Whitney
The past
I refusedto see Lincoln again, and I barely went out in public anymore. Whenever I did, people stared. Mrs. Riscoff must not have been thinking about the repercussions of cursing my name to anyone who would listen while they loaded her on a stretcher, because now the whole town knew that Lincoln and I had been caught together.
No one would talk about it in front of him, I was sure. They were probably too afraid of what he would do. But no one feared my reaction.
I walked into Freedom Bean to get Aunt Jackie a latte, at her request, even though I begged not to go, and saw my cousin Karma with a group of girls.
At least she’s family, so I don’t have to worry about her talking shit.
Or so I thought until I put in the order and waited near the other end of the barista station and overheard laughter. I glanced over my shoulder and they all looked away.
“Why would he touchher? He could have anyone. I know she’s your cousin, but ... really?”
Karma met my gaze, not even trying to be sly. “Probably because he knew she’d put out. Like mother, like daughter.”
My mouth dropped open as her betrayal flayed me in half.What? Like mother, like daughter?
I’d been hiding away, avoiding everyone—including my parents—but apparently there was something going on that no one had told me.
I didn’t want to do this here, but Karma had given me no choice.
With crossed arms, I stalked over to the table and confronted her. “What the hell are you talking about?”
One of her friends, Jolene, smirked. “You haven’t heard? Your mom got caught sneaking out of the Wham Bam Motel last night.”
The Wham Bam Motel was what everyone called the Wild Basin Motel on the edge of town.
I tried to school my reactions as Jolene kept talking, but I could feel the heat of embarrassment burning my chest and cheeks.
“Everyone knows ... well, except who she was with. Definitely not your dad. Doesn’t he work third shift right now?”
Any oxygen I could have breathed in got sucked out of the room, and I choked. “What?”
Karma crossed her arms to match my posture. “I figured your mom would’ve told you. But then, it sounds like there’s a lot your mom isn’t telling you these days. Like who she’s having a fling with.”
I fought to draw in a breath. “You’re full of shit, Karma. And spreading rumors about your own family? That’s low.”
“They aren’t rumors if they’re true,” Jolene said with a smirk. “Like you and Lincoln. So, how was he? Because I think I’d like to take him for a spin.”
Lincoln had been calling me at least five times every day, but I hadn’t answered. I’d given his mother a freaking heart attack. I was pretty sure that was as over as we could get.
“He has better taste than you.”
All the girls burst out laughing, including my traitor cousin. “Like you?”
I was reduced to feeling an inch tall, but I kept my shoulders back and stood straight. “Give it a try. See how he reacts to skank.” My gaze flicked to Karma. “You’re a bitch.”
“Better a bitch than a whore,” she shot back, and my stomach turned.
“Latte for Jackie,” the barista called.
“You better run on back to my mom now,” Karma said.
I spun around on my sneaker, retrieved the latte, and got the hell out of the coffee shop.
Next up, get the hell out of this town.