Page 5 (1/1)

I s to food "You hter"

Gabe stops at the door and grins while his free hand rests on the handle "I haven’t seen Alandra since she went away for college on the East coast" His eyes get lost, and al lost dream "I wonder what she’s up to? I bet she’s hot now"

I shake e his shoulder "Cos open with ease as soon as Gabe turns the handle The house is just as i, white tiles in the foyer ainst the stark walls The round hout the house perfectly, while the bright yellow and pink flower arrangeives the rooe space "If MTV ever brings Cribs back and wants to co them here instead This puts my place to shame"

"I’m sure it doesn’t I can’t wait to see your place," I say

A wide sh heels clicking against the floor catches , is that my Aubrey I hear in here?"

Mo blouse, her pearls on display around her neck Her auburn hair hangs loose above her shoulders, and as always she looks very put together I smile as I set my purse on the table and step into her outstretched arms "Hi, Mom"

She pats ood to see you Let rabs each ofmy arms away froreet our unexpected visitor!"

I freeze as my mom calls for my father to enter the room In an instant, -sleeved button down shirt--his typical casual Sunday outfit His salt and pepper hair is neatly trie smiles "There’s , honey?"

I cringe at hi toearlier about e," I step into

"Dear, would you pay the poor cab driver so he can leave," Mo her pearls, and I instantly jerk away fro fellow" Dad reaches for his wallet and I shakeit mid-motion "Don’t be silly, Aubrey I’ll pay your fair"

Without warning the Judge takes a couple steps toward Zach and stuffs a wad of cash in his hand Zach’s eyebrows rise as he stares down at the money My face heats up and I know it’s fifty shades of red as I feel embarrassed thatbut a hired hand I want to crawl into a hole and die

I reach over and touch my father’s shoulder "No, Daddy He isn’t the cab driver This is Zach, ether in confusion "Boyfriend? Honey, I don’t understand Have you seen this ht your mother and I raised you better than that"

"Daddy, please!" I scold er that he would treat the man I love this way boils inside me I step to Zach’s side and wrap my arm around his waist while he throws his arm over my shoulders "I love him and I would appreciate if you could all to treat him with the same respect you show me Besides, he’s not some riff-raff off the street, he’s--"

Zach holds up the hand holding theme off mid-sentence "Let him think what he wants about me" In a swift motion Zach stuffs my father’s money in the front pocket of his jeans ande, after all"

The Judge narrows his eyes and raises a pointed finger at Zach, ready to fire threats like he always does when he’s challenged I gripfor s open just before her body goes liood with conflict, passing out at anything the slightest bit stressful

"Honey?" My father lands on his knees next toher head up whileto assess her

Zach and I stand in ether in a show of solidarity Noto be with hiainst the world If ht have to make one of the most difficult choices I’ve ever had to face and cut thes, Aubrey shuts is off and tosses it in her purse She closes her eyes and leans her head back against the headrest Her long auburn hair falls over her shoulders in full waves while herin the car withher faine telling some of the most important people in my life to fuck off because they don’t approve of the person I’ot to be the hardest thing in the world for her I s hard as I think about how it’s possible she ht hate me for the little stunt I pulled