“Jesus, I know that.”
She released me from her stare. “I know. You’re a good guy, too.”
“Try telling that to Vi.”
“She already knows. That’s why she’s fighting so hard. In her mind, things are either falling apart or they’re standing still. Never becoming something beautiful.” She gave me a sad smile. “She’s trying to hold the two of you still, so you don’t fall apart.”
“Where do you think you’re going?” Chet bellowed from the living room. Drunk. Again. He usually tossed back a few beers, but lately, he’d started the evening’s festivities with rot gut whiskey first.
I stiffened as Mom adjusted my tie in the living room.
“I told you. Miller has a big dance at school.” She met my eyes briefly, smiling tiredly. Mom had been pretty before Dad left. Now, it seemed the life was being sucked right out of her. “You look very handsome.”
“Thanks. It’s just a dumb dance. Don’t know why I’m bothering.”
“Are your friends going? The two boys?”
“No. Not tonight.”
The bastards. Ronan wouldn’t be caught dead, and Lord Parish said he had “other plans.”
I went back to my room to grab my wallet and phone and to take one last look in the mirror. I’d put on my best—faded—black jeans, a white button down, tie, and an old gray blazer Mom had found at Goodwill.
Not bad. I was sure River would be dressed in an immaculate rented tux, and Violet would be breathtaking on his arm…
I shoved the thoughts away and headed back out.
“Where’s your date?” Chet wondered with a belch. He chuckled. “She coming to pick you up?”
He loved to point out I didn’t have a car. Mom still drove the station wagon we’d lived in, but it’d be a cold day in hell before I drove that to school. I barely had money for the dance tickets, and when our lights were shut off a week ago, I’d had to work extra shifts to earn the cash to turn them back on, never mind taking Amber to dinner.
“I’m meeting her there.” I kissed Mom on the cheek. “Bye.”
“Have fun. Don’t stay out too late.”
Chet snorted. “Late? He doesn’t come home most nights at all. Not until the early morning.”
I stopped at the door.
“Didn’t know I knew that, eh? Yep, comes in before dawn, stinking of beer and smoke. How about that?”
I gripped the doorknob tight. “How about you mind your own fucking business?”
He sat up and leveled a finger at me. “Watch your mouth, son. You’d better just watch it.”
Or what? You’ll actually get off the couch?
I didn’t say it, only because I didn’t want to leave Mom with him in a rage. I looked to her, begging her silently to get rid of this asshole before things got worse. She only gave me a final, tired smile, then
turned and quietly went back to her room.
I left, letting the screen door bang, and bumped up Get rid of Chet fucking Hyland on my mental to-do list. Right after becoming a global musical superstar. Ha, what a joke. As I’d suspected, the video Violet had uploaded of me on YouTube had only a few views and none of them from salivating record execs.
My bitterness flooded me. By the time I got to the school, my mood was thoroughly foul. The Homecoming theme was Hollywood. Standing lights had been set up on the walk leading to the gym, complete with a red carpet. Faculty and photographers—mostly parent volunteers—lined the walk, calling out to attendees like paparazzi.
Amber was waiting for me near the red carpet walk. She looked pretty in a pink bohemian-looking dress, loose and flowing around her ankles. Her long blond hair flowed over her shoulders, and she smiled brightly at me.
“Hi.”