“What beach?” Her voice holds a note of caution.

“I don’t care, just away from here.” I close my eyes, trying to gather some patience. This is hardly Maria’s fault.

“Sorry, I’m used to being more active.” I puff out some air, and my mind goes to Jett. He can go all night.

“Why don’t you use Mr. Powers’s gym? Or maybe I get you a massage—”

“No,” I almost scream. Jesus, can you imagine? The pool house? I sit at the end of my bed to think.

“I have to go out. I really don’t care where we go.”

Again, she frowns and looks at her watch. “When is Ms. Cher coming back?”

“Two-and-a-half weeks. Who else do I know who’d go out with me besides Brody?”

Looking at Maria, I want to burst into tears. When did I lose touch with my high school friends?

“I don’t know. But Mr. Powers told Ms. Rachel to leave you alone. Why would he say this?” With her wise brown eyes, she looks at me as though she can discover everything she missed this past week.

“So I take it you don’t want to go to the beach?” I grumble, opening the balcony doors. The blast of hot air promptly makes me slam them shut.

“My knee is acting up, and that sand…”

“Never mind. You shouldn’t be babysitting me. I’m hardly a child.” I sigh, aggravated.

Asshole.

What an idiot I was. Because this stings, and I’m mad at myself for even having a glimmer of hope. I guess I thought he was better than what he is. That a man of his intelligence would see through my mom and acknowledge she’s a terrible person.

And then what? We’d ride away into the sunset? My ass.

Thankfully, I’ve only had to see my mom once. She ignored me; I ignored her back.

And Jett…

I can’t think about him. Otherwise, I’ll start crying. Screw that. He doesn’t get my tears. He gets nothing.

“Can I have some privacy, Maria?” I sit on the end of my bed. It’s time I bite the bullet and call Cher—I need her. I was waiting, in case Jett… Well, it doesn’t matter. He didn’t. So I can safely tell her everything.

I look over at Maria who hasn’t moved. Instead, she stands there, watching me and frowning. I grab my phone.

“Maria? Please.” I hold up my phone.

Narrowing her eyes, she walks toward my door. “I’ll be downstairs,” she grumbles. Instead of being comforting, it sounds like a threat. I know she’s trying to protect me from my mom and Jett, but it’s too late for that.

I smile at her as she shuts my door.

I have to get out of here.