Page 102 of Rebellious

“Your sugar is high,” he clips, finding the needle on the counter. He walks into the bedroom with a hard jaw and narrow eyes. “How high, Jameson?”

I shake my head and lie. “I’m fine. I was about to give myself an injection when you came in.”

“Perfect.” He hands the syringe over. “Don’t let me interrupt you.”

I swallow, eyeing the fucking needle. “Nah, it’s fine. What brings you here?”

Theo grins and it’s not one like his daughter’s, all sweet and mischievous. No, this smile knows something. It’s the same one he uses when he’s about to give my father a dose of harsh reality.

“Alright, Jameson Number Two. Have it your way.” The uncle who’s been a second father to me pulls the desk chair out and sits.

“Did we do something?” Referring to my brother and Fenn. I already know why he’s here, though. My uncle is a stubborn ass, and him twirling the insulin syringe through his fingers tells me everything. He knows.

“What do you think about pizza?” he asks after a minute, pulling out his phone. “Pizza was always the best at soaking up the booze when I was in college.”

“I—”

“Have been drowning your sorrows in several beers, I’m guessing,” he adds, pointing, without looking, at my nightstand. “You like that veggie shit or everything, like my daughter?” He weighs his words and then cocks his head. “Everything it is.”

“Sir—”

“Bennett, if you attempt to lie to me one more time, the next call I’m making is to your father. I’d love nothing more than to interrupt his fuckfest with your mama on my property. He thinks I don’t know he fucks her in the pool…”

Internally, I gag, my face scrunching up.

“You have exactly twenty-five minutes to give yourself this shot, before I do it for you.” Without ever looking at me, he presses the button on his phone and lays it on his thigh. “I haven’t lost a Jameson yet. I don’t plan to now.”

He stands and walks over, placing the needle next to me. “I’ll wait.”

Burying my head in my hands, I sigh. “Can I ask you something?” I mutter between my palms.

“No.”

“Sir—” He’s on me before I can react. He shoves the capped needle into my chest.

“Do it, Bennett. Then I’ll answer your question.”

Admitting to my uncle that I can’t inject myself is much worse than admitting it to Aspen.

“Uncap the needle, Jameson.” His voice is firm and exactly how he speaks to my father.

I sigh and toss it down on the bed. “I can’t,” I tell him.

He scoffs. “Well, today is your lucky day, boy.” He hands the needle back. “Aspen is gone, Bennett, and I’m not leaving here until I see you shove this thing into your abdomen.”

I groan. “How did you know she did it for me?”

He rolls his eyes. “You kids think you are so slick.” He goes into the bathroom, grabs another alcohol pad, and tosses it to me. “Aspen Von Bremen is just like her mother. There’s no way she wouldn’t jump at the chance to take care of a Jameson.” He nods to the pad. “Open it.”

By his set jaw, I know without a doubt, he isn’t leaving here until he sees me give myself an insulin shot.

“She sent you, didn’t she?” It all makes sense now.

“Clean the area, Bennett. You have twenty-one minutes left.”

This isn’t the ideal environment, but Theo won’t leave. His daughter is stubborn for a reason. Sucking in a breath, I pull my shirt over my head and toss it behind me.

“Twenty minutes…”

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