Page 35 of Rough Rider (Bad Boy High)
Clark rolls his eyes at my sudden surge of morality. “Because you’re the best we have. You took down two Pipefitters by yourself. You tagged and protected an apartment complex. If you didn’t want to be noticed by the higher-ups, you should havekept your head down. Instead, you’ve been acting like you want a promotion, and people have noticed.”
“I’m not after your job,” I reply stiffly.
“I never said you were. But all of the things that you’ve been doing are like auditions for a bigger role. Congratulations. You’re passing the auditions.”
How do I explain to Clark that I was only doing those things to protect Andy? That she’s the driving force behind my change of behavior? I rub my forehead. I need things to go back to the way they were where no one really knew who I was, where I wasn’t on anyone’s radar. How will I protect everyone if there’s a target on my back?
Chapter Twenty-Four
ANDY
“This place is really nice,” I tell my mom after the nurse leaves us to talk. I was able to do a tour of the place with her but not much more. I thought I might help her unpack and settle in, but that is against the rules. I get it. They don’t want people to sneak things in.
“It is.” Mom takes a deep breath. I’m sure this is a lot to take in. This is probably the most isolated she’s been from the outside world in a long time.
“You’re already looking better.”
“I’ve gained weight.” She shrugs.
“Which is good,” I point out to her. Her cheeks are fuller, and her eyes no longer have dark circles under them. They also have more of a shine to them now. Mom nods. I’m not sure she agrees, but I could be misreading her. “Hey, what’s up? You still want to do this, right?”
Every day she’s told me she’s willing to go to Synergy Recovery. This place is a gift; I managed to get her one of the free spots that they offer.
“I do.” She shakes her head, making her blond hair sway. Even her hair is shinier. I hadn’t realized how much she hadslipped away until seeing her more sober and past the hard part of the detox phase. “I’m just so sorry.” Mom's eyes start to fill with tears. I reach out and grab her hand.
“I know.”
“How can I just leave you to live all alone? I already missed your birthday.” A sob leaves her. With her mind clearer, I think the reality of a lot of things is sinking in, and she's remembering things. I hate that she’s making herself feel bad, but I know this is part of the process.
"If you want to make it up to me, the best gift you could give me is completing this program," I tell her. "Besides, I had a great birthday."
"Really?" She sniffles. "Tell me about it." I glance toward the open door to make sure no one is lingering around before I start spilling some girl talk to her.
They gave us this small room to say goodbye before they fully check my mom in. The staff is already going through the two bags I packed and brought for her.
“I met someone.” Mom’s brows lift at that, her expression growing wary. “He’s really sweet.” To me at least. “He’s always going out of his way for me. Niki even walks me home and checks the apartment, wanting to make sure it’s safe.”
I don’t tell her the other things about the shoes, phone, especially about the graffiti or Niki being the one who came to collect the drug debt. That is a story for another day. She would feel guilty over it and then try to get me to stay away from him.
Mom already thinks most men are terrible, which I understand with her job, but the gang thing will have her coming home. Me giving her a little about Niki is more for her to know I’m not alone and I have a person watching out for me too. I’m hoping it will be one less thing she’ll have to worry about while she's here. All of her focus needs to be on herself and her recovery.
"Never heard you talk about a boy before." Mom tilts her head to the side, watching me. "He is a boy?"
"He's a teen and still in high school too."
Mom's hand covers mine as she leans back in her chair. "Does he have tattoos?" Whoa, how did she get that one?
"Don't most people these days?" I say, trying to dance around it.
"We don't." Right.
"Why are you asking that?" She has to know something.
"One of the bills at the hospital was paid. I thought it was a mistake, but I asked a couple of the nurses and was informed that a boy with tattoos had pushed to pay it, but it was strange because said person didn't know much about me, but it was me they were trying to pay the bill for."
"He paid one of your hospital bills?"
"Who else would it have been? I thought maybe Rico, but he's an asshole." Mom rolls her eyes. She's not wrong.
