Gamble a.i

33. "Spit it out"

Mum comes home three hours after Ashton and I's shower baring some hefty news I wasn't prepared for. Ashton had re-bandaged my wound for me and helped me get dressed (in his clothes, my favorite) before taking me down the stairs, careful not to bump me in any way, although I kept reminding him that I wasn't that delicate. He responded with, "the hell you aren't." He's becoming a little overbearing, but I think I can deal with it. If not...

We settled down on the couch, snuggling comfortably with my favorite old quilt surrounding us, watching How I Met Your Mother and eating whatever we could get our hands on, which wasn't much considering Mum hasn't gone to the store in a while. All things considered, I was okay with that. It's not everyday that your daughter gets stabbed by your husband that just left you. It's complicated. Really, really complicated.

Miranda had dance after school, so Mildred picked her up and took her to the Studio of Contemporary Arts after school let out at two thirty-seven, a completely odd time to dismiss school, I think. Mildred said something about coming back after Miranda was done, and I couldn't agree more. I haven't seen Mildred or Jax in quite the while, and since Mildred is expecting, I want to be there for her.

Mum came home with pizza, a food I'll never get tired of. Ashton scrunched his nose, but didn't say anything of protest, like I had expected him to. He's too much of a gentleman for his own good. Mum got glasses full of lemonade and grabbed some paper plates before coming back into the living area, her face pale. I could tell that she was hiding something, and it was something important by the looks of it. I don't like my mom this way.

I insisted on getting my pizza. Holy hell, how difficult could that be? Very, and Ashton noticed. He demanded I let him get my plate of pizza, but I strongly disagreed and ended up getting pizza for everyone else before myself. Ashton grumbles about me being stubborn, but I really just wanted to prove a point. I am not helpless, contrary to what he thinks.

"So, I found a place for us to live," my mum speaks up after a while.

"Mrs. Brooke, you guys are always welcome to stay with me," Ashton speaks up, setting down his now empty plate.

"I know, darling, but a one bedroom flat for an adult, two teenagers and a hyper child? It's not the type of atmosphere anyone wants," she softly chuckles. Ashton completely deflates; I know he wanted me to stay with him for a while.

"So where's this place again?" I ask, getting another slice of pizza. I'm a pig, but I like it.

"That's the thing. I have a bit of explaining to do," she mumbles. I nod and wait for her to continue. "Well, I was seeing another man while I was with Phil."

I almost choked on my pizza. Ashton pats my back until I finish coughing. "You were cheating?!" I shout once I regain my voice.

"Yeah, and I'm not proud of it. Anyways, the man I was seeing is um, well, you see-"

"Just spit it out, Mum," I sigh.

"I was seeing your father." A shameful look casts over her face, and my world stops. 

At first, I'm shocked. All these years, she's told me that she hates my sperm donor for leaving us- for leaving me, specifically. Mildred has a different dad, and she knows him. Miranda and I don't know our dads, and we never will. Well, maybe I'll figure out who my dad is, since my mum is suddenly so keen on him.

The shock quickly turns to anger. Mum's been talking to my dad all this time, seeing him secretly, and never once mentioned this to his offspring? 

"You're not suggesting we move in with him, are you? Because I'll live with Ashton if that's the case," I huff, suddenly not hungry anymore. It's like my appetite vanished into thin air.

"You're not living with your boyfriend!" she yells, throwing her hands in the air. I flinch slightly. 

"Um, we aren't really-" Ashton starts, but when I squeeze his thigh slightly, he stops.

"I don't want to live with a stranger, Mum," I tell her.

"I understand that, but we need somewhere to stay while Phil is on the loose, and John's our best option."

"Oh, so now we're on a first name basis, wow, Mum."

"Quit getting so lippy," she snaps. "I'm trying to protect you!"

"Mum, I don't want to liv-"

"Mackayla, maybe it's for the best?" Ashton says in a questioning tone.

"Great so now you're taking her side? Honestly!" I get up quickly, ignoring the pain and rush up the stairs, making it halfway up before I collapse completely.

Poke. Poke, poke. Poooooke.

I awake to my little sister's face in mine, and when I catch her, she giggles slightly. My head is pounding, heart racing, but all I can concentrate on is that gorgeous, dimpled face in front of me, and no, it's not Ashton. In fact, Ashton is no where to be seen, and I don't like that. I'd like to think that I'm not the clingy type, but I most definitely am.

With Ashton, who wouldn't be?

Finally, I spot him across from me, hands on another woman. Luckily, it's just my sister, and he's trying to feel the baby kick. 

Maybe I sit up too fast, or maybe I ate too much pizza, but as soon as my head is off the couch, I immediately feel sick. I sprint to the nearest bathroom, which just happens to be down the hall, and throw myself in front of the toilet, expecting to puke my brains out.

I didn't. 

Instead, I dry heave until I feel like the stitches in my side feel like they're about to fall out. Miranda comes in and holds my hair at the nape of my neck like I trained her to. She's been with me through every hang over, and I'm very proud of the minion I have created.

"Are you okay, sissy?" Miranda asks. 

"I'm fine. Can you go get mommy?" I ask her. She nods and scampers off.

My mum appears around the corner, and I look at her softly before nodding. I have to face the facts, and living with my sperm donor might be what's best for me- for us.

So, let me explain something. It has taken me 33 chapters to introduce drama. There's been a lot of fluff, but shit's going down in the next few chapters, okay? Also, all three of the girls have separate dads because it makes a more mixed up family, and if you hadn't noticed, their mum is a bit unstable.

Erin xx