Chapter Nineteen

Honey

Olivia: Call me ASAP

I laugh, knowing exactly what she wants to talk to me about. It took two hours for the school to find out about Zach and me in the janitor's closet, and I'm not even embarrassed about it. Everyone got what they wanted. I got revenge, Zach got an extra five thousand, and Jamie got what he deserved. How I wish I could have been there when he found out. Zach made me come with his hips, which is more than Jamie could accomplish over several years.

I toss my phone back into my bag and get out of the car. As much as I want to talk to Olivia, I need to be in my room to feel comfortable talking about it.

Skipping to the front door, I can't help but feel a lightness in my heart. I feel carefree and ready to take on anything for the first time.

Are things finally coming together for me?

It sure feels like it. I may have surprised Zach with my proposal, but he didn't say no. He rocked my world instead.

Stepping into my house, I stop when I see her.

"Hunniford." My mother's toe taps against our marbled floor while she glares at me, wearing an impeccable white pantsuit for a job she doesn't have. I genuinely wonder what she does all day. It's not like she's even one of those influencer moms who wastes time taking pictures of her house to share. She sits at the club, gossiping about South Point Prep with other moms, drinking her gin and tonic.

"Afternoon, Mother." My voice is flat, and I try to walk around her so I can get up the stairs to my room. "Did you have a good day?" I ask as though I care.

She cackles out a harsh laugh and shakes her head. It's then I know I've done something wrong, and she's not just trying to get any information out of me." How long did you think you'd get away with it for?"

With wide eyes, I still for a moment. Surely she doesn't know about the janitor's closet? There's no video evidence, and everyone knows not to share that stuff with parents. Turning, a shiver racks my body as I ask, "Get away with what?"

She rolls her eyes and sighs. "Don't play dumb." Oh, God. She knows. "When were you going to tell me you missed a month's worth of elocution lessons?" My heartbeat slows, thankful I don't have to explain the janitor's closet, but I have no idea how to explain my absence. I don't know; it's just that since Zach came into my life, everything I did to please my mother has seemed pointless. I already had early acceptance to St. Michael's, and I've been acing all of my classes, so I thought I'd ditch a class or two.

"My elocution lessons?" My voice can't get any higher as I try to rack my brain for an excuse.

My mother lets out a low growl. "Can you imagine my surprise when I learned you've also missed riding practice and debate?" The only sign of annoyance is an irritated raised brow. Besides that, her face is frozen, almost like she just topped up her Botox.

Well, shit. One of the teachers I paid off ratted me out. Apparently, there is not enough money in the world to go against Hayley Sanderson. I should have known. For all the money I have, she'll always have more.

I open my mouth, trying to think up an excuse, but my mother raises her hand to hush me. "Save it. I don't want to hear it. Your father and I are extremely disappointed in you." I let out a frustrated tut. My father only remembers I exist when I'm at his fancy dinners. "I've spoken with your teachers and have arranged a weekend of classes to make up for the ones you've missed."

"But I'd have to be in class the whole weekend to make up all that." My mother glares at me, letting it sink in. "Oh." I sigh. I guess I'm not getting a weekend, then.

"Your elocution classes start at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow," she states as I walk up the stairs, refusing to look at her. "Oh, and your father and I agreed that you're grounded." I stop walking and grip the banister.

I let out a humorless laugh, looking over my shoulder. "You can't ground me. I'm eighteen."

"I can do whatever I like. I'm your mother, and I'm the one paying for your four-thousand-dollar-a-month lifestyle."

Four thousand dollars? What the hell am I doing that costs four thousand dollars a month? She's got to be including my school fees and car to get to that level.

"Fine." I can't be bothered to argue with her because I refuse to let her pettiness ruin my day. "If you need me, I'll be in my room."

As I tread up the stairs, my mother just has to get one more dig in. "It's funny. We never had this issue when you dated Jamie." I clench my fists and bite down on my cheeks because I'm still annoyed that my parents hold him in such high regard. "I put up with you dating Zach because it looks better than you moping over your ex, but I think he's a bad influence on you. Within a month, you've already lost your good manners and are cutting loose on your responsibilities."

"Zach has nothing to do with this." He had no idea I was skipping classes. No one did. I don't know why I skipped out on those classes so often. Half the time, I just drove around, listening to music. I guess I liked owning my time for once. "Jamie's the one that treated me like a dirty tampon, not Zach."

With a sharp inhale, she looks at me with a curled lip. "Honey, don't use that language."

"Why not? It's true. While I was busy at debate, he was busy screwing every girl in school besides me. Jamie is the one that made me the laughingstock of South Point. Zach is the only one salvaging the Sanderson name right now."

Her lips form a flat line. Finally, some emotion. "Give me your phone and go to your room." She sounds like an actual mom for the first time, making me want to laugh. She only cares now because, for the first time in eighteen years, I'm going against her.

"Gladly," I say, tossing the phone in her palm. "Might want to check the hundreds of videos I've been sent of Jamie cheating on me. Maybe you haven't heard, but I get them sent daily. Passcode it 1998, but you knew that already, right?"

She drops my phone into her pocket and doesn't answer. I don't care if she gets the FBI in to scan the contents. There's nothing on there I'm embarrassed about because Zach and I call each other anyway. The only incriminating things on there are of Jamie, and maybe that will finally get her to see sense.

When I reach my bedroom, I fling my body onto the bed and laugh. Did I just stand up to my mother? I may be working my ass off over the weekend, but I finally gave her a piece of my mind, and I think she was shocked—even if her face didn't register it.

After everything that happened today, I don't care that I don't have my phone or I'm stuck in this room for the foreseeable future. Something more happened between Zach and me, and that's all I care about.