Page 3 of Bounty
I pretended the evidence he’d dropped our friendship didn’t chafe.
“Why don’t you stay home?” Mom continued into the silence. “It’s a bum way to start your spring break. I’m the writer. You aren’t. It isn’t your responsibility to help me if you had other plans.”
Well, shit on a fiddlestick.
“My plans are already canceled, Mom,” I said innocently.
My plans could resurrect faster than…nope, wasn’t saying it.
“I won’t have anything to do if you leave me behind at the 11thhour.” Even if she’d invited me at the 11thhour. “Besides, Dad has his fishing trip with Uncle Mike. Remember?”
Mom and Dad exchanged uncertain glances.
“I need the money,” I announced. “There are several new outfits I want fromFashion Nova.”
Disapproval contorted Dad’s face. He wasn’t the biggest fan of my sartorial choices. Mom, however, totally understood and nodded.
“By the way, Effie, change of plans for tomorrow night,” she told me.
Shocked by her words, I snapped my brows together. I wasn’t complaining. Unless they involved Slice, her changed plans would make mine easier to facilitate.
“I held a contest and I’m meeting four of my readers for dinner,” Mom announced. “You’ll be on your own tomorrow evening.”
I handled her contests. “But—”
“You’ve been slammed with your multimedia project for that class.” Her mouth turned down.
Mom wanted me to join the writing empire she envisioned and had zero respect for my college career.
“I turned in the project weeks ago,” I gritted, my hackles up. I drew a deep breath. “It’s fine, Mom. I’m glad Dad helped you.”
“Cassie helped me,” she said pointedly. “Your father has his own work obligations.”
“Awesome.” I pasted a smile on my lips. “At least Cassie found something productive to volunteer for rather than sitting around pining over Chad the Cad.”
Mom laughed, walked to me, and kissed my forehead as if I were two. “Chad the Cad. Love it, Effie. But she didn’t volunteer. I paid her. She wouldn’t do it for free.”
I would not lose my fucking temper. Wouldn’t do it. If that happened, I faced a miserable four days. At least at home, I had the option of locking myself in my room.
“She does have a household to support,” Mom added.
“She handed that money over to Chad,” I yelled despite myself.
Mom shrugged. “It was hers to do as she sees fit. There’s a reason you’re our angel and she and your brother are the problems.”
“You’re our favorite,” Dad piped in with zero shame.
They could’ve kept their favoritism. I wisely kept my mouth shut.
“We were supposed to try out different looks tomorrow evening, Mom,” I grouched.
“I’m too grown for that nonsense, Effie.” Mom returned to Dad’s side. “I’m so disappointed Cassie couldn’t come with me. A problem she may be, but she’s fun. We would’ve had a blast with my readers. You’re all about the books and your future.”
That’s all my parents wanted to recognize about me. I ignored the pain of that thought. Once Mom started writing, she characterized her family according to the archetypes she created. I was her Mary Sue. Cassie was the Bad Girl anti-heroine. Heath was the villain. He’d flown the coop, a fact that still upset my parents. And Dad was the ultimate hero.
Ignoring my annoyance, Mom pursed her lips. “I wonder if Slice can join us?”
“Call him and ask him, babe,” Dad said. “Throw in an extra five hundred.”
