“And you,” I snarl, facing my father. “You’re always cleaning up Josh’s mess. Maybe you should let him fall on his ass so he’ll learn his lesson.”

“I’m sorry, Jaxon. I saw an opportunity to end the ring fiasco without anybody getting hurt, and I took it.”

“Well your plan backfired. I saw Raegan with that ring and do you know what she did? She took the fall. You’re the one who betrayed me, yet she accepted the blame for it. So I hope you’re fucking happy, Dad. I’ll never step foot in this house again.”

I storm to the door, yanking my coat off the hook.

“Jaxon, wait.” Mom tugs my elbow, a tear rolling down her cheek.

“I can’t stay here with them for one more second.”

“I know. I understand how betrayed you feel.”

She knows because she feels the same way. I lift my hand and wipe Mom’s tears. “I’m sorry about all of this.”

She shakes her head and grips onto my shoulders. “You have nothing to be sorry about. Go talk to Raegan. She’ll understand and everything will be okay.”

I swallow the boulder in my throat and nod.

I really hope she’s right.

Raegan

“The snow’s really coming down.”

I pull the blanket closer to my chin. Good. I’m looking for any excuse to remain a hermit in my house for another few days before going back to school. Before I have to face Jaxon.

Let’s go, Mother Nature. Show me what you got.

“Have you decided on a movie?” Mom asks.

I stare at the television. I’ve scoured the guide for the past half-hour, making sure to skip quickly over any romantic-looking movies. It’s now between Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Chucky. I hate scary movies, but I’d rather have the shit scared out of me than cry into my bowl of popcorn while Cameron Diaz gets the guy in the end.

“Let’s watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre. That Chucky doll creeps me out.”

Mom stifles a groan. “Isn’t there anything else you’d like to watch?”

“It’s blood and terror, or I’m going back to my room.”

“Fine.” Mom flops down onto the couch beside me and reaches into the mammoth-sized bowl of popcorn.

It’s Skinny Pop. I’m not going to gain back all the weight I worked so hard to lose just because my heart is broken.

Mom and I use a blanket to shield our eyes throughout the movie.

“How do people enjoy this?” she whispers.

“I don’t know. This was a terrible choice.”

“You can sleep in my bed tonight.”

“I was planning on it.”