And in that short time, my father’s personality did a complete one-eighty…all because of her.

I know he misses my mom—I miss her too—but Savannah and moving isn’t the answer.

Royal Manor is all I know. My parents specifically chose to raise me here because my mom loved it.

Why is he destroying her memory?

“Watch your mouth,” my father barks.

“How dare you talk to me like that.” Savannah whirls around in her seat. “Whether you like it or not, I’m going to be your mother soon and I won’t tolerate having a spoiled brat who talks like a sailor for a daughter.”

My nails dig into my palms so hard I break the skin. She’s crossed the line.

“You’ll never be my mother. You’re nothing but a gold-digging whore my dad screws because he’s lonely and misses her.”

She gasps and my father slams on the brakes so hard I hit the seat in front of me.

He pivots around. “That’s enough, Dylan.”

“I hate you.” I try to open the door, but it’s locked. “Let me out.”

I can run back and beg Mr. Covington to let me live with him. It’s not like my dad will care. If anything, not having me around will be less of a headache for him.

His forehead crinkles. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to say goodbye to your friends, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I thought I’d have more time to prepare, but they need me to start right away. I don’t have a choice.” He reaches for my hand but I pull away. “Tator tot—”

“I’m not your fucking tator tot.”

As of tonight, I’m not even your daughter anymore.

My tears are coming down so fast they soak the front of my dress.

“Would you stop acting like such a baby!” Savannah snaps. “I’ve never met someone so ungrateful in my life.” She looks at my father. “If she keeps this behavior up, we should start searching for boarding schools.”

He clasps Savannah’s knee. “Relax. She’s just…it’s a lot. Dylan’s not usually disobedient. She’s a good girl.”

He says it like I’m the freaking family pet.

Not to mention, how in the world would he know how I usually am? We haven’t had a conversation longer than three minutes since my mom died.

“Please, baby,” my father pleads. “I need this.” Despite my resistance, he reaches for my hand again. “We need this. It’s a fresh start for both of us.”

“I don’t want a fresh start.”

I want the home where my favorite memories with my mom are.

I want my best friend.

Chapter 29

Dylan

“You sure your little boyfriend doesn’t mind me stealing you away for the night?” Oakley questions as we head for the table full of booze in Christian’s living room.

“First of all, he’s not my boyfriend. Second, even if he did mind, it wouldn’t change anything. I’d still be here.”

Truth be told, Tommy and I had plans tonight, but when Oakley asked if I’d go with him to Jace’s birthday party and be his DD, I didn’t give it a second thought.

Not only because I care about my bonehead cousin and want him to be safe, but Tommy’s becoming a little too clingy.

I’m hoping some space will tone things down.

“I still don’t approve,” he murmurs with a shake of his head. “You can do so much better than that dickwad.”

Here we go again.

I decide to give him a taste of his own medicine. “Speaking of relationships. How are things with you and Hayley?”

He pours himself a cup of whiskey and downs half of it before he answers. “Fine.”

Uh-huh. Those two are so up and down they give me whiplash. One second Oakley says he wants to work things out, and the next he’s doing everything in his power to avoid her.

I glance around the table for something non-alcoholic, but all I find is Jace’s Mountain Dew hidden behind some ice. Given it’s his birthday—and I’m wearing my favorite Jimmy Eat World concert t-shirt—I won’t jack his stash again.

“Is Sawyer coming?” he asks, changing the subject.

I wish. “Nope. She said she’s not comfortable watching women resort to stripping for men to make money.”

I peer around the room. For all the fuss Cole made about wanting dozens of strippers, I don’t see a single one.

Then again, we arrived on the later side, so it’s possible they came and left already.

“I guess we missed them?”

Oakey shakes his head. “Nah. Cole wasn’t able to hire them because he’s not eighteen yet. Same for me.” He takes another sip of his drink. “We asked Jace to do it, but he refused. Something’s going on with him lately. Dude’s not acting right.”

That gets my attention. “What do you mean?”

He levels me with a look. “I’m thinking a certain blonde with a big mouth and one hell of a right hook has him all kinds of fucked up.”

“Well, if he would just…I don’t know, talk to me, maybe we could work out our issues.”

As much as I try to convince myself that Jace ignoring me for the past month doesn’t sting, it does. The other day I told Sawyer I actually preferred it when he was going out of his way to bully me.

She told me I was crazy. I’m starting to think she’s right.

Oakley snorts. “Don’t hold your breath. He’s a stubborn motherfucker.”

Don’t I know it. However, I’m pretty sure I also know why Jace isn’t feeling festive, and it’s not because of me.

“The reason he’s not acting like himself is because it’s his birthday.”

Oakley’s baffled expression tells me he doesn’t get it. “Why would that make him upset?”

“Because it’s another reminder that his mom and brother aren’t here.”

Kind of hard to celebrate being another year older without thinking about how much time has passed since you’ve last seen the people you love.

Given our birthdays are exactly two weeks apart, I feel Jace’s pain. I’m not looking forward to mine either.

“Shit. I didn’t even think of that.” He looks sheepish. “I probably should have though. Lord knows my mom’s ignored enough of mine over the years. It’s not the same thing you and Jace go through, but it still sucks.”

I don’t doubt it. The little I know about Oakley’s mom isn’t good. According to my aunt, she’s a drug addict who uses men—or anyone really—and Oakley and Wayne will be much better off once she kicks the bucket.

“I’m sorry, Oak.” I rest my head on his shoulder. “We should abolish birthdays.”

“Hell yeah,” he concurs. “And get rid of laws while we’re at it.”

I open my mouth to respond, but Hayley meanders over to us.

“We need to talk.”

Oakley looks at me. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

I tug him back when he starts walking away. “I’m pretty sure she means you.” I gesture to the kitchen. “I’m gonna see if I can track down a bottle of water.”