All Grown Up (Eden High)

I thought back to that night and all that transpired. Relived the moment when mom showed up, and it became clear that she knew, that she’d been aware of dad’s illicit affair with Mandy all along. I knew she wasn’t thinking straight that she hadn’t been herself for months, but I never in a million years would’ve expected what happened next.

I couldn’t help going to see for myself. Is that when whoever this is saw me? Did they think that I was the one who pulled the trigger? Or do they know the whole thing? I know even what my dad had done because of my snooping, know that he’d intentionally tried to overdose Mandy by inserting too much cocaine inside her vaginally, something that can easily be explained away due to the circumstances. But there is no way to explain away a gunshot to the chest.

ALEX

“I gotta make a run; guys, gimme a few.”

“Where are you going?” Shane pushed his nose in my shit.

“Cassie’s birthday is in a few days.” Jace piped up before I could answer.

“Damn, Jace, do you know everything?”

“Pretty much. The jet’s waiting; take your time.” I rolled my eyes like I’d seen the girls do a thousand times and walked out of the room after some hurried goodbyes.

It was only a few days since I’d sent her the musical figurine, which was meant as a precursor to more to come. But here, in the last few days, I’d noticed a new strain in her voice, and no matter how much I asked and pushed, she insisted that she was okay. I’d planned on leaving the day before her birthday, but with this new development, there’s no way I can wait.

I’d taken care of my classes for the duration, and with Todd here taking up some of the slack in the last little while, didn’t feel too bad about leaving the guys in the lurch. No matter what, she comes first, though, so I’m not even going to sweat it. I just hope it’s not something to do with her fuck up of a dad.

Because of where she and I are going, and well, because Jace trusts us completely, he’d shared the truth about her dad and Mandy. He’d also talked about seeing her leaving the area the night Mandy was attacked though he was sure that she’d had nothing to do with it. He won’t say much else about that part of it, though, so there were still some lingering questions.

I know because of the type of girl that she is, how her dad’s betrayal had scarred her, how watching her mom suffer had affected her, so that’s why I’m hoping that whatever is bothering her has nothing to do with them. Hopefully, it’s just her worrying about spending her birthday alone, as if I would let that happen.

I grabbed the bag I’d packed with all the crap I’d bought for her special day and a few changes of clothes. I won’t be gone that long this time; I can only give her a few days until I return for summer break, but I’ll be sure to make it count.

I was so excited on the flight I could hardly sit still and was happy as shit that Jace and the others weren’t here to see me acting like a twelve-year-old girl. I’d never live that shit down, no matter that they’re collectively worst. I’ve never seen a more whipped group of men in my life and thinking about them, and their antics with their women made me smile. Fucking Jace is the worst, but if he were here, he’d be the first to ride my ass about being a sap.

I can’t believe how my heart is racing at just the thought of seeing her in the flesh, and now that that time was near, I can admit to how fucking hard it has been these last few months without her. Having to leave her and go away has been a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it forced me to keep my hands off of her, and keep Jace from killing my ass if I messed around and crossed the line with his God-sister and a curse because of the loneliness and worry I suffered because of that same needed distance.

I was on tenterhooks the whole flight, but as soon as we landed, I grew calm. Excitement still hummed in my veins, but that slight edge that I’d been feeling had lifted. Now to get to her and surprise the hell out of her. As I slid into the backseat of the car Jace had waiting at the private airstrip, I was already dreading having to leave in the next few days.,

Something else I’ve noticed about this being in love gig, you worry a lot. Shit that you once brushed off has suddenly taken on monumental importance, and someone else is your first thought and priority instead of your own wants and needs. That’s why I, the guy who would drag ass if I could to get through an assignment, had finished three in the last week because there was a tone in my girl’s voice that I didn’t like, and I wanted to get to her.