Keeping the Bad Boy

Chapter 17

It had been two hours since the time he usually got home. I got worried. I called him. It went to his voice mail. "Dammit," I said and tried again. He picked up on the third ring. "Hey, sorry I was-" I heard loud cello music in the background. Then I heard Sam yell-with the phone pulled away from him-, "Ryder! Shut the hell up!" "Sorry, we were playing. And we have been for a few hours. What's up?" Something in his voice made my throat clench shut. I struggled to speak. "Nothing, I'm sorry if I interrupted you guys." I said, trying to keep the worried tone out of voice. "It's fine. No big deal." "So I'm guessing Ryder got there today?" "Yep. He was here when I got home," there was something in his voice, I couldn't quite name it though. Worry? Strain? I couldn't tell. Something was definitely off though. "What's wrong?" I asked, but I didn't hear his response- if he even gave one- because he was cut off by my mom knocking on my bedroom door. "Hold on," I said and tossed my phone onto my bed. When I opened the door, my mom was frowning. "Who are you talking to?" she asked, struggling to keep her tone neutral. "Sam," I said. As soon as his name left my mouth I regretted saying it. I should've lied and said that it was Malory, even though we hadn't spoken since Sam and I started hanging out. Which wasn't a total loss. I liked Sam a whole lot better. "I thought I told you not to talk to him anymore, Courtney," she said, her mouth a straight line. "You told me not to see him anymore. You said nothing about talking." Her eyes darkened, if that was even possible. "You know what I meant, Courtney. You're not stupid." "No I'm not. So I should be able to pick my friends if I'm so smart." "He's trouble. His parents and brother..." she trailed off. "It doesn't matter what his parents or his brother did! They're not him, Mom!" I shouted. Her features softened, but hardened again. "Do you know what they did, Courtney? Did he tell you all the bad things his family did?" I shake my head. "No! But I'm sure that whatever you've heard was just a rumor, Mom! I've met his brother and he's really nice. You just don't want me to have fun!" She huffed and pushed past me and into my room. For a fairly small woman, she was strong and quick. Her brown hair was kept out of her face with a red bandanna. She snatched my cell phone off my bed. "What are you doing?" I demanded. She put the phone to her ear. "Hello?" she said as I reached for the phone. She turned away from me and at this point I saw no reason to fight her. I strained to hear what Sam said to her. "This is Judy, Courtney's mother. I don't want you seeing my daughter anymore, do you understand?" "Don't try to sound mature with me, I have heard of the things your brother and parents have done. It wouldn't surprise me if you did the same thing Sam." She said his name with a certain hatred that I hadn't heard from her before. Although, this got a raging response from Sam. Mom had to pull the phone away from her ear and I could clearly hear the words he was shouting so loudly into the phone. "YOU KNOW NOTHING OF MY FAMILY! YOU DON'T KNOW THEM OR ME YOU SELFISH-" he was cut off. Ryder probably took the phone from him before he said something that would make the situation worse. My mom hung up and tucked my phone into her pocket. "You are grounded from your phone all off Christmas break." "What! No! You can't do that, Mom!" "Oh yes I can! And I am!" She stormed out of the room, slamming my door behind her. I screamed and flopped onto my bed. It was if Satan had come up from hell, took my hand and said, "Come and stay in hell for Christmas break."