[WATTYS 2016 WINNER!] [COSMOPOLITAN Featured!]
Trapped in her white trash hell, Layla Danner is failing at life.
Her friend Peyton? Everybody thinks he's perfect, a staggeringly rich, handsome, and well-mannered story book prince. But they don't kn...
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Jake was pretty much done with me by the time we passed the mile marker for Canyon, Texas. He didn't say as much, but I knew. His demeanor had cooled, his easy going mannerisms replaced by irritation. Time and again, he checked the GPS to see how much longer he'd have to endure my company.
Who could blame him? I was a wreck, getting on my own nerves.
I sat on my hands to keep myself from fidgeting further. I didn't know what I would do if Peyton left without me tonight. True, I didn't want to miss his birthday. But if I were really honest with myself, the real reason I needed him was selfish. I couldn't be alone tonight. Any night but tonight.
That reminded me - I didn't have his gift. I swallowed hard. "Jake, can we stop by my house before we go back?"
The look he gave me was incredulous. I'd made so many demands of him today. Can you drive a little faster? Do we really have to stop for dinner? Is it okay if you fill up the gas tomorrow instead of now?My behavior had been completely appalling - I'd be surprised if he ever spoke to me again. I felt like a giant turd about it all, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
I chewed desperately at my lower lip, waiting for his answer. His expression softened to exasperation. "Fine." He pulled out a cigarette and slipped it between his lips. He didn't light it though.
Taking a deep breath, I exhaled in a long, steady rush. "Jake- I'm sorry. I'm so stressed out right now, I know I'm being incredibly rude and selfish and-"
"It's fine. Don't worry about it." He clearly didn't want to hear it, or talk anymore, so I bit my tongue and slapped my thigh to still it.
At 11:20, we arrived at the trailer. He'd barely hit the brakes when I jumped out of the truck, leaving the passenger door wide open. "I'll be back in a second."
Jake lit his cigarette, ignoring me completely.
Breaking into a dead run up the lawn, I screamed when a discarded tricycle caught me right in the shin. I was hopping on one foot and rubbing furiously at my leg when Amber Reynolds, Buck's daughter, opened the front door to our trailer and made her way down the steps.
Shit.
Amber looked from me to the truck, then turned her attention back to me. I glanced over my shoulder to see what she saw. Jake, checking his texts, his face illuminated by the blue glow of his phone. It was dark enough but I wondered if Amber would recognize him anyway. I hoped not.
"Hi Amber."
"Horses?" she asked.
I nodded. "Is my mom home?"
Please say yes. Maybe if Peyton had left, I could ask mom to stay in tonight and keep me company. Maybe we could talk some too, we hadn't really had a conversation in a long while. I actually would love to talk to her.
