Page 69 of Puck My Life

“Yeah, we fucking are. By the way, I’m moving out.”

The three of them freeze.

Deacon turns back really slowly. “Jazz, call a friend to come get you. We need to talk to our Vae.”

“I’m not your sister! I refuse to sit here and listen to you lecture me,” I snarl back at him.

Mal folds his arms over his chest and deflates. “You’re leaving?”

“Yes-”

“I got into the Scorpions,” Mal says with a small smile.

I stare at him, all the anger seeping away. “You got in?”

“Yeah.”

I stalk out of the house, going out to the backyard and stand there in silence. They’ve followed me out; I can feel them.

“You see that star, the really bright one?”

“Yeah?”

“Maria used to read me this book about a boy who never grew up, pirates, and a world with impossible things. I want to go there. I don’t want to be here anymore. It hurts too much.”

“Vae, if there’s something going on, tell us. We can help you.”

“Forget about it. I’ll stay. While you set up your dream, Mal. I’ll stay.”

I force a smile. Our income isn’t enough to see the four of us into those dreams Maria gave us. And if anyone should get to become something more, it’s them.

Not me.

Never me.

I was just a kid that no one wanted who wished to live on a star.

PRESENT

I storm into the house, but Deacon catches my arm, spinning me around. My lungs seize, and all I can see are those deep blue eyes. I’m so screwed when it comes to these alphas.

Someone help me.

“What do you mean coming back was a mistake?” he shouts at me.

“Exactly what it sounds like, Deacon. I should have stayed away.”

“You know what gets me is that you’re just throwing us away. You cannot wait to be rid of us.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

I snatch my arm away from him and keep walking, going to the kitchen where I dump the bags full of groceries.

“I’m leaving now-”

“Just explain it to us. Who is he?”

“He’s my date,” I say, stuttering over the words. The last thing in the world I want to tell them is that he’s the alpha who will be servicing me during my heat.