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It’s annoying. They won’t talk to me, but they stalk my every fucking move.
And I’m sure it’s all Xayden’s doing. God forbid he lets his father find out something happened to me.
Actually, I’m kind of glad he hasn’t. Pretty sure my mom would pull me immediately out of school. Especially after that whole dryer incident.
Which everyone still blames me for. Because why would I ruin my own clothes? Well, since they can’t figure out who did it, must be me, right?
Whatever. As long as I can graduate and get my degree, I really don’t give a fuck.
“Yeah. You know, a night out may be nice. We’ve been killing ourselves with this studio project, and we deserve it.” I shrug.
“Will your watchdogs be there?” Addy raises an eyebrow at me. She knows they’re following me everywhere, and she thinks it’s cute and sexy how I have three hidden bodyguards.
I keep reminding her that life isn’t a romance book.
“Let’s hope not. I would like to feel like I’m not being suffocated. But I don’t want to stay out too late. I have to finish that model tomorrow, and dragging ass isn’t on my list of things I want to feel like as I’m doing it.”
She whines, “It’s Thirsty Thursday! We will quench our thirst and then come back home.” Addy smiles.
My phone rings, and I see it’s my mom, so I quickly pick it up.
“Hey, Mom. How’s it going?” I say as I throw myself back onto my pillows, holding the phone to my ear.
“Oh, I’m fine, sweetheart. Just calling to check in on you and see how classes are going.” There’s a lot of noise coming through the speaker, voices and laughter, coupled with a gust of wind blowing by.
“I’m great. But where are you? I can barely hear you. The wind and whatever is going on around you is loud.”
“Oh well, we’re outside in the parking lot. Can you come down? We have a surprise for you,” my mom says excitedly.
“What? You’re in the parking lot?” I sit straight up.
She laughs. “Yes! Aaron and I.”
“Um, okay. I’m headed down. Be right there.” I hop out of bed, ending the call and meeting the curious look of Addy.
“What was that about?” Her eyebrows jut upward.
“My mom is in the parking lot with my stepdad. Wanna join me for whatever this surprise is about?” I ask as I walk toward the door.
“Oh, hell yeah I do.” Addy jumps off her bed and we make our way out of the dorms.
Once we reach the parking lot, I see my mom and Aaron standing there waving at me. I immediately run toward her, and my arms wrap around her the minute I reach her.
“Mom!” Tears start to pool in the corner of my eyes.
“Oh, Aurora. How I missed you.” She squeezes me tighter before pulling back to take a look at me. “How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine. I … I missed you.” I sniffle.
“Oh, my beautiful baby girl. See? Staying in Las Vegas would have been harder. I wouldn’t be able to see you without hopping on a flight and booking a hotel.” My mom plays with my hair and smiles down at me.
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. You like having me close.” I roll my eyes.
“Has Xayden been helping you get settled here? Meeting people and all? Doing his big brother duties?”
My stomach drops, and I swallow over the newfound lump in my throat. “Stepbrother, and he doesn’t need to help me make friends, Mom. Besides, I’ve been busy with school. So, haven’t seen him much.”
She makes a face, then shrugs. “Well, we really need to do a family dinner one of these weekends.”