“Who?” Oakley looks around. “The parking lot’s empty. We dipped out early to smoke, remember?”

“Dylan,” I elaborate. “Why is Dylan here?”

He takes the blunt from me. “This shit must be better than I thought. Dylan ain’t here, bro. You’re just high as fuck.”

It’s all I can do not to knock him upside his head. “Living with you,” I stress. “Why the fuck is Dylan living with you?”

Finally, I see the wheels in his head turn. “Oh.” He exhales a puff of smoke. “Some shit happened with her pops. He’s in the slammer for the next year or so. My dad was able to get—”

“Hold up. Brian’s in jail?”

Not many things shock me, but Dylan’s law-abiding—won’t even go over the speed limit while driving—father being locked up definitely does.

“You know her dad?” Oak laughs to himself. “Or should I say, my uncle.” He starts tapping invisible dots in the air. “Or is he? If Dylan’s mom was Crystal’s sister…and my dad married Crystal…and Dylan is Crystal’s niece. What does that make Dylan’s dad to me?”

I’m starting to see why he flunked biology and has to repeat it this year. “Nothing. Just a dude in prison.”

His shoulders rise as he inhales. “Bummer. My dad’s so fucking lame and boring, the thought of being related to a bad ass in prison was kind of cool.”

“I hear you, man.” I take the blunt from him. “Why did he get put away?”

Usually I don’t mind Oakley venting about his dad, but time is of the essence.

He shrugs. “He embezzled almost ten-million from his job.”

“Christ.”

He nods. “I know. I overheard my dad and Crystal talking about it once. Apparently, he did it for his wife. Or as Crystal would say—his fake-tittied, conniving, gold-digging, whore replacement wife.”

Crystal isn’t wrong.

Last I checked, Brian was a financial officer who was well off enough to own a home on the good side of town and afford private school for Dylan. Then out of nowhere, he uprooted his daughter and his new young fiancée in the middle of the night—all because he was offered a prestigious job opportunity, and his fiancée said she’d call the engagement off if he didn’t take it.

At least that was the gist of it from the frantic voicemail Dylan left me that night.

Right before the treacherous bitch turned my life upside down.

However, given the timetable of events…I quickly realized she was full of shit.

Dylan knew she was moving weeks before she left. Maybe longer.

My former best friend just wanted to punish me for not giving her what she really wanted.

What we both wanted.

Chapter 13

Dylan

Past…

My lungs burn like they’re on fire as I continue running down the wet street, but it pales in comparison to the pain ripping through my chest.

My dad is engaged. To Savannah.

Savannah, who wears tight, revealing outfits that make me blush and talks to my dad in a stupid breathy voice I can’t stand whenever she wants him to buy her something.

That’s the woman he’s choosing to take my mom’s place.

He’s making a big mistake.

Savannah can’t make him happy. My dad never smiles the way he did when my mom was alive. He doesn’t laugh or make silly jokes, either.

My heart sinks with my next realization.

He doesn’t talk about her anymore.

Because somewhere along the way, he stopped loving her.

No…worse. He forgot about her. Like she never existed.

And I know the second he marries Savannah and they have babies…he’s going to forget all about me, too.

Because it’s clear he hates anything that reminds him of her—and now that he’s marrying Savannah and starting over, he won’t need me anymore.

He’ll have his replacement family.

Instead of the broken, damaged leftover daughter he got stuck with.

The one he no longer wants, because she’s tethered to all the bad shit in his life.

Tears sting my eyes as I round the corner and charge down the next block. Not even the heavy rain is enough to keep them at bay.

He promised he’d never leave me. He swore I wouldn’t lose him like I lost her.

It turns out my father’s nothing but a lying asshole.

The pebble hits Jace’s window so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter.

Mr. Covington’s probably going to be mad if he catches me throwing rocks at his son’s window in the middle of the night, but I don’t care.

Regardless of our weird argument earlier, I need my best friend. It doesn’t matter if Jace doesn’t feel the same way about me, I’ll get over it. I’d rather have part of him than none at all.

I launch another pebble at his bedroom window. If he doesn’t wake after this, I’ll throw a damn brick through it.

Fortunately, I don’t have to, because a sleepy, shirtless Jace sticks his head out. “Dylan?” His face falls when he looks down at me. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything.” My voice cracks as every ounce of emotion I’ve been holding back for the last few months bursts wide open. “My dad…he…Savannah. Everything is wrong, Jace.”

Since his room is located on the second floor, I begin mounting the large tree that slants toward his room, but he halts me.

“It’s pouring outside. You’ll slip and hurt yourself. I’ll unlock the front door.”

Before I can remind him I’ve climbed the very same tree over a dozen times, he’s ushering me inside his house and up the staircase.

I try my hardest to be quiet so his dad doesn’t wake up, but my sobs betray me.

It feels like I’m losing my mom all over again.

Only worse…because I’m losing everything right along with her now.

My memories. My family. Even Jace is slipping away.

“How could he do this to me?” I choke out as fat, ugly tears rivulet my cheeks. “How could he marry her?”

Anger splashes across Jace’s face. “Shit. I’m s—”

“It’s three in the morning.” Mr. Covington’s confused gaze bounces between us. “What is Dylan doing here?” Before either of us can say a word, he pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “I was afraid something like this might happen. I know you two care about each other, but you’re not old enough to be having sex—”

“Jesus, Dad,” Jace argues. “I’m not fooling around with Dylan. Can’t you see how upset she is?”

He blinks as he takes in my tear-stained face. “Oh.” He rests his hands on his hips. “Look, I’m sorry, but I still don—”

Jace grabs my hand and wrenches me up the remaining steps. “I don’t care what you think. Dylan’s staying.”

Mr. Covington starts to say something, but Jace slams and locks the door behind him. “He’ll go back to sleep soon. He always does.”

I’m so cold my teeth chatter. “I didn’t mean to get you in trouble, I just didn’t know where else—”