Page 62 of How to Break My Heart

“It’s not worth talking about.”

I hear her sigh. “Why do you let him get to you, Aston?”

My head shakes unwillingly as I stare out the window. “You have no idea who my father is.”

“Maybe. But I know what I feel. And for as long as I’ve known your father, he has made me feel…” Everleigh pauses, then continues, “Uncomfortable.”

“Among many things he makes a person feel,” I mutter.

“We don’t have to talk about it,” she falters, quickly glancing at me, only to focus back on the road. “Unless, of course, you want to. No pressure.”

I take another long drink, allowing the liquor to burn. “Then let’s not.”

“Okay, fine,” she answers. “Where do you want me to take you?”

“Your place,” I tell her.

“My place?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“I’ll make a deal with you. Stop drinking, and you can come back to my place. Otherwise, I will dump you on the side of the road right here in the pitch black and let a bear feast on your drunk ass.”

I hand the bottle to her, and she places it in the middle console. “Good boy. Now, don’t throw up on me, because I’m a secondary vomiter.”

The Bluetooth sounds with an incoming call. My sister’s name flashes on the screen as I reach over to decline the call, but Everleigh pushes my hand away to hit answer.

“Maddy, it’s me,” she says, twisting her mouth. “I’m driving Aston’s car.”

Madelina sighs over the speaker. “Is everything okay? I came back into the room, and you guys were gone. What did Dad say, Aston?”

“It’s not your problem,” I tell her.

“Well, Dad is drinking again, and Mom is packing a bag to stay in a hotel.” Madelina sounds worried. “I’ll stay here to make sure he’s okay.”

“I’m coming back home, Madelina.” I twist to look at Everleighbut press end to terminate the call. “Turn around, we’re going back.”

“You want to go back?”

A heavy weight sits in the pit of my stomach. “My mother and sister need me.”

Reality has pulled me out of my selfish existence once again.

The silence in the car allows me to overthink, so by the time we get back to the house, the darkness reminds me of what my life has become.

Theknight in shining armorfor all the wrong fucking reasons.

Everleigh turns the engine off and then places her hand on mine. “Do you want me to go in with you?”

“No, I will take it from here.”

“Okay,” she whispers. “I’ll call someone to pick me up—”

“Take my car,” I interrupt, quick to unfasten my seat belt. “I don’t want you getting into some car with a stranger.”

“There’s no Ubers or cabs out here. I would have called a friend who I trust.”

I tilt my head, annoyed. “A doctor friend?”