This Can't Be Good

Chapter 47

After I had calmed down I lied down on my bed. I had opted for the small bed again leaving no space for Parker. He made himself comfortable on Miranda’s bed. Ava was settled in on her’s with Max still sitting on the edge. He began to crawl toward the back of the bed where Ava sat.

“Max,” Ava warned.

“Right, sorry Avs,” Max said climbing off the bed instead of closer to Ava. Ava didn’t want to have to lie to her parents when she got home. She’d rather have Max ten feet away from her than right next to her. It was kinda cute. “Parker move over,” Max said climbing on to Miranda’s bed.

“You mean I get to share a bed with Max?” Parker said in playful disbelief. He shifted over leaving enough room for Max to lie next to him.

“Is it what you’ve always dreamed of?” Max teased back.

“That and more,” Parker joked back.

The two of them were quite close in proximity on the bed. I couldn’t help but let a laugh escape my lips. They really were the two biggest dorks. We all stayed in the room watching TV. The boys screwing around on the bed while Ava warned them to behave. I felt more like an observer than a participant in the activities. The days events still being processed in my mind.

I knew that the conversation was no where near over. Jayden had barely said anything this morning which meant when they returned he was going to be full of snide comments. I guess snide comments run in the Emmerce blood. I was more afraid of what the snide comments would lead to. Jayden had a reputation for letting his anger get the best of them. I was afraid that the argument would escalate into a fight. I knew there was nothing I could do at this point though.

No sooner had I began to relax was there a knock on the door. I could feel my heart speed up causing me to lose my breath for a second. The four of us looked at each other cautiously. After a moment Max got up to answer the door, Jayden and Miranda entered the room.

The tension was unbearable. Miranda and Jayden had walked in without acknowledging anyone, not even Max who had opened the door. Miranda went to sit on Ava’s bed since her’s was being occupied. Jayden opted for the chair that was pushed into the desk. He pulled the chair towards Miranda before sitting on it. He was directly across from Parker and Max. I stayed put on my bed, to afraid to move. No one was saying anything.

“Three months?” Miranda questioned, finally breaking the silence. She looked so small sitting on the bed, her hands placed in her lap. I could tell she was picking at the skin around her nails. She hated tension as much as I did.

The room was so silent I was sure everyone heard my labored breathing. My teeth were digging into my lips, nervousness getting the best of me. Miranda’s rhetorical question dug at me. Why’d she have to bring up the time frame?

“I’m sorry Mir,” I apologized. What else was I supposed to say? Nothing I could say would make the situation any better. No matter what I said Miranda would still be mad at me and I would still be deserving of that anger.

“What are you sorry for Josylne?” Jayden demanded.

I flinched at his words. I didn’t understand why Jayden had to sound so harsh. I knew he was mad at me. He didn’t need to articulate it with his tone too. I didn’t know how to answer that. I didn’t know what I was sorry for. Was I sorry for lying to them? Kind of but lying was the only thing that kept Parker and I safe. I didn’t do it to protect them. I did it for myself.

“What about you Parker,” Jayden sneered. “Anything you’d like to say.”

Jayden was sitting on the edge of his chair waiting for Parker to answer. My eyes drifted over to Parker. He was watching Jayden, never letting his eyes leave his. I couldn’t move. I knew things were about to escalate.