ONE
“Wake up.”
I barely pry my eyes open at the sound of my mother’s voice but finally manage. I’m instantly hit with the bright sunlight streaming in through my window and close them again when I nearly puke right then and there. “No thanks.”
“Emerson Nathaniel Chapman. Wake up and get out of bed. It’s past noon.”
“Noon? You’re pissed off about noon?” I croak, my head feeling like it might split right open. How can I see the sun through my eyelids? That’s just not cool.
“I’m pissed off about a lot of things,” my mother’s voice tells me, no lies detected there.But what else is new?I’m not exactly a poster child—not the one my parents thought they’d have. One that always closes withsirandma’am. Sayspleaseandthank you.
And okay, to be fair—the kind of kid who doesn’t go out every chance they get to drink and tear up shit. Maybe doesn’t sleep around a little too much.
Right on cue with that last thought, I hear a soft snicker next to me and turn my head to see a mess of dirty blonde hair and big green eyes staring at me. Well, fuck me.
“Jaclyn Diane Williamson. I know that’s you, missy.” I wince. Shit. My mom is using everyone’s middle name today. “You too. Get up. You need to go home.”
“We’re a little, uh...” I turn so I’m on my back, making sure the covers are covering my lower half as I peek my eyes open enough to look at my very stern, unhappy mother. “Naked,” I say, not coming up with anything better.
She huffs, her crossed arms falling to her sides as she glares daggers at me. “Get dressed. Both of you. And then, Jaclyn, go home. Tell your mother I’ll talk to her later.”
She leaves, closing the door behind her with a loud click, though she doesn’t slam it. Maria Chapman never slams doors. She never loses her temper. She doesn’t yell. But sometimes, I wish she would. Anything other than that stern, cold demeanor that says I ruined her life and let her down.
“Jesus, your mom is intense.”
I snort and sit up in bed, rustling my hair with my fingers. I need a haircut. It’s getting a little shaggy on top—but fuck it. Jackie sits up, her naked tits on full display as she gathers all her blonde hair and pulls it into a ponytail. I should want to fuck her again. I should be drooling like all the other guys in our class—but I don’t think my mom is the only one who’s dead inside.
Because all I want is for her to leave, so I can climb back under the covers alone.
“You think you’re really in trouble? She sounded serious.” I snort.
“No. I don’t. I think she’s just bored.”
She grabs the T-shirt she was wearing last night and pulls it on, finding her jean shorts after that and standing up to pullthem on. “You okay?” No. I don’t want to do the morning-after talk.
I like Jackie. I really do. We’ve known each other a long time. Went to the same private school in Kansas City since we could toddle. But I’m not one to lay my heart out there and talk. I fucking hate talking.
“I’m fine. Maybe you should ask your boyfriend how he is?”
She places a hand on her hip and glares at me. “You’re such a dick.”
Maybe.But I don’t really hide that fact either.
“He’s not my boyfriend anyway. I told you that last night.”
They’ll be back together by tonight, mark my words. I wave her off and grab a pair of jeans, tugging them on over my bare ass. “Whatever.”
She rolls her eyes at me and shakes her head, clearly not impressed. That’s kind of why I don’t mind hooking up with Jackie—she doesn’t expect that much from me. “See you around, Em.”
I nod in acknowledgment before she grabs her phone and keys, heading out of my room. I decide to climb back into my bed instead of searching out my mother. I’m sure she’s already forgotten what she wanted to talk to me about anyway.
No such luck.
A few moments later, there’s a soft knock on my door, and then I hear my mother walking over to me. “Emerson. I told you to get up.”
“Mom, I was still up when the sun rose. I’m tired.”
“We need to talk.”
