Page 27

“On how damaging it is,” she replied.

I knew better than anyone how damaging or beneficial a little gossip could be, so I nodded. “Well, we better get out of here then. Give them less material to work with.”

“I guess,” she agreed. “Although knowing the kids here, it’s probably too late.”

We didn’t talk as I drove Teagan back to the house I was renting while I was in town, and she kept her gaze focused out the passenger window the entire journey. It wasn’t exactly surprising that she didn’t want to interact with me. She’d made her feelings about me more than clear in the few interactions we’d had. She was far from my biggest fan.

“Zeke, I’m home,” I called out, as I led Teagan into the foyer of the house.

She glanced around the room but didn’t really react as she took in the sizable entrance. The house was ostentatious and screamed of wealth, but that didn’t seem to bother her. I was actually surprised by how unaffected she was and had to wonder if it was because she was simply unimpressed by it or if she was just good at covering her emotions.

“Hi, honey, how was school?” Zeke called back. It sounded like he was in the kitchen, so I signaled for Teagan to follow me there.

Zeke was sitting and working at the breakfast bar. He had his laptop open, and there was a large pile of scripts at his side. His eyes were downcast on his phone as I entered the room, but his eyebrows lifted with surprise when he looked up and found I wasn’t alone.

“Teagan, hi,” he said in greeting. “I didn’t know you were coming over.”

“We have a project to work on together,” I quickly explained.

“Oh, really?” Zeke was grinning like he was thoroughly enjoying my awkwardness and his voice was filled with connotations.

“Yep,” I replied. “We’ll go work on it in the living room. Do you have any messages for me?”

Zeke’s face immediately sobered. “None you want to hear. Your mother called.”

I tried to keep my expression neutral at the news. She rarely checked in with me unless I’d messed up. I didn’t think I’d done anything to warrant a call, but whatever her reason for ringing, I knew it couldn’t be good.

“She hasn’t heard from you in days and wants you to call her back as soon as possible,” he continued.

That definitely meant bad news, but I wasn’t about to reveal so much in front of Teagan. “I’ll call her back when we’re finished with our schoolwork,” I replied. “Come on, Teagan.”

She quietly followed me to the living room. We’d rented the house fully furnished, and it wasn’t exactly to my taste. Everything in it was far too extravagant and pretentious for my liking, and there was nothing comfortable or inviting about it. The sofas were covered in an elaborate woven material, and paintings surrounded by heavy golden frames dotted every wall. The place was probably costing me an arm and a leg, but I didn’t really care about the money. I just wished it felt more like home.

“Your mom isn’t staying here with you?” Teagan asked, as we sat down. I didn’t miss that she made a point of sitting on the couch across from me rather than at my side.

“No, she’s in New York with my sister,” I replied.

She pulled her books out of the backpack she’d slung on the floor and tapped a pen against her lip as she focused on me. “And you’re allowed to just live here with no parents around?”

I shrugged. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a parent watching over me.”

Teagan frowned at the comment, as though it troubled her. “But you’re only seventeen.”

“And I’ve been treated like an adult since I was eight,” I replied. “It’s no big deal.”

Her lips creased and scrunched to the side as she considered my response. “I think it’s a bigger deal than you’re making out,” she said. “Everyone wants to have a parent to look after them.”

I scoffed. “Not my mom.”

“And your dad?”

Again, I shrugged. “He’s not in the picture. Shouldn’t we be getting started on the assignment?”

“Right,” she replied. But from the way she kept watching me, I could see she was repeating our conversation over again in her mind.

I let out a long breath when she hadn’t said a word and I could see that she wasn’t going to move past it. “Look, not all parents are perfect,” I said. “And some kids are better off without their toxic influence in their life.”

“So, your mom is toxic?”