by K. Walker
“What was that, Sophia?” she asked and emphasized my name.
“Nothing,” I smiled at her.
“It better be. You don’t want to get on my bad side.”
We looked around at each other and then exploded into giggles. Why? She had said something stupid – we couldn’t imagine a Callie with a good side. Her bad side was her resting state.
“What’s so damn funny?” she asked and glared at me through intense, blue eyes. None of us answered. “I have a few ideas for the Christmas dance.”
“Don’t bother,” Amanda stopped her. “I won’t use any. Plus, you have your own party to plan for, right?”
“I was just helping you out, but if you want to make it lame again and have people leave halfway through…be my guest,” she said and turned hotly. She hadn’t gone ten paces, and we were still overly annoyed when she stopped to take out her phone. “Yes?!” she answered angrily.
“Wonder who that is?” Amanda asked. “Oh, wait, it could be anybody.” She rolled her eyes and dove into her box again.
“What!” She paused and her body got tense. “So? I don’t care,” she spat, and our brows tilted. Any conversation where someone could piss off Callie was a good one as far as we were concerned. “Mom, I. Don’t. Care,” she said emphatically, and her fists balled at her side. She turned suddenly like she just remembered where she was and lowered her voice before turning back around. “You can’t tell me what to do. That’s my house, too. In fact, it’s all mine. You’re not getting shit!”
We looked at each other suspiciously. What was she talking about? And to her mother at that. Of course, our ears were attuned, and we fiddled with tinsel and scraps as we eavesdropped on her conversation. It sounded like juicy gossip.
“No, I’ll show you.” She said and hung up. She stood still for a few seconds as we waited for the explosion. She turned and smiled. “Any of you girls up for a party at my house later? I have a mother to piss off.”
We looked at each other. Usually, I would have said no, but no way was I missing an epic meltdown between Callie and her mom. That could be the party of the year.
“Count me in,” I grinned.
“What?” Amanda asked in disbelief.
“Me, too,” Liz clamored.
Amanda was beside herself with shock.
“Cool,” Callie replied. “I’ll send out a blast.”
She wasn’t gone before Amanda’s wide eyes found us. “What? You’re going to her party?”
“Why not?” I asked. “She just had a fight with her Mom. That party is going to be the talk of the rest of senior year. I’m not getting that information second-hand.”
“Me, neither,” Liz said.
“They do have a point,” Stacey joined, and Amanda sighed.
Alexi burst through the cafeteria door and scurried over to us. “You all started without me?”
“I didn’t realize this was a team thing,” I said and raised my brows.
“It’s not. But they all join in,” Amanda waved. “And we didn’t really start…just running through some ideas.”
“What’d I miss?” Alexi asked and swept her raven hair backward and out of her face before climbing onto the table to sit.
“Nothing much, except we’re going to a party at Callie’s later,” Liz beamed.
“What?” Alexi asked and laughed. “How did that happen?”
“Callie and her mom had a huge blowout, so now Callie’s hosting a party to piss her off,” Stacey replied excitedly. “Not missing that!”
“Well, I’m game.”
“Alexi!” Amanda scolded. “I thought you would be on my side.”
“You’re not going?” Alexi asked and flattened her palms against her cheeks and opened her mouth. “Shocker.”
She was being sarcastic, but it was too funny for us not to laugh. Amanda’s pout deepened just as our phones started beeping and buzzing at the same time.
“That must be her,” Liz said and flipped her phone over. “Yep—party at her house. Bare as you dare. Dang!”
“Wow! She’s really mad,” Alexi laughed. “Definitely going now.”
“Wonder if the boys are?” Liz asked and looked over at me. “You think?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “But I’ll be there. Chad can go if he wants to or not.”
“I can’t believe all of you,” Amanda complained.
“Us? I can’t believe you!” Alexi exclaimed. “You’re such a Debbie-downer lately. What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,’ Amanda grumbled. “Let’s just finish up with this.”
We exchanged glances as she started stuffing things into the box that weren’t even in there to begin with.
“I think I know what the problem is,” Alexi said as she hopped off the table. “I believe our little Amanda is a little jealous.” She started pinching her cheeks and making baby cooing sounds.
“I’m what?” Amanda asked and slapped Alexi’s hands away. “I’m not jealous. And I’m not stopping you all from doing anything.”
“I agree, Alexi,” I reply and inched closer to her. “Come on, Amanda,” I said and started tugging at her arm. “Let’s just have some fun. It’s senior year. Forget that it’s Callie’s house. You’ve been there before, anyway. What’s the big deal this time?”
“I just don’t want to go,” she insisted. “You all can have fun without me.”
“Hell, no!” I said and tugged on her arm. “You’re going if I have to drag you there myself,” I said and poked her in the side.
She giggled. “Is that so?”
“I know you want to go,” I pleaded and swung her arm. “Come on.”
“Yeah, come with us,” Liz said and clung to her other arm.
Amanda rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine. But I’m not going to enjoy it.”
“Yay!” Liz squealed. “It’s going to be so much fun.”
“Indeed,” Alexi said and hopped off the table. “Okay, I think I’m going to head out.”
“Me too,” I agreed.
We packed up the accessories and returned them to the art room before splitting up. My eyes burned by the time I rolled into the driveway. Mom’s car was there, which was unusual.
I got out and opened the door. The house was quiet. She was probably sleeping. She was never home before six, which meant she was wiped out.
I walked through the house, careful not to make any sound – she was a light sleeper, and I wasn’t sure where she might be wiped out. I slipped my keys into my purse and started walking upstairs.
I was passing the bathroom when I heard a sound. I stopped and listened. There was nothing, so I started walking again.
“No, I just can’t take it, working there anymore,” Mom said.
And I froze. I was going to call her, but something stopped me. I stood outside the cracked door, listening.
“The woman is so evil,” Mom said like she was wringing the emotion out of the word. “How could you even think about poisoning your own brother? No wonder David has me watching her around the clock.”
And everything went mute after that.
Chapter 19
Sophia
I must not have heard her right.
I looked down the hallway, my feet wanting to bolt, but my curiosity pinning me to the spot.
Mom’s voice had dimmed to a whisper. “Jack, I just want this over with. God knows what she’d do to me if she had the chance.”
Pause.
“I know. I’m trying to be careful, but who knows? I have to be there every day, and I’ve seen the way she looks at me. Don’t let me get started on what she says to me half the times.
Pause.
“As if nursing wasn’t hard and time-consuming enough.”
The blood was rushing to my head and pooling there. I was pretty sure that even if I wanted to walk away, I couldn’t. My body was in fright mode.
“Anyway, I’m going to run. I think I heard Sophia come…”
The door opened
wider and she saw me, standing like an idiot out in the hallway. I had been caught. Or should I say, she had been caught?
“Mom…” I said feebly.
“Sophia!” she exclaimed, and then looked quickly at the phone.
My eyes couldn’t leave her face. “Is it true?”
“Jack, I’ll have to call you back,” she said hurriedly and hung up. “Baby, what did you hear?” she asked in a panicked voice and clung to my arms.
“I heard,” I told her, my eyes searching hers, and my chest burning as my heartbeat too fast against it. “Mrs. Humpry’s been poisoning her brother?”
She squeezed the bridge of her nose with her index and thumb. “You weren’t supposed to hear that. Listen, sweetie; you can’t tell anyone about that. I only said it to Jack because he’s working on the case, so he knows anyway.”
I was still in shock. “Does Callie know?”
“Uh, I don’t know,” Mom replied and then furrowed her brows. “Maybe. Why? Do you think she does?”
“I don’t know,” I said and leaned against the door jamb in shock. I couldn’t imagine what could drive someone to do something so cruel to their own family. I had heard Mrs. Humpry was a piece of work, but this was insane. “She’s been acting weird lately. She came to school a couple of days ago spaced out, and then she left by maybe third period.”
“She isn’t supposed to know,” Mom replied, and seemed to be searching her memory for any indication of how she could know something like that.
At least now I wasn’t so much in the dark about the case they were building against her. It sounded criminal, which meant she might get locked up.
“How do you know she’s poisoning him?”
Mom shrugged. I don’t know how David found out, but he confided in me when he hired me and gave me the NDA to sign. Mum’s the word since then, and she hasn’t been allowed around Travis without my supervision. I oversee his meals and anything he uses or ingests.”
“Damn,” I replied. “Now I get why you’re always there, and at such long hours. So, how come you’re home now? It’s pretty early.”
“She went out of town earlier,” Mom explained and finally stepped out of the bathroom.
“That explains why Callie’s throwing a party later,” I said. “I heard her on the phone earlier, like the two were arguing again.”
“You should see them at home,” Mom groaned. “It’s like walking into a den of lions every day. They’re always at each other’s throat like it’s a power struggle.”
“It is a power struggle,” I remarked. “I’m just not sure any of them can win. And what’s the prize?”
Mom just gave me an odd look and walked off. That’s how I knew there was more. “You’re not telling me something. Mom!” She kept walking towards her bedroom. “Why does Mrs. Humpry want to kill her brother?”
Mom stopped and sighed. “Baby, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation. Your Dad says if we talk about anything, it could affect the case.”
I groaned. “Come on, Mom. It’s me. And I already heard the worst part.” I tilt my head and tug at her arm. “Just tell me. I know this must be eating away at you. I heard how you were talking to Dad earlier.”
Her shoulders sagged in resign. “It’s not something I even want to think about,” she said when she turned. “But,” her eyes were sorrowful and she bit her lower lip like she was contemplating if she should say anything. “She was trying to kill him, so she didn’t have to wait for her inheritance any longer, but then David found out what she was trying to do he hired me. Travis changed the will and now Callie’s set to inherit everything, and with Callie being a minor still, David would be her trustee. In other words, Natalie wouldn’t get anything.”
I scrunched up my face. “Holy shit, that is awful.”
Mom threw her hands in the air. “She’s spiteful and a very mean woman.”
“That would explain it. Callie’s just like that, and now her conversation makes sense. I think she knows.”
Mom’s eyes widened and her grip on my arm tightened. “How? What did she say?”
“Not her exact words, but she was talking to her Mom earlier and telling her it all belongs to her, and she could do whatever she wanted and she couldn’t stop her. Something like that.”
“Hmm,” Mom mused. Then she waved me off. “It doesn’t matter if she knows that. We’re not building the case around that.”
“What?” I asked in disbelief. “So what was all the secrecy for? You had me wringing it out of you just now.”
She chuckled. “Because I didn’t want you to worry, that’s why.”
“Wait, if they’re not using that to build the case, then what?”
Mom smirked. “Now that I can’t tell you,” she said as she stepped into her room. She was closing the door when I pressed it back.
“Does that mean I can go to the party at her house?” I hoped she wouldn’t say no under the circumstances.
She paused and thought for a little bit. “I guess, but get back here by eleven. You do have school in the morning, still.” The door started closing, and then it opened again. “And don’t make this a habit. Oh, and no one hears about this. Not even Chad.”
“Okay, and thanks,” I said and walked back to my room.
I couldn’t believe what I had heard even after Mom had explained. I was eager to share the news with someone else, but I had promised Mom I wouldn’t. It sure would have gotten a round of gawks and giggles from the girls, because who doesn’t want to see Callie’s world topple down around her?
The girl is a world-class bitch, but she throws good parties, and the one for tonight should be awesome. Her mom was out of town, so that should be even better.
It wasn’t until about six that I heard from Amanda—of all people. Her text woke me up.
Amanda: Hey, I need a ride with you.
Sophia: Sure thing. Be there in thirty…or more lol!
Amanda: Did you fall asleep?
Sophia: I might have.
Amanda: Smh! Well, get up and get ready. You all forced me into this so why am I the only one getting ready?
Sophia: Because you really wanted to go
Amanda: Whatever! See you in a little.
I wiped away the yawn that was slowly taking over my face. At this rate, I would actually need to study for the end of semester exams. Usually, I would just do it the night before, but in this town, a party seemed to take precedence.
I lugged myself over to the mirror and examined my reflection. My long brown hair lay in a heap, and I finger-combed it back to its usual bone-straight look and swept it to the side. I poked at my eyes and stretched my face until the sleep was all gone.
“Now, what to wear,” I mumbled and headed to the closet. “Bare as you dare,” she’d said. “Let’s go with that.
I had a black lace dress that had solid lines and cups in the bikini areas – that should work. It was either that or naked.
I cleaned up quickly, smeared lip gloss over my lips, dabbed some perfume over my pulses, and paused for just a second to admire myself. Mom was still sleeping, so I slipped out quietly without waking her.
I tossed my purse in the car when the phone rang. I ignored and backed out of the driveway when the R8 pulled up right behind me and stopped. I had to break, and my tires squealed on the pavement, so I parked the car and flew out of it.
“Chad? Are you crazy?”
“Sophia, you’re not seriously going to that party, are you?”
I folded my arms. “Why not?”
“Because…” He paused, and I watched how his eyes grew darker as he swept my body. “Damn! You’re going in that?”
I smiled and walked up to him. “I am. Sure, you don’t want to come and protect me from all the big bad wolves who will want to prey on me?”
He growled low in his throat and took two steps that landed him right in front of me. Before I knew what was happening, his lips were crushing mine, and he was pressing into me as I backed int
o my car.
“Chad,” I whispered as his lips moved to my neck. I could feel his heart beating against my chest, and his hard-on growing by the second at an alarming rate. “The neighbors.” I was so self-conscious of being caught making out in my driveway, and how Mom would feel if…Mom, shit! She was still inside.
I used all my energy to pry him off of me. “Okay, down boy,” I giggled as he remained attached to me like my personal human magnet. Or steel – some would argue I was the magnet.
“So what if someone sees us? All of this is mine, isn’t it?”
Shivers ran up and down my spine when he spoke in that low, guttural sound. I could hear how much he wanted me, and he was beginning to tempt me to go back inside.
“It is, and it’ll be yours later, and tomorrow, and the day after that…”
I jumped when his finger moved over my already pulsating center. “But I’m more of an in-the-moment kind of guy,” he said and nuzzled my neck again.
‘Ugh!” I groaned. I didn’t know what I wanted anymore, and the longer his lips stayed on me, the easier it would be to go back inside. “Come on,” I said stubbornly and grabbed his hand. “We’re going to a party. At least there, we can make out and not get caught by my mom or the neighbors.”
He pulled his head back and held up his index finger. “Good point. Give me your keys.”
I snapped my head back. “And why is that?”
“Because you’re coming with me. I’m not taking my eyes off of you all night.” He was ogling me again, but the way he did it was sexy. Desire burned in his eyes that it could probably start a California blaze inside me.
I giggled. “Fine. But we have to pick up Amanda, or she’s going to kill me.”
“Cool.”
“Key’s in the car.”
He parked the car in its original position as I walked to his car and got in. He got in and instantly pulled my face to his and started kissing me again.
“Okay, let’s go,” I told him and pulled back again.
He was grinning when he pulled off. “Gotta call the guys,” he mumbled and tapped the screen on his dash. Deven’s name came up first. He tapped the name and the line started trilling.
