Chapter 6

6

Holly

I cringed at the look of pure fury on my father's face as I stepped out of the back of the police station, an officer following close on my heels. I'd only been in holding for a few hours, but it was enough to show me that I sure as hell did not want to go to jail. And it was long enough for my anger to cool and for reality to set in.

Christ, I was in deep shit.

"In the car. Now," Dad growled before turning on his heel and storming out of the station. Ducking my head, I quickly followed him, my hands shaking with my nerves. My phone was off in my hand, and I was leaving it that way. No doubt Jenson was wondering why the hell I'd gone radio silent on him when I was on my phone all the time, but I couldn't bring myself to turn it on yet. I could only deal with one problem at a time, and my issue with Dad was going to be catastrophic. I'd never seen him this angry.

And God, I was sure social media was blowing up with the shit show I'd caused. I'd completely lost my fucking mind in the mall. If Ginger's parents decided to press charges, I was royally fucked.

Dad was silent the entire way home—didn't even turn on the radio. I fiddled with my phone, flipping it over and over in my palm, still too nervous to turn it on.

Dad turned onto our street, his hands white-knuckling the steering wheel. "When we get home, go inside, pack a bag, and go stay with a friend. I can't hold a civil conversation with you right now over your dumb decisions today."

I swallowed thickly, tears stinging my eyes. He'd never kicked me out like this, even if it was just for a night. "Dad—" I choked out as he pulled into the driveway.

He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, and I flinched. He never got angry like this, and it was a bit scary, especially aimed my way. "Fucking don't, Holly!" he barked, swinging his dark eyes to me. I saw Jenson sitting on his porch over his shoulder, his eyes locked on Dad's car. I forced my eyes back to Dad's. "What the fuck were you thinking?!" he yelled at me. Tears flooded my eyes. I hated disappointing either of my parents, but even more, I hated disappointing Dad. He had worked so hard to give me everything I had, and I knew I'd shit all over that today.

"I was so angry," I whispered.

"You're not a fucking child," he snarled at me before he shoved his car door open, getting out. I quickly followed suit, my hand white-knuckling my phone. "Fighting a girl over a boy? That's childish behavior, Holly. You're an adult, which means you now have a criminal record. Nothing will make that disappear, even if I manage to get Ginger's parents to drop the charges against you."

I hiccupped, my eyes flooded with tears. "I'm sorry," I croaked.

He shook his head with a scoff. "Sorry does not fix this, Holly. And if I can't get Ginger's parents to drop these charges, you'll be sitting in a jail cell. I will not bend over backward to get you out of this." He clenched his fist around his keys. "Pack a bag and find somewhere else to stay for the night," he ordered. "I frankly do not care where you go right now."

With that, he stormed into the house, slamming the door right in my face. I flinched before pushing it open and stepping inside, too ashamed to look Jenson's way, though I could feel his eyes on me.

Mom didn't say a word to me when I passed by her in the living room, but I could see the disappointment and sadness shining in her eyes. Swallowing a sob, I rushed upstairs to my room and quickly packed an overnight bag before running back downstairs and out the front door, tears streaking down my face.

My car still wasn't there, and I didn't know where in the world Dad thought I was supposed to go. My last friend in this town had betrayed me. I had no one. I hiccupped and squeezed my eyes shut, my shoulders shaking.

"Let's go," Jenson suddenly growled, snatching my bag from me and then grabbing my wrist in his other hand. I stumbled after him in shock, too surprised to even be alarmed that my parents might have seen him snatch me from the driveway. He gently pushed me through his front door before shutting it behind us, and the quiet click made me flinch. I would have preferred him to slam it. His calmness was terrifying after the explosiveness I'd just dealt with.

He set my bag on the coffee table before spinning to face me, his arms crossed over his chest. "What the fuck were you thinking, Holly? It's all over social media."

I swiped at my cheeks, hating that more tears slid down my cheeks to replace the ones I swept away. "She was my best friend, yet she was coming here on the weekends and holidays and betraying me by sleeping with him," I choked out.

Jenson sighed. "That doesn't mean you lash out, attack her, and get yourself arrested, Holly. You've potentially jeopardized everything you've done so far to secure your future. Do you understand that?" I hiccupped, nodding my head. "What you did was reckless and stupid, Holly."

I sniffled, nodding again because I didn't know what the fuck to say. Sighing, Jenson reached out and dragged me into his arms, pressing his lips to my forehead. He held them there for a moment, his arms squeezing me to him. Something inside of me shattered at his tenderness despite how badly I'd fucked up.

"They hate me," I cried. I hiccupped again, tears pouring from my eyes. I couldn't handle my parents hating me like this.

Jenson sighed and rested his chin on the top of my head. "They don't hate you, doll. Your parents are concerned—and rightfully so. And they're worried about the impact this will have on you and your future."

I squeezed my eyes shut and gripped his shirt in my hands, twisting the fabric in my fists. He ran his hands over my back. "I know I was stupid." I hiccupped again. "My anger got the best of me."

Jenson ran his hand over my hair before gripping a fistful and gently tugging my head back from his chest so he could look down at me. "Sometimes, being the bigger person and walking away says more than throwing your fists and your weight around. If she went behind your back and betrayed you like that, then she wasn't worth the energy you expended."

My bottom lip trembled. The betrayal hurt. God, it hurt. She'd been my best friend, yet she chose some lame-ass dick over years of friendship.

"It hurts," I whispered, casting my eyes down from his.

Jenson leaned down and kissed some of my tears away, somehow soothing the ache in my chest as he did so. "I know it does, doll. It's going to. But eventually, you'll come to realize that she wasn't worth your time, your anger, or your tears." He suddenly lifted me, and I wrapped my arms and legs around him, clinging to him as tightly as I could. With one arm curled beneath my ass, he ran his other hand down my spine. "How about a shower and some cuddles?"

I sniffled and nodded my head. He pressed a kiss to my temple before walking up the stairs with me in his arms, comforting me even if I knew I didn't deserve it. But if he'd turned his back on me like my parents had, I wasn't sure if I could have coped.

At least I still had Jenson.