My dad calls three more times between the walk there and the end of the ride.

We’re back with the group and entering the hotel lobby when it rings again.

“Damn, who’s blowing you up?” Trent whispers. “Is it Josie?”

I scoff and glance around to make sure nobody is in earshot. “It’s my dad.”

“Whoa.” His eyes widen. “Why you think he’s calling?”

I frown. “I don’t know. Could be about my mom, I’m about to try and call her right now. If not that, then it’s about the fight with the fuckhead in the locker room.”

“He’s been watching you guys all day, you know,” he says, referring to Alex.

“Good. Let him think he can take her, it’ll be that much sweeter when she decides she don’t want him.”

“And if he goes in now while she still does, or if she keeps on wanting him, then what?”

I shove my phone back in my pocket, my eyes sliding across the room where Demi is. “Then I find a reason to force her to stay.”

“Blackmail?”

I look to my friend. “If I have to.”

Trent shakes his head with a sigh. “You need to be careful, Nic. For real.”

“I told you to let me worry about this.”

“I’m tryin’, my man,” he says, eyeing me a moment before changing the subject. “You goin’ to your room first or straight over to the party area?”

I look to Demi who laughs, letting go of Carley’s legs so she can slide off, ending the piggyback ride she was giving her.

“D,” I call.

She says something to the girls and heads our way, her long hair laying half over her shoulder. She bumps into Trent, smiling at him briefly when he chuckles.

I frown, pulling her attention back to me. “You goin’ to your room first?”

“Hell yeah. I can’t dance in this thing.” She pats her hips.

“Restrictive attire on the front liner?” Trent teases her.

“I know, right?” She smiles. “Blame Macy. She made me wear it.”

“She make you leave the underwear behind too?” I bite out.

Trent’s eyes go wide, as do hers, and while he clears his throat and walks away, Demi prickles.

She waits until he’s far enough away before she steps toward me. “What the hell was that?”

“Nothing.” I tip my head back. “Shouldn’t have let him in on that.”

My phone starts ringing again, and her eyes fall to my pocket a moment before coming back.

“So why did you then?”

“Don’t ask stupid questions.”

Her head tugs back and she opens her mouth to speak but pauses, bringing herself even closer instead. “I’ve never been able to figure you out,” she whispers.

I push against her chest. “You sayin’ you’ve tried, Little D?”

She tilts her chin, observing me with a feisty fire. “I might have answered that if nice Nico was standing in front of me. It’s one thing – still shitty – to be an ass when it’s just the two of us, but in front of others?” She clicks her tongue. “Better work on your attitude if keeping this charade up is important to you.”

My eyes slim. “That the key, playin’ nice?”

She shakes her head, placing her lips a breath away from mine.

“Don’t play,” she whispers. “Be. You’ve got it in you.”

“Yeah.” I place my hands on her hips lazily. “And how would you know, Pixie?”

She slides free of my grip.

“Your mask slipped today,” she tells me. “You’re not what you pretend to be.”

“And what do I pretend to be?”

“Cold and cavalier.” She eyes me as she steps back. “That’s not you, it’s your go-to defense.”

“Defense from what?”

A small smile plays at her thick lips and her features pull in thought. “I’m not sure yet, but it seems I’ll have time to find out, yeah?”

A heaviness settles over me as I look at her, and I’m not sure what to make of it.

“Wanna know something I decided today?”

I lift my chin.

Tell me.

“I’ve decided... you’re not a total asshole.”

An unexpected chuckle leaves me, and as a result, a pleased smile spreads across her face.

Demi laughs, spins on her heels and catches up with her friends. The three of them take off down the hall, but not before she jerks to a stop, so she can shout over her shoulder. “Find me on the dance floor, Neek!”

Neek, huh.

My muscles lock when the thought is echoed by the last fucking voice I want to hear.

“Neek, huh.”

I glare after her, taking my time to whirl around and face the little bitch behind me.

I step into his space and he doesn’t back away.

“I see you decided to get her ready for me after all.” His lip curls.

“Touch her while she’s mine and I’ll break your fucking fingers. Then you really won’t be catching shit, but hey, at least you’ll have a solid excuse to run home with.”

Alex shoves me, and I let him, stumbling back a few steps.

I smirk, tip my chin and point at his bitch ass. “Catch you later, Hammons. I’ll save a seat for you at breakfast, huh?”

“We’ll see about that.” His eyes harden.

My phone rings again, and a sinister smirk covers his face.

“Better get that, Sykes. Might be trouble at home.”

My jaw clenches, and I reach out, gripping him by the collar and tugging him in. “Watch yourself, Alex. If you haven’t noticed, I’m done with your bullshit. Done. You’re not untouchable, even though you think you are, so go ahead, play your fucking game, I’ll be here playing it better.” I shove off him, and he stumbles, hitting his back against the wall. “Tell your pops I said hi, motherfucker.”

I take a few backward steps before turning and heading for my room.

Fuck him.

I’ve just got the door closed and am tugging off my shirt when my phone rings again, but I ignore it and dial my mom instead.

As I figured, she sleeps through the call.

I toss it on the dresser where it’ll stay the rest of the night and run my hands down my face.

This is what he wants, me to stress the entire fucking weekend, to ruin any chill time I might have. All I wanted was a damn day to forget, but I guess that was too much to ask.

Demi said I come off cold and careless.

I’m not.

I don’t speak because my thoughts are constantly racing, my fucked-up reality sitting at the forefront of my mind at all times.

I work my ass off at sports to try and get picked up by a college team, even though I likely can’t accept any offer that may come in.

If I go, who stays here to watch after my mom?

I can’t leave her alone, my dad is already slowly killing her, and she refuses to see it, refuses to let him go even though he has a new home and wife and preferred son, a better version of me, as he loves to say.

I drop back on my mattress, staring up at the cracked ceiling.

Demi and her friend’s loud laughter floats beneath the adjoining door of our rooms and despite my shitty fucking mood, the corner of my lip tips up.