Scared of Beautiful (Scared #1)(59)
“I’m being a friend Maia, that’s all. You are beautiful. No man could possibly deny that, but you obviously have unresolved issues elsewhere,” he says looking down. “To be honest, I don’t think I can distract you from them completely.” So he did hear the conversation I had with my mother.
“Then why waste your time?” I ask, feeling every bit as undeserving as I should.
“Because that’s what friends do,” he replies simply. “And gentlemen don’t push too hard, either.” He gives me a reassuring and gorgeous smile before getting up to return our trays.
My cell phone has remained perched on my bedside, minus the sim card, since my mother entered the hospital. I don’t know if Jade or Jackson has called, and the thought plays on my mind steadily throughout the day. I call my lawyer from a pay phone in the hospital lobby, and he advises me that the charges against Jackson have been dropped completely. I make a second call to the police station here to confirm that the charges are still holding against my father, and they are. I breathe a sigh of relief on both accounts. I’m anxious as to how Jade will react to me not showing up in Atlanta or calling, but I can only hope that once she knows my reasons, she will understand.
It’s dark by the time I leave the hospital. My mother had no visitors today besides me. It’s no surprise, considering that in our society, this is a major scandal. Then a thought slams into me. I haven’t told Megs about what happened. Even if she was worried about my mother not coming home yesterday, there was no way for her to contact me, due to my disabled phone.
I stop at the convenience store at the end of my street and buy a new sim card before racing home. As I’m shoving my wallet back into my bag, I slam into a body. I look up and Bryce’s irritating face is staring back at me, with a sympathetic smirk plastered on his face. He quickly shoves a pack of Magnum XXL condoms into his pocket. It seems someone is a touch presumptuous about his own size. I meet his smirk with one of my own.
“Maia,” he breathes out.
His voice grates at my nerves. f-ucking ass. “Bryce,” I say curtly.
“Hey, so sorry about your mother and your father being in prison, that’s rough.”
“And you care, because?” I retort sarcastically.
“Trying to be supportive, that’s all,” he says defensively, looking genuinely wounded. I don’t think he realizes how much of an ass he actually comes across as.
“I’m sure it’s the talk of the town,” I say shortly. “We know how much Manhattan loves a good scandal.”
Bryce looks down. “I’m genuinely sorry,” he says, and I almost feel sorry for being so hard on him. Almost. “On a brighter note, you must be happy that your boyfriend is back in town,” he says, smiling.
My heart seizes. There’s no way I’m about to elude to the sleazy * that is Bryce that Jackson and I are not together. In part because I’m not in the mood for his unwanted advances, but more so because I don’t want to admit it to myself, just yet.
“Yeah, it is great, isn’t it?” I say with an overly exaggerated smile.
“Say hi to Morgan,” I jibe, before walking towards my car.
My legs quiver unsteadily, and the minute I climb into my car I let out a huge sigh. “He’s back,” I say smiling. Then I realize that he’s not mine to welcome back anymore. And my heart sinks, all over again.
Chapter 34
Jackson
Jade was not happy that I was going to Providence to win Maia back. I get it; she’s concerned. But the thing she should be more concerned about is me without her. Without Maia, I feel like I have no motivation, no purpose at all. In getting Maia back, I’m also saving myself.
When I arrive back at my dorm, I find Ben in exactly the same place I left him, tucked into his bed, even though it’s five in the evening. The room smells suspiciously like weed, and I notice there are a number of pipes and beer bottles strewn around it. A dredded, Rastafarian-looking dude is splayed across my bed as well. I nudge his leg with my knee and he wakes slowly, rubbing his eyes.
“Do you mind man?” I say as politely as I can manage.
“Hey man,” he says with a drawl. “Who are you?”
“That doesn’t matter, what matters is that you need to get the hell off my bed,” I say, losing patience.
“Sure man,” he raises his hands in surrender before ambling slowly out the door. Gotta love the compliant nature of stoners. I shake my head.
“Where the f-uck have you been?” Ben moans from his bed.
“Visiting home,” I offer as the only explanation.
“You may wanna wash those sheets,” he instructs before pulling the covers over his head.
I stare down at the bed in disgust.
The thing about forever, I’ve realized, is that it’s really not promised. The scar from the bullet that I took in my arm sliced straight across my infinity tattoo, the universe’s way of making sure that I never forget it, either.
I shower, and then the first thing on my mind is finding Maia. It’s probably hopeless, but there are a few things that I need to say. If for nothing else, then closure. I check my email quickly and see a few messages from Shana with pictures of Daniella. Her innocent smile warms my heart. Every moment that passes since I came back here seems hell bent on reminding me of all the reasons that I can’t afford to f-uck up the rest of my life. I feel like such a little bitch agonizing over what I should to wear to see Maia, and opt for what I wore the day I met her. Jeans and a white tee. I’m offering her myself, faults and all. That’s all I have to give her, anyway. And I hope to f-ucking God that that’s enough.