Damn it. What a great opportunity that would have been. I would have had heaps of guards around and could have said nearly anything to him and gotten out of there safely.

  I let out a sigh and sign myself out before heading out to my car. Noah and I can deal with Aton later, as for now, I need to get home.

  Dropping down into my car, I grab my phone which was left on the floor of the passenger’s side. Lighting up the screen, I find three missed calls from Noah, two texts from Tully, and a text from dad.

  Noah – Where are you, Spitfire?

  Tully – Are you at the hospital? Noah’s looking for you.

  Noah – Henley. I’m at the hospital. Where the fuck are you? You said you were coming here.

  Dad – Where are you, kid?

  Tully – Hello?????????? Answer Noah’s damn text already. He keeps calling me and I’m so not ready to talk to that dickhead just yet.

  Noah – Just tell me you’re alright. Where the fuck are you, babe?

  Shit. Maybe I should have told him what I was doing today.

  I check the time and realize that the last text was sent ten minutes ago and I quickly start hashing out a reply.

  Henley – Don’t be cranky with me, but…I sort of visited my mom today. We have lots to talk about. I’ll meet you back at your place in two hours. Sorry.

  Noah – Fuck, Henley.

  Noah – See you soon.

  Chapter 20

  As I pull up at Noah’s place, I find him already standing out the front of his home, arms crossed over his chest and a less than impressed scowl marring his handsome face.

  Shit. This isn’t going to be good. I should have told him what I was up to. He’s probably been worried sick about me all day. After all, I left this morning just as he would have been pulling into the school parking lot and it’s now well after four in the afternoon.

  I didn’t realize visiting a prison would have taken quite so long, but apparently, it’s more like a day trip, especially after I stopped for coffee on my way there and had another stop for lunch on the way back.

  I cut the engine and as I open my door, Noah steps down from the porch, instantly making his way towards me. “What the hell were you thinking going there by yourself?” he demands, his eyes raking over my body, starting at my head and traveling down to my feet, making sure every inch of my skin is intact and just the way he left it this morning.

  “It was fine,” I tell him as he meets me in the middle, refusing to step out of my way until he has an explanation that satisfies him. Though, I have a feeling that ‘spur of the moment’ isn’t going to do it. “There were security guards everywhere. It was perfectly safe.”

  “Please,” he scoffs. “And you’re trained to tell when some fucker is concealing a shiv, are you?”

  “For fuck’s sake, Noah,” I groan, rolling my eyes. “No one had a shiv. It was fine. I’m fine. We’re all fucking fine.”

  Noah gapes at me as though he’s talking to some kind of stranger. “Are you serious, right now?” he booms. “You just put yourself in front of criminals, Henley. Murderers, thieves, rapists. The most dangerous group of women in the fucking area and you’re shrugging it off as though you went to the fucking mall and bought yourself a new pair of ripped, skinny jeans.”

  “Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic?” I ask. “I wasn’t going to get hurt. There were guards everywhere and a million levels of security that I had to get through just to be able to sit in that room. What could have happened? No one knew me therefore, no one had any reason to talk to me. Besides, you’re being a little hypocritical, aren’t you? You can spend your time working for a loser like Anton, but I can’t visit my mother in prison?”

  “I highly doubt Anton ever raped or killed anyone,” he scoffs, defending the man who betrayed him.

  “No, he’ll probably just get you to do it for him.”

  The front door slams open before Tully comes storming out, her finger already pointed at me. “Did I just fucking hear that right?” she demands. “Did you go to that fucking prison today? Is that where you’ve been?”

  “You too?” I groan as Noah shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair. “You both need to calm the fuck down. I don’t understand why you’re making such a big deal out of this. I went to visit my mother. Forgive me that I don’t have the same fucking luxury as walking inside the kitchen to do that.”

  “Come on,” Tully says. “That’s not fair. Don’t turn this back on us because our mom isn’t some kind of criminal mastermind.”

  “I’m not, but what I’m saying is that you two couldn’t possibly understand. You don’t know how this feels. This is my mother, not yours,” I tell them. “I had an opportunity to go somewhere to meet the woman who gave me life and I’m not sorry for doing that. Or hell, is that not even the problem? Do you have the shits because this is related to Rivers and I left you both out of it? That I’m the one on the inside,” I turn to Tully, “or that I’m the one who’s now met his mother and am uncovering his secrets when you had no chance in hell?”

  Tully sucks in a sharp breath and goes to get in my face, her hand out and ready to slap it hard across my face. “Screw you.”

  “Hey,” Noah snaps at her, grabbing her hand and throwing it hard back down by her side.

  “Don’t you fucking ‘Hey’ me, asshole. You’re just as bad as her,” she seethes at him. “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten about all that Anton Mathers shit.”

  I roll my eyes. I’ve had enough of this shit. I don’t need this. My day has already been crazy. Hell, my whole fucking week. Scrap that. My whole senior year has been nonstop and the last thing I need right now are these two morons getting stuck into me and causing some ridiculous, over the top argument. I mean, were either of them interested in the fact that I just met my mother? Nope. They’re more concerned about having a go at me. Screw them.

  I turn on my heel and start stalking back towards my Supra. I get nearly all the way there before either of them realizes that I’m gone. “Hey,” Noah yells, jogging to catch up with me. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

  I grab the handle of my door and pull it open before looking over the top at Noah. “I don’t fucking know and I don’t fucking care, as long as I’m away from you two assholes.”

  "What has gotten into you?” he demands.

  “You seriously can’t figure that out on your own?” I snap. “Here, I’ll give you a little help? I just went and met my fucking mother. My. Birth. Mother. And all you two fucktards can do is yell at me because you don’t like the idea of me growing a pair of balls and making the decision on my own.”

  “Wha-” Tully starts to cut in, but I don’t dare let her.

  “Great fucking friends you two are. You know, if this situation was reversed, the first fucking thing I would have asked you is if you were alright. Fuck you both,” I growl before turning to Noah. “And for the record, Anton fucking Mathers was there.”

  With that, I drop down into my car and speed off, this time grateful that Noah’s Camaro doesn’t show up, tailing me over the hill.

  I fly around Haven Falls, unable to calm myself down until I stop at the beach and make my way under my favorite boardwalk. All I needed this afternoon was for Noah to wrap his arms around me and let me know that it’s all going to be ok. I was going to tell him that Gina wasn’t as bad as we had all thought and explain how she was right to have given me up. She somehow managed to heal something inside me and I’m left feeling grateful for having met her. Hell, I was even going to give him the tiny little insight I had into Rivers life, but I don’t know anymore. All I want to do is sulk until the sun goes down and then lock myself in my bedroom until I’m forced to face the world again.

  This sucks. I hate fighting with Noah. Usually, I’m the one who’s fucked up in some sort of way, but today; he can go to hell.

  Tully though, I don’t think we’ve ever hated on each other like that. That was rough. I know she’s still angry with Noah about all the Anton stuff and I don’t doubt that anger helped to fuel this fight. She’ll come around. She just needs a little time to cool down.

  We’ve all been struggling the last few days. It’s been hard and I feel like everything is happening all at the same time so a meltdown was overdue, I just figured it would come in the form of Noah punching a hole in the wall while me and Tully burst into tears. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect us to fight.

  I feel as though our pack is at its lowest. We’ve always been so strong. No matter what we endured that was the one constant I could always rely on, but right now, I’m not so sure.

  I drop down into the sand and dig my toes in, hating that a headache seems to be spreading wide throughout my skull.

  First dad and now this. It’s too much. I feel like I need a few weeks away on a tropical island where I can leave all my troubles behind. Hell, if Noah’s lucky, I might even take him with me.

  Time ticks by and I watch as the sun starts moving across the sky. It’s getting close to dinner time and I should probably head back over to Noah’s place to get Aria. She’ll want to go over to the hospital and have dinner with dad before going home tonight.

  I let out a sigh and start making my way back to my car, shaking off the sand as I go.

  Dad has been doing well, so I haven’t been too concerned with sitting in the hospital with him today. Besides, he got angry with me skipping school yesterday to be there. I can only imagine what he’d think about me spending the day in prison, though, that’s something he doesn’t need to know about.

  The medication the doctor gave him seems to be working and he’s been doing well so fingers crossed, there won’t be any surgeries in his near future, just a lot of healthy eating and exercise to strengthen and make his heart a little happier.

  I’m just about back at Noah and Tully’s place and am happy to report that I’ve mostly cooled down. As I drive towards their house, Tully’s Jeep comes into view, but Noah’s Camaro is nowhere to be seen. I roll my eyes. It’s such typical Noah fashion to take off when he’s pissed at the world.

  A text comes through on my phone and I glance down to read it after pulling up to the curb, hoping it’s Noah telling me where the hell he is.

  Tully – I’m sorry. You’re right. If anyone can handle themselves at a place like that, it would have been you. And yes, I was jealous. I’ve been desperate for answers on Rivers for years and then you come along and stumble upon them by accident. It’s frustrating. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, but missing him is turning me into a moody bitch.

  Well, it wasn’t Noah but I’ll certainly accept that.

  I push my way out of my Supra and make my way inside. I smile at Aria as she sits up at the table, working on her homework and not complaining about it for a change. I say a quick hello to Eddison and Violet in the kitchen and let Aria know that we’ll get going soon to having dinner with dad before heading down to Tully’s room, knowing that’s where she’s going to be.

  I throw open her door to find her staring down at her phone, waiting for my reply. “You really are a jealous bitch,” I tell her.

  Tully scurries off her bed and hurries over to me, throwing her arms around me and drawing me into her. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she says, over and over again. “Please tell me you forgive me. I didn’t mean it. It just came out because I was mad and jealous and…and scared. I mean, you went to fucking prison! Do you have any idea how badass that is?”

  “Alright, alright,” I tell her. “Shut up already. There’s only so much of your rambling I can handle.”

  “You forgive me?” she questions, sheepishly.

  “Uh huh, but you realize,” I say, “if you had actually bitch slapped me, I would have hit you straight back and it would have stung for days.”

  “I know,” she sighs. “I guess I was kind of hoping for a throwdown. I have so much pent up tension that needs to be worked out and usually, I’d just find someone to screw and work it out that way, but…you know.”

  “Yeah, I know,” I tell her. “It’s a good thing Noah stopped you because I have a feeling that would have turned real ugly, real quick.”

  “I know, it would have been hot though. You and me throwing down, people would pay for that shit,” she laughs. “Speaking of Noah though, you know the moron is out looking for you? Should I let him know you’re here? He was worried. He said he’s never seen you quite so worked up before.”

  “Nah,” I shrug, dropping down onto her bed. “Let him sweat it a bit. He can handle it.”

  Just as the words come out of my mouth, the sound of Noah’s Camaro pulling up outside rumbles through the house.

  “Speak of the devil…” Tully starts.

  “…and the devil shall appear,” I finish.

  We burst into laughter and soon enough the sound of Noah tearing through the house to get to me echoes off the walls. “Henley?” he calls, ignoring his mom who hollers for him in the kitchen. “Where the hell are you?”

  I roll my eyes and wait patiently for him to find me. I mean, who said I had to make this easy for him? I hear him kick in his bedroom door, double checking that I’m not in there before continuing to Tully’s.

  As if knowing that I’m in here, the door opens cautiously, a huge contrast from the way he kicked in his own bedroom door. Noah appears before us and leans in the doorway, simply staring at me with regret heavy in his eyes.

  He lets out a sigh. “Are you ok?” he murmurs.

  “Depends,” I tell him, making his eyes narrow on me. “Are you ready to admit that you were a mega asshole?”

  “Well, that depends if you’re ready to admit that you were wrong.”

  “Me? Wrong?”

  He nods. “You should have told me where you were going. If not me, at least someone.”

  I watch him for a moment, considering his proposal and trying to see things from his point of view. I mean, I probably wouldn’t like the idea of him going somewhere like that alone. “Fine,” I tell him with a groan. “But you need to admit that you’re an asshole first.”

  “Fine,” he says. “I’m an asshole.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” Tully scoffs.

  Noah presses his lips into a thin line, and I can tell he’s working hard to hold something in as a deep frustration takes over him. “Come on,” he tells me, holding his hand out to me. “Let’s talk. You can tell me all about your day.”

  I get up off Tully’s bed and take Noah’s hand, letting him pull me along into his bedroom. The second the door closes behind us, he pulls me into his arms and presses his lips against mine. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs, running his fingers down the side of my face. “I really was an asshole. I should have been thinking about how you would be feeling after that, but all I could picture was something happening to you and me not being there to protect you.”

  “One of these days you’re going to remember that I can handle myself.”

  “I do,” he tells me.

  “Outside of teenage girls,” I scoff.

  “I don’t think that’s ever going to happen,” he tells me truthfully before dropping down on his bed and pulling me down on his lap. Violet calls out for him again and he promptly ignores her, making me roll my eyes at him. “Now tell me all about this mysterious Gina Rivers.”

  I shrug my shoulders. “She was nice.”

  “Nice?” he grunts.

  “Well, kind of nice. She was rough like she’s seen a few too many things, but the good thing is, in twenty years, I’m still going to look pretty good.”

  “Of course, you are,” he laughs. “Did she tell you anything worth knowing?”

  “Kind of,” I say. “She helped me to see that she did the right thing giving me up. I really would have had a terrible life living with her as my mother, but I haven’t worked out if I want to hate on her for it yet.”

  “And are you ok with that?”

  “I’ll let you know when I figure it out,” I grin. “I just…I don’t know. I feel like I accomplished something today, but I just don’t know what.”

  “I guess that’s something,” he murmurs.

  I hear a noise outside Noah’s door and I call out. “Tully? Is that you?”

  The door opens and Tully instantly scowls at her brother. “What’s up?” she says, looking to me.

  I climb off Noah’s lap and pat the bed beside me. “Gina said a few things about Rivers I think you guys would want to know.”

  Tully steps inside the door but stays away, not wanting to get close to her brother for fear of tearing him to shreds. “Go on,” she says nervously, always a little scared to find out something about Rivers’ private life that could crush her fragile heart.

  I let out a sigh and tell them everything she said. I describe the way she looked as she spoke of him, the way pride shone out of her at seeing his photo. I tell them how he hasn’t gone to see her since playing the role in putting her away, and how she refused to tell me anything about his father. But when I tell them that she didn’t think he would know anything about us being siblings, relief seems to shine bright in their eyes as it confirms that he wasn’t hiding this massive secret from us after all, instantly restoring their faith in him. Well, mostly.

  Once I get through all the Rivers details and fill in Tully on my abandonment issues, her eyes flick towards Noah before returning to mine. “So, before when you stormed off like a raging bitch, you said Anton was there.”

  “Yeah,” I say, glancing across at Noah when his hand twitches in mine. His jaw is clenched and I quickly realize that he was waiting until we were alone to ask about this, but now that it’s been said, there’s no point in waiting. “I saw his name on the sign in sheet but he was gone by the time I realized.” I look up at Noah. “I’m sorry, he would have been sitting in the same room, but I was too focused on Gina to notice him. It would have been the perfect chance to put him in his place.”