Choosing Us (Pierced Hearts Duet #1)(38)

Offended, he put his hands up in the air. “Hey! I didn’t know you were going to dry my jeans. That’s on you.”

“So, you did know the bag was in your jeans?”

He rolled his eyes and clenched his jaw. “No. I didn’t.”

“Then what? Huh? Explain to me what’s going on here, before I explain to Skyler what I think is going on instead.”

He arched an eyebrow, unfazed.

Jesus, does this kid feel anything?

Shrugging, he replied, “Then here’s your chance to get back at me, Camila. Go tattle, I don’t give a shit. Skyler’s not my mother and neither are you.”

I ignored his low blow. “So, you are smoking weed?”

“Why does it matter to you if I am?”

“You’re only thirteen. You have your whole life ahead of you. You shouldn’t be smoking weed that’s why.”

“And why is that, Mary Poppins? You’re telling me you’ve never tried it?”

“Nice try. This isn’t about me. This is about you.”

“Actually, this is about both of us. You brought this on yourself. Stay out of my business and we won’t have any problems. Yeah?”

“You know what? You’re right about one thing, I’m not your mother, nor do I want to be. Why is it so hard for you to see that? The stunt you pulled today crossed the line, Jackson! This is not okay! You know Journey is with me all the time, and the house reeked of weed because of your ploy to get me fired! Thank God I found a surgical mask to put on her, or else I would have been beyond screwed! You put your baby sister’s health in danger!”

“Oh bullshit, you’re just being dramatic. There was barely any weed. She was fine.”

“How would you know? Are you in medical school? Do you have a degree in—”

“Camila! What do you want from me? If you’re looking for an apology, you’re shit out of luck cuz you’re not getting one.”

Oh, hell no…

“Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked to get to this point in my life? I didn’t grow up like you with your million-dollar house, name brand clothes, and overly priced education that you take for granted.” I pointed to myself, standing my ground. I wasn’t leaving this room until I gave him a piece of my mind.

He needed to be put in his place, regardless of the consequences.

“I grew up poor with parents who struggled to put food on the table for all of their kids, but who still provided the best they could under the circumstances. I grew up with hand-me-downs, shopped at thrift stores, bought secondhand everything just so I could have shoes to wear, a book to read, a calculator to do my math homework with. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth like you did! But I’ll tell you one thing, Jackson, if I had, you bet your ass I would’ve appreciated it, and not have been a spoiled little shit like you who doesn’t know the meaning of the word grateful.”

His eyes glazed over. It was quick, but I saw it.

“It’s not my fault your parents didn’t know when to stop having kids.”

My mouth dropped open. “Wow. There is no getting through to you, is there?”

“And yet, here you are, still trying.”

I shook my head disappointed, stepping away from him. “I have nothing left to say to you.”

“Great, cuz I don’t want to hear anymore. Tell Skyler whatever you want, maybe it will make my dad come home for once.”

I cocked my head to the side, the realization slapping me in the face.

Fast and hard.

“This wasn’t about me at all, was it?”

“Get out of my room, Camila.”

“You want me to rat you out, don’t you?”

“I’m not going to say it again.”

“Jackson, acting out isn’t going to bring him hom—”

He got right in my face, seething, “Get out!” My feet stumbled as he backed me out of his room, forcing me into the hallway before slamming the door in my face.

“Jackson!” I banged on his door. “You can’t do this! You can’t just shut me out like this!”

“I just did!” he shouted through the door.

“Come on! Give me a chance! All I’m asking for is a chance!”

To my disbelief, he actually opened up. Getting right in my face again.

“What else do I have to do to—”

“What’s going on here?” Skyler announced, breaking up our argument.

I turned to face her, still feeling Jackson’s heated stare as I shoved the bag of weed in my back pocket.

Still unsure of what to do.

He watched my every move, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Yeah, Camila, what’s going on here?” Jackson baited.

Was he testing me?

“I-I- I-I mean … we were just…”

There were so many ways this could go down. I could tell Skyler and then what?

What would that solve?

What would that help?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized Jackson was the All-Star quarterback for his school. Football was his life, and I don’t think he’d risk that for anything.

It was the only thing he truly seemed passionate about, other than making my life a living, breathing hell of course.