Page 72 of Prince of Pain
“Why does it have to be you? You’ve got enough shit to deal with, so taking on her problems is just stupid. Don’t bring her around here, Ry.”
I put my weight down and turned to her, annoyed that she was trying to make rules for me.
“I’ll bring her here if I want. Now that she doesn’t live at home, maybe you and Luna can start spending all your time over there instead.”
“You know she got kicked out for hurting Lexi, right? She’s out of control.”
“No, she’s fucking hurting. You don’t get it because you’re not going through what she is,” I said calmly, but I was starting to crack. I hated conversations like these because no one would understand unless they’d dealt with addiction.
Whether it be drugs, alcohol, or sex, it didn’t matter. Addiction would never leave you once it grabbed hold of you, you just had to learn to deal with it.
“The only thing she’s going through is a shitload of dick. I’m surprised she hasn’t ODed mid-fuck on you.”
I stood and grabbed the front of her hoodie to haul her closer, glaring down at her as I fought to keep my voice level. “I don’t give a fuck about your issue with Tempest, but you can’t judge her for her sex life. All you did was fuck before you got with Luna. You think junkies deserve to just die? They don’t need help?”
“Let me go, psycho. I was just stating a fact. Between the drugs and the increased heart rate from all the fucking, I don’t know how she hasn’t at least had a heart attack. You either, to be honest, but at least you got clean. She’s not worth saving, so let her go and focus on yourself before you relapse and fuck it all up,” she gritted out, my hand tightening in her hoodie.
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Make me, asshole,” she taunted, and I was close to losing my damn mind and swinging at her when Mom walked in.
“Enough, I can hear you two arguing from the kitchen. Riley, don’t rile him up when he’s obviously on edge.” She didn’t say anything about why I was on edge, but she stared me down as if she knew.
I almost blurted out that I’d been high the other night but stopped myself at the last second.
I released Riley a little rougher than necessary, and she kicked at my leg as she moved back, pushing her luck.
“Riley, I swear to fucking God,” I bit out, but Mom stepped between us, motioning to the open door.
“Riley, go bother Noah or something.” Riley rolled her eyes but walked off, shutting the door behind her without Mom having to ask. “You want to talk about it?”
“About what?” I grunted, sitting back on the bench.
“You’re irritated as fuck, Ry. Do I have to worry about you right now?” she asked firmly, sitting beside me.
“Any news on getting anyone out of lockup?” I asked, and she smirked.
“No. Stop avoiding my question, it won’t work.”
“Tempest is staying tonight.”
“No, she’s not.”
“Why?” I asked flatly, meeting her gaze.
“She was asked to leave her parents’ house or go to rehab. She chose to be difficult and leave. That’s not your problem. She attacked her fucking mother.”
“I assaulted Luna.”
“It was an accident and you learned from it,” she said with a wave of her hand.
“It wasn’t an accident, it was a mistake. You can’t accidentally assault someone,” I scoffed, shaking my head a little. “Temp didn’t mean to hurt her mom, and trying to force someone to go to rehab before they’re ready is pointless. It only works if they want to change. She doesn’t see the point because she’s so fucking sad that she doesn’t give a shit if something happens to her. I’m not trying to fix her problems, I’m just showing her that she isn’t alone.”
“Promise me you can handle this, Ry. I’m trying so hard to keep you on the right path, but I worry she’s going to push you right off it,” she said quietly, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. “You’re my baby. I can’t help but try to protect you.”
“I’m not a baby, Mom,” I chuckled, and she gave me a wry grin.
“I know, but it was only yesterday you were barely up to my knee, snatching snacks out of the grocery bags. Let me mom you a little longer.”