“Emily, I'm so sorry,” Cherish decides that she still needs to talk.
“You can shut up,” I tell her. “I'll pick up my things before we leave.” I start my way out of the door, ignoring the fact that my dad is following me. “Jake, get me out of here.”
He leaves my side and I hear him talking to my dad behind me. These damn crutches are about to piss me off. I can't move as fast as my anger wants me to. I get in on the passenger side of my car and Drake gets in the backseat. A moment later, Jake is exiting the house. As soon as he's in the car and we're heading to his house, I let it out.
“I can't believe him! How could he just tell her those things? And her! How dare she think she can just say something like that to me! Not to mention she apparently thinks she's going to be my new mom. Who the hell does she think she is? Just because she's marrying my dad doesn't mean jack shit to me. I'm not even going to be in the same state for us to have a relationship! Seriously! Did you hear what she said? 'Things weren't perfect with your mother.' No shit!
“How can he think that he can tell her that? How does that even pertain to their relationship? Anything that happened with my mom and me was after their divorce. It has absolutely no reason to come up in their conversation. What the fuck is wrong with him?”
We pull into Jake's driveway and Drake takes the keys to unlock the door. I slam my door shut and walk around the front of my car. I'm moving too fast and trip over myself, falling to the ground. I scream with frustration and throw both of my crutches away from me.
“Sweetness, are you okay?” Jake kneels beside me.
“Just go away,” I plead softly, staring up at the sky as the fight leaves me.
“Don't do that to me,” he commands in a hushed tone. “You are pissed at him, not me. C'mon and sit up so I can help you.”
I do as I'm told and he brings me into the standing position. Jake walks over to my tossed support and brings them back to me.
“Everything okay?” Drake asks from the porch.
“Yeah, buddy. Come grab these for me, please, and put them in my room,” Jake says, holding up the crutches.
I keep my mouth closed as Drake takes them and runs back inside. He probably wants to play his video game before it's time for bed. Jake takes my hands and wraps them around his neck before he proceeds to pick me up and carry me inside.
“I think you've had enough of those things for one day, don't you?” He says more so to himself than to me.
I still don't answer. Jake lays me down on his bed and shuts the door on his way out. For some stupid reason, I'm sure, I cry silent tears. They keep building up and falling over, streaking down my face. Dad has called twenty times since we left and finally, I just turn my phone off. About thirty minutes pass before Jake returns with a glass of Dr. Pepper and two slices of pizza. Is this all we eat anymore? He hands them to me without a word and then leaves me again. By the time he comes back, I've finished my food and my drink and I've changed into my pajamas. It's a little after nine.
I'm facing the wall when he comes in and I close my eyes. Behind me, I can hear him undressing and then his bed creaks slightly from his weight. The lamp clicks off. Jake's arm falls over my waist and he gently drags me against his chest.
“Feeling better?” his warm breath coats my neck.
“No.” I was hoping my voice wouldn't deceive me, but it does as I choke back more tears.
“Sweetness,” Jake begins tenderly. “I'm sure she had the best of intentions in mind.”
“I don't care! She didn't need to know. He shouldn't have told her and she shouldn't have said anything in front of you or Drake. I feel betrayed.”
“I know, Sweetness. You're going to have to talk to Mike about it before we leave.”
“No, I don't want to talk to him. He should know better, Jake.”
“We aren't leaving until you do, so get over it.” His tone is still kind. “He's already freaking out because you turned off your phone and won't answer his phone calls.”
“You talked to him?”
“Yep.”
“Does he feel like an ass? He should.”
Jake snickers and kisses my neck. “Do you want to talk about it some more?”
“Not really.”
“Then get some sleep, okay? There's always tomorrow. I love you. Always.”
“I love you too.”