All Grown Up (Eden High)

Sure, they had no idea that she knew about her dad’s affair, but did either of them stop to think about the fact that their actions might have affected her in some way, for fuck sake? The longer I sat there, the angrier I became, which is not good. Once that boyish playfulness had been stripped away from me, beneath had been a no-nonsense straight arrow who saw the world in black and white. I have no fucking time for grey areas, and right now, that part of me is telling me that since I mean to claim her, then it’s now my duty to protect.

“Go ahead, open your gifts, baby, then I’ll take you out somewhere to eat.” She showed some excitement as she moved away from me to grab the bag with the gifts, but I can’t get the way she’d looked out of my head. I watched her now as she dug into the professionally wrapped gifts, but some of the excitement was gone for me as well.

Now I was watching her for any sign of unease. She’d been dealing with those notes for days, at least with no one to help or support her. When I find out who’s been doing this to her, I’m going to make their life a living hell.

For now, I got a kick out of her squeals, and by the time she opened the bag that Sian swore was one of the things she really wanted, I was back in the game. It’s obvious that her parents at least take good care of her in the material sense. She has a nice car, all designer clothing, and topnotch jewelry, so without help from the girls, I would’ve been ass out as to what to get her.

The girls came up with a list that ranged from her favorite scent and bath products to some bag that you had to be on the waiting list for. There, Jace had come in handy. Since he’d already ordered one for Sian, who’s the bag freak among the sisters, he’d just added another and browbeat some poor salesperson into making it happen.

That sounds horrible, but well, it’s the truth. I think he thinks if he tells Sian no that the world would stop or some shit. Something he swears I better get used to. Watching the three of them and now Todd, if I didn’t know better, I’d think all women were gold diggers with the amount of money these men spend. But the truth is, they are the ones who like spending money on their girls, something I didn’t know was so much fun until I started doing it myself.

I got everything on the list and one special surprise that I was holding onto until her actual birthday. I’d only shared that one with the guys since I don’t trust the girls to keep their mouths shut for a second.

She seemed more excited now, surrounded by the carnage of boxes and gift wrapping paper that was left after her unwrapping, and most of the clouds had left her eyes. “I have to take a quick shower, and then we’ll go, okay?”

“Sure, baby, take your time. Oh, before you go, can I see those other notes you received?”

“Why? They all pretty much say the same thing.” She opened a drawer in her nightstand anyway and handed them to me.

“Were they all left in the mailbox?”

“No, I got one in my locker at school too.” My blood ran cold at that.

“How did they get into your locker?”

“I still haven’t figured that one out.”

“Okay, go take your shower. I’ll be right here.”

The smile left my face as soon as she closed the en suite bathroom door behind her, and I didn’t waste any time calling the guys. “Bruh, are you just now getting there?”

“Track, I need help.”

“What? What happened?” His voice had gone from playful ribbing to cold zone that quick.

I gave him a quick rundown of the situation, after which he got the others involved. “I can’t stay too long; she’ll be out any second. I don’t have any equipment with me, so I can’t do shit. What can you guys do from there? It’s not much to work with.”

“We’ll be there tomorrow.

“Jace…” He just gave me a look that I knew meant no matter what I said; he’d just do as he pleased any damn way.

“It’s good that you already talked to her dad; this should make things easier for you two if he gives you any flack.”

“I already thought of that, and you’re right; I am not above using this as leverage to get her out of here; there’s just one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I think I want to speed things up there. I’ll find out how many classes she has left and see if she can’t finish out the year online. What’re you grinning at, Jace?”