why would his mother be any different.
I sent Clem a text. She always had my back and I’d always have hers.
Me ~ Hey. Jett has a fight so I’m sneaking out. Let me know if Mama and Daddy wake up, okay? Sorry about all the fighting tonight.
Clem ~ Proud of you, Sissy. You’re finally standing up to her. It’s about time. I’ve got your back. Text me when you get home, so I know you made it back. Love you.
Me ~ <crying emoji> <blowing kisses emoji>
Coco texted that they were down the street and I climbed out my window and onto the tree. I made my way down to the ground and jogged to the corner where Coco sat in the driver’s seat. Ivy was beside her, and Maura and Gigi were in the back. I slipped in next to Gigi and let out a long breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding. The night sky was lit up by more stars than usual.
“Hey, girl. How are you holding up? Mommy Dearest really threw you a curveball tonight.” Coco whipped around to look at me.
“Well, forget about her. I can’t believe we both got into TU,” Gigi said, wrapping her arms around me as she squeezed me tight.
“I know. I’m so happy.”
“Did you hit accept?” Maura asked.
“No, because with all the turmoil at home, I haven’t even had time to process it. And then Jett sent me that cryptic text about not coming tonight, so I know something is up. I haven’t even told him that I got in yet.”
“Oh my god. You, me, and Jett will all be together. That makes this so much better. And we can be roomies,” Gigi squealed.
That felt so far ahead of where I was with all of this. I wasn’t speaking to my mother. Our family was in disarray. I hoped that she would support me, but I really didn’t know. And I didn’t know how to feel about making a choice that would distance me from my mother even further.
“Hey, you okay?” Ivy asked, as we waited at the stoplight.
“Yeah. Of course. It’s just a lot right now. Mama admitted what she said to Jett. She wasn’t even sorry about it. My parents had a brutal fight. They never fight. Dad’s sleeping on the couch. I mean, all of this is over me not wanting to be with Alec when you get through all the layers of crazy. And I just don’t understand it. Why can’t she be happy for me? TU is a top-tier university. There is no comparison to the education that I’ll get there versus State.”
“I think you hit the nail on the head. She doesn’t care about your education or your happiness. She and Mama T want you and Alec together because it makes them happy. It’s ridiculous. And twisted. And I believe she broke a federal law opening your mail and hiding it from you. You could press charges,” Coco huffed.
“This is it?” Ivy asked when we pulled in the dirt parking lot in front of the warehouse.
“It’s a little sketchy, huh?” Gigi asked, twisting her head to take in our whereabouts.
“Yes. But it’s filled with sexy fighters,” Coco said. “So, how are we going to play this? Shaw told me not to come, and Jett told you not to come. And here we are.”
I glanced down at my phone as we sat in the dark car. “His fight starts in twenty minutes. We can wait to go inside and then hide in the back. I just want to make sure he’s okay.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Maura said.
“What is that?” Ivy asked and we all turned in the direction she was pointing.
There were about four men, yanking someone by the arm through the parking lot near the side of the building. My stomach dipped and my heart raced.
It was Jett.
What the hell was this?
Instinct kicked in and I whipped the door open.
“You guys go inside and find Shaw and Jax. Tell them to get Wren. Hurry,” I shouted before I jumped out of the car and sprinted toward the back of the building where they’d taken him.
Adrenaline pumped, and my breaths were labored, but I felt nothing. Just a need to get there.
To him.
“Hey,” I shouted when I came around the corner. Two men held Jett’s arms back as one punched him in the stomach.
They all paused and stared.
“Get the fuck out of here, Ace,” Jett shouted.
“Who the fuck is this?” one of the men asked, moving toward me, and I didn’t back away.
“I’ll tell you who the fuck I am,” I hissed, seeing blood drip down Jett’s cheek. “I’m Mayor Edington’s daughter. If you touch him again, you’ll have to go through me. Do you really want to bring that wrath on?”
I moved toward Jett, and he squeezed his eyes shut as if he was trying to come up with a plan. I wrapped my arms around his middle as tears streamed down my face.