CHAPTER 16

JAYDEN’s POV

My phone rings immediately I leave the room and I don't need to look at it to know who it is.

“Father”

For a moment, I considered letting it ring till he gets tired of calling, but…

With a quiet sigh, I answered. “What?”

“Your mother is in the hospital.” Immediately I hear that, everything around me seemed to fade into the background and my grip on the phone tightened.

“What did you say?”

“She collapsed.” It felt like my heart was getting squeezed.

“Is she okay?” I asked,

“She’s stable.”

Relief washed over me for exactly one second before he ruined it. “But don’t get too comfortable.” And I felt my jaw clench so hard I was surprised a tooth didn’t crack.

“You know I’m the one paying for her hospital bills even though she doesn’t stay with us.” I closed my eyes before he continued. “I can stop whenever I want.” His words felt like a punch to my chest. “If you forget your place…” my father continued, “I’ll forget mine.”

“What do you want?” I asked.

“There you are.” He said in a pleased tone. “I was wondering how long it’d take you to remember who’s really in control.”

He ended the call, leaving me staring at my blank screen, wishing he was the one on his death bed and not my mother.

Marcus would’ve probably called me an idiot for caring about things Zander and my father said and did. Speaking of Marcus… I frowned as I pulled out my phone to see there hasn’t been any missed call or texts from him.

“This definitely isn’t like Marcus. Why hasn’t he texted or look for me since last week?” I said, feeling uneasy about his absence.

Marcus had been strangely absent for days now and for the first time in years… I felt completely alone.

   I didn’t feel like interacting with anyone, so I went somewhere else. The music echoing from one of the campus buildings faded into the distance as I unlocked the door to one of the apartments my 'amazing' father owned in the city.

“The silence in here feels so deafening yet comforting.” I muttered and then tossed the keys onto the kitchen counter and then loosened the unbuttoned the top of my shirt because I began to feel suffocated.

I walked straight to the liquor cabinet and then poured myself a glass.

“It’s just one,” I mumbled before gulping it down and for a brief moment…the ache in my chest dulled. I poured another and then another but it started to feel like nothing was happening anymore.

Hours blurred past and the bottle grew lighter while my thoughts grew heavier with images of my mother’s smile and my father’s voice.

“I can stop whenever I want.”

I laughed bitterly before rubbing my hand over my face.

“What the hell am I even doing sitting here and sulking?” I wondered. “I should change my coping mechanism before this ruins me.”

My eyes landed on the phone lying across the table then a familiar name crossed my thoughts.

“Zander?” I frowned. “Why am I thinking about Zander? I’d wanted to talk to him after class about something….”

“I wanted to…apologize? Or was it explain?” I groaned because I couldn’t even remember.

Maybe Zander was still pissed and maybe I had made things worse.

“I should just…” I stood up with force and I Immediately regretted it as the room tilted. “talk to him...”

Grabbing my keys, I walked out of the apartment and every step taking me back to the dorm…and towards the night neither of us would soon forget.

      I let out a low groan, squeezing my eyes shut as if that alone could dull the serious hangover I was feeling right now.

“Ughhhhh.” I groaned while gripping my hair.

My mouth felt dry, coupled with my entire body feeling like a ton was dropped on me. Even thinking took effort. Slowly, I forced one eye open, the familiar ceiling of the dorm room came into focus, followed by the morning sunlight piercing through the curtains.

“How… the heck did I get here?” I frowned.

The last thing I could remember was…the apartment, the bottle of liquor and…nothing.

I pushed myself up, immediately regretting it as another wave of pain shot through my head.

“Easy.” The voice startled my spirit out of me.

My gaze snapped toward the other side of the room to Zander standing near his desk, already dressed for class. His bag hung over one shoulder while he held out a steaming mug.

“Drink.” He pushed it in my face.

I stared at him. “What is it?”

“Ginger tea.” He gave me the mug before stepping back. “It’ll help with the hangover.”

I blinked.

Why was Zander acting…nice to me?

I looked up at him, genuinely puzzled and lost. “Why are you being nice to me?” The question slipped out before I could even stop it.

For a brief second, something flickered across Zander’s face and it looked like surprise…then hurt followed by realization?

Jayden’s shoulders sagged ever so slightly before he continued.

“You don’t remember.” He asked

“Remember what?” I frowned.

Silence.

“Forget it. Drink it while it’s still warm.” Without another word, he walked toward the door.

“What the hell was that about?” I shrugged then reached for the mug, wrapping both hands around the warmth before taking a cautious sip. The ginger burned slightly, and the feeling of my head being split open reduced.

Leaning back against the wall, I closed my eyes as silence settled over the room. Then…. A recollection of everything that happened started falling into place. From the apartment,  to blurry hallway, to the dorm door refusing to unlock, and then to…

Zander standing in front of me, supporting my weight.

Then— “I’m sorry.” My eyes flew open and my breathing caught in my lungs.

Another memory crashed and it’s one of me resting my head against Zander’s shoulder saying things I’d never admit even when I’m sober.

I groaned, dragging both hands down his face. “Shit….so that’s why he’s pissed.”

Even after I acted like a complete jerk, he still went out of his was to take care of my tipsy ass. The one time I had actually managed to apologize, I couldn’t even remember till after he’d already left.

“Damn.” I grumbled, dragging my hand down from my head to face.