Page 47 of Zero Chance

Because I hadn’t wanted this third degree.

“I told you I was going to?—”

“You failed to mention other people would be there.You lied to your father.”

“No.I?—”

“And you left your phone at home.”

“I know.I’m really sorry about that.I never meant to worry you.”

Except that was all I seemed to do.All my life, I’d been nothing but a nuisance for her to stress about.

Suddenly, it felt as if everything I’d done tonight had just been entirely wrong.

Why could I never do anything right?

This was why I didn’t even try to go out and live life.I fucked it up whenever I attempted to doanything.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, my voice breaking.

“Waverly…” She groaned as if exhausted by my emotions.She didn’t want to have to deal with my fuck-ups any more than I wanted to make them.“It’s…whatever.It’s fine.You’re okay.We’ll talk about it when we get home.Now, your father and I missed our reservation for supper, so we’re starving.We’re going to try to salvage the rest of our night and just…forget this happened.Please be courteous enough to remember your phone if you go out again.Okay?”

I nodded, my voice not immediately working.“Yes, ma’am,” I finally managed to rasp.“I will.I’m sorry.”

With a long suffering sigh, she hung up.

10

WAVERLY

Iswallowed thickly and glanced toward Hope and Parker, who’d stuck around after the police had left.

Humiliation swathed me, suffocating me.

But they’d just seen me get scolded by my mother as if I were a delinquent teenager.How lame was that?I felt about as mature as a first grader.

Hope winced as if my pain was hers.“You okay?”she asked quietly.

I scoffed but nodded.“I’m fine.”

Glancing away with the lie, I went to tuck my hair behind one ear, only to be surprised by the new bangs that just came free again.Ugh, I’d forgotten I’d altered my hair too.What was Mom going to say aboutthat?She’d probably drug test me or something, worried about my drastic changes in behavior.

Going to parties, forgetting my phone, cutting my hair.I was out of control.

She’d definitely want me to attend another therapy session this week.That was a given.

“I’m just…mortified,” I admitted, risking another look toward Hope and Parker.My hand motioned lamely in the direction the cops had gone.“I’m really sorry about all the?—”

“Hey, don’t sweat it,” Parker told me.“You have a mother who cares enough to worry about you.”He hitched his head toward Hope.“That’s more than we have.”

When he looped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her to his side, I nodded, realizing I shouldn’t complain.My mom and daddidlove me.I never had to worry about that.

“Doesn’t mean either of us would appreciate theover-parenting, though,” Hope said in my defense.

“Yeah, well.”Parker nodded in agreement.“True.That shit would annoy the hell out of me.I’d be finding my own place to livereal quickif I were you.I’ll float you a loan if you want out.Just say the word.”

He would too.As rich as Parker was, he probably wouldn’t let me pay him back either.

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