Page 260 of Filthy Elites

I’m on Mom’s time now, anyway.

“Hey sweetie,” she calls out, looking back at me as if she senses I need a reminder.

I flash a weak smile back. “Hey.”

“How was school?”

“Good.” I start to drop my bags, but reconsider given what’s inside. “I’m just going to drop this stuff off in my room and take a shower, then I’ll come out and start dinner, okay?”

“Okay, honey.”

I need to bring up that doctor Dare told me about, but maybe I should wait until I hear back from him. I know Mom is tired of fighting, I know she thinks she has tried everything at this point and it’s all failed, but what if…?

Remembering what Dare’s doing for me just puts him in my head again, and I had only cleared him out for a couple of seconds.

I try to ignore the sinking feeling that I like him far more than I should because I know what I should do if that’s the case.

I should delete his number.

Block it, even.

I should stay far, far away from him.

Even if he didn’t belong to the worst girl in the world. I don’t even have time to like a normal guy; I certainly donothave time to like Chase Darington.

THIRTEEN

Aubrey

I’m exhaustedby the time I fall into bed, and I haven’t even touched my homework yet. I tell myself I’m just going to rest my eyes, but when I jerk awake to a pitch black bedroom, I grab my phone on the bed beside me and see it’s 3 am.

Shit.

I also see I missed a text from Dare just after twelve.

“It’s midnight, Cinderella. Where’s my picture?”

Smiling faintly, I text back, “You are the most depraved fairy godmother ever.”

The brain fog is too thick for me to realize he’s probably asleep by now.

I’m still so tired, but unfortunately, I have to wake up.

By the time I’m finished with my homework, the sun is up and I have to be at school in a half hour.

“Perfect,” I mutter to myself.

My phone vibrates. I look down, expecting it to be Dare, but it’s just Mom asking me to add something to the grocery list.

Ugh, that’s right. I need to make a grocery order again.

All the light, happy feelings I got talking to Dare evaporate. I don’t even have time to shower. I’m so mad at myself for falling asleep, but it is what it is, I guess.

I run to the bathroom and splash my face with cool water to wake me up. I make quick work of getting ready, then I rush back to my bedroom and start cramming books into my bag.

I’m going to be late to school.

I pop into Mom’s room to tell her goodbye and to remind her Josie will pop over and bring her dinner because I have to work tonight.

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