I gape at her in horror. “You’re such a mean ass.”
“I get the job done.” Her black ponytail swooshes as she turns on her heel and bounds out of my room.
Eighteen minutes later—because I know to trust Tierra’s threats—I’m headed downstairs, wisely avoiding Dad’s office where he bitches someone out on the phone. I find Mom and Tierra cozied up at the bar in the kitchen.
“Rough night?” Mom asks, her green eyes twinkling.
“Something like that.”
Mom gets up and sets to making me a coffee. I need to look for apartments too, but until I secure a job, staying with my parents is my only option. Not that I ever complain about Mom fussing over her only son like it’s her job in life.
“Spoiled,” Tierra mouths to me.
I smirk at her as I accept my coffee from Mom.
“Tierra says you two are going to visit Terrence and then go job hunting.” Mom smiles, relief washing over her. “You’ve got that fancy degree now. I’m excited for you to get to use it.”
“Yeah,” I grumble, already over this conversation.
“So, are you excited?” Mom asks Tierra. “I know this is a big change for you.”
Tierra stiffens. “I think it’s a good change.”
“What?” I demand, feeling left out.
“She’s moving in with Rhetta and doing her senior year at Hood River,” Mom explains. “We’ll get to see more of our baby girl.”
Tierra’s grin is too toothy. Too bright. Fucking fake. I level her with a glare that says we’ll be discussing this further later.
“Won’t that mess up college?” I ask. “Aren’t you like the best one on your basketball team over there?”
She shrugs, her brown eyes darting down to her coffee. “I’ll be the best here too. We always kill Hood River whenever we play them.”
Mom chatters her ear off, giving me a moment to drink my coffee and stew over this. Terrence has been living with his grandma since he was five. His mom, Precious, was no better than Roan’s, getting her ass thrown in prison for prostitution and selling drugs. No one knows who his dad is as he’s never been in the picture. Tierra’s dad, Precious’s brother Deric, has always seemed to have his shit together, so I don’t know what’s going on there, but I intend to find out.
“We better get going,” I interrupt. “I need to see T.”
They both give me sympathetic looks that make my hackles rise. It’s like everyone has just given up on Terrence. He’s not dead. He’ll pull through. Together, we’ll make everyone feel like shit for abandoning him, too.
“Tell Dad I’m sorry,” I mutter to Mom. “Things have been rough.”
She nods. “He knows, baby. Take care of you. Dad and I have things covered around here. Make sure my baby girl eats, though, and you guys come back later for supper. Dad’ll make steak since it’s so nice out.”
I tug on Tierra’s ponytail and then snag my keys up on the way out the door. She follows me out and easily climbs into the truck. I turn over the engine and peel out, kicking up dirt all over the side of our house. Mom will kill me later for it and make me hose it down. We’re quiet as we drive, both of us contemplative. Eventually, I glance over at her.
“Spill, princess.”
She sighs heavily and then wipes her brown hands over her white shorts. “Dad is making me.”
“Why?”
“Stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?”
She crosses her arms over her chest and huffs. “Fine. I’ll tell you. So help me, if you laugh at me, I’ll whip your ass, Cal. I’m not joking.”
“No promises. If it’s funny, I’ll fucking laugh.”
“It’s not funny,” she mutters, her voice shaking.
“Then I won’t laugh.”
“It’s…” She picks at her fingernail before shrugging. “I’ve been getting bullied.”
I snort.
“I said don’t laugh!”
“I’m not laughing,” I bite back. “I find it unbelievable. You’re you. Feisty as fuck. Who would mess with you? I have scars that prove that’s a bad idea.”
She smiles. “I can beat your ass any day.”
“So, some girl is a bitch to you and you give up?”
“Not a girl. All of them.”
“Why?”
“Listen,” she says, her voice twinged with fear. “It sounds worse than it was.”
I pull into the hospital parking lot, figuring we can eat after, and park near the front entrance. Killing the engine, I turn to look at her. “Tell me.”
“I, uh, started talking to this guy. Sent some pictures. Professed my love.” She swipes at a tear. “I don’t know what happened, but someone sent them to every single guy at our school.”
I freeze as rage ripples violently through me. “What kind of pictures?”
“The kind that are illegal considering my age. The police had to come into the school to explain the seriousness of having those pictures on their devices.” A sob chokes her. “They could go to prison for something someone else sent them. And me…they said I could be prosecuted as well if they decided to go that route.”
“What the fuck?” I roar, slamming my fist on the steering wheel. “Who did this? I’m going to kill them.”
“No!” she cries out. “It was a mistake.”
“Who did you send the pictures to?”
This time, she shudders, burying her face in her hands. “Dad’s co-worker, Tim.”
“How the fuck old is he?”
She snaps her head up, her teary brown eyes locking with mine. “Dad’s age, but—”
“Jesus, Tierra! He should fucking rot in prison!”
A howl of sadness pierces the air. Her whole body trembles.
“It was innocent,” she tries, her voice wobbling. “We couldn’t help it we fell in love.”
“He’s a bastard,” I growl. “Did you…”
“No,” she snaps. “We wanted to. Would have if all this hadn’t blown up. His daughter, Sage, was so mad. I think she’s the one who found out and sent them to everyone. All the girls in the school hate me because their boyfriends saw me naked.” She pauses. “All the male teachers too.”
I can’t exactly kill some teenage girl, but I would love to get my hands on Tim for preying on my little
