Wicked Indulgence (Wicked Innocence 2)

And I hope like hell heading home will give me that.

Chapter Ten

“You’re home,” Stace squeals as I walk through the door.

I laugh as she throws her arms around me. Letting go of my bags, I hug her hard. I’m glad I decided not to tell her I was coming, because the look on her face is priceless.

“Good to see you too,” I say, pushing a loose strand of hair out of her face. I look her up and down suspiciously.

She sees my expression and her face reddens.

“You wouldn’t happen to be sneaking out tonight, would you?”

“Just to a party that Dad refuses to let me go to,” she groans. “I had no idea you were coming home, and Eva is already on her way here…”

“Go out and have fun,” I order her. “We’ll catch up tomorrow, okay?”

“Are you sure?” she asks, her eyes wide.

“Get out of here before you get caught,” I chuckle.

She gives me another hug and then sprints out the door.

Picking up my bags, I wander upstairs and throw them on the bed. The door to my parents’ room is open a crack and I can hear them arguing. About what I don’t know. Not interested enough to care, I head back downstairs and pour myself a drink, choosing an aged whiskey from my father’s bar.

“I’ve told you before, don’t touch my alcohol.”

I turn around, glass in hand. My eyes locked on his, I take the glass to my lips and drink. He shakes his head and mutters something under his breath.

“Why are you even back her

e? Shouldn’t you be planning for your next big show?” He smirks. “Or maybe your next disaster? The media keep saying you’re a mess. Maybe they’re right.”

“You’ve been saying it all along, right Dad?” I say, taking another sip.

“If the shoe fits,” Dad mutters. “Honestly, I don’t even know why you live here anymore. All you do is antagonize everyone. You being here stresses everyone out. You drive your mother to drink—”

“I drive her to drink?” I laugh. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. And you know what? I have no fucking idea why I’m still here. The only person in this family worth communicating with is Stace.”

Storming past him, I grab my keys and open the door, slamming it shut behind me. I head over to my car, pressing the unlock button and jump in the drivers seat. That’s it. I’m moving out. I can’t handle living under that roof anymore.

I head to the only place I know that will calm me down. A little bar on Main St where I know I’ll go unnoticed. Pulling into the parking lot, I turn off the ignition and get out.

Inside, it’s pretty empty. I walk over to the bar and take a seat, ordering a double whiskey, no ice. I slam it down and order another. Then another. The burning in my throat eases some of my pain, but not enough to erase it all. No amount of alcohol in the world could do that. Is this why Mom drinks? To forget her life? We’re so similar in some ways, yet so different in others. I hate her for not being able to stand up against Dad.

My phone rings. It’s Stace.

“Hey,” I say, rubbing my head.

“I need a huge favor, Sax. My ride left without me, and now Kara and I have no way of getting home. If Dad finds out I snuck out he’ll kill me.”

“You need me to pick you up?” I hesitate before continuing. “I can’t, Stace. I’ve been drinking.”

“Please, Sax, I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate,” she begs.

I sigh. “Okay, fine. Text me where you are and be ready, okay?”

The girls are right where they promised to be. I pull into a park and wait for them to jump in. Before I take off, I check around me for cops. When I’m sure I’m safe, I use the back roads to head home.