Labeled Love (16 page)

WHILE SHAY IS
at her brother’s premiere, I’m working at the motorcycle repair shop. She doesn’t know, but I’ve been working here for a while now after school and on the weekends. I want to tell her I’m working toward finding a way to come to her house and see her, but I don’t know how long it will take me to afford my own transportation. I told Henry, the owner, I needed off every Wednesday. That was the only day I had a conflict. Henry has been good to me. After the first week I worked, he asked me for my cell phone number in case he needed to reach me. Because he runs his shop alone, he wanted to be able to get in touch with me if he closed for a day. When I told him I couldn’t afford a phone, he scratched the back of his balding head and said if I worked hard and proved I was responsible, he would help me get one. I think he felt sorry for me.

Now that I’ve proven myself to Henry, that day is almost here. We will go Monday to pick out a basic phone for texting, but no Internet. I couldn’t care less about social media; I just want to be able to text and talk to Shay. I can’t wait to hear that pretty voice on the phone for the first time. The bill will go to Henry’s house, and the payment will come out of my check.

Getting home pretty late, I walk into the dark apartment that smells like a pack of stale cigarettes. I hate the thought that I might smell like that around Shay. The bright clock on the oven reads ten thirty. The movie must be over, and Shay is probably at some after party. I hope she’s having fun. I told her to take pictures, and knowing her, she’s taking plenty. I hate the thought of anyone else looking at her. I know how guys think. I also know my girl’s heart, which belongs to me.

To take my mind off who might be ogling my girl, I meet up with Landon, and we hang out at his apartment for a while. He lives a few miles away from me in a nicer apartment than mine. His neighborhood is still ghetto-like, but his parents are really cool and care a lot about him.

Not like my home life.

When I return home, I check the refrigerator, but as usual, there’s not much to eat. I would love one of Shay’s peanut butter and jelly sandwiches right now, but that’s not happening. Instead, I settle for a bowl of cereal. Luckily, I picked up a box a couple of days ago on my way home from the garage.

As I sit eating, I think about Shay’s sixteenth birthday. She’s really excited about it, and I can’t wait to give her the present I’ve been working for.

I WAKE UP
early to find my mom passed out cold on the couch. It’s a normal occurrence, so I don’t think much of it. She looks like she’s barely breathing, but I’m so used to it I walk away. I turn back and look at her. She looks like a junkie. I really don’t know if she’s ever done those types of drugs, but she looks like it. Honestly, she looks like a shell of a person. She’s here, but she’s not. I just wish we had more of a relationship, because I would like to get to know her. No one starts out this way, and it makes me wonder how her life was before. Gently moving the hair that is covering her face, I touch her cheek, taking in my mother. That’s when I see the white drool coming out of her mouth.

“Mom!” I shake her, but she doesn’t move. I try again. “Mom!” I panic.

Nothing.

I need to call an ambulance, but I don’t have a fucking phone yet. I leave Mom on the couch, run outside, and yell for anyone to help me. For the first time, no one is outside. I start knocking on doors, and thankfully, a little old lady that lives a few doors down from us answers. I’m out of breath and in total panic mode. “Do you have a cell phone? I need to call an ambulance.” She nods her head and turns back into her house. She’s walking slowly while I’m grinding my teeth waiting for her. Finally, she comes back with her phone, and I call 911. When I run back to my apartment, I see my mom still lying on the couch. Checking her pulse, I feel a faint one.

Shit.

I’m freaking out. This is the first time I’ve called an ambulance, but I’m afraid if I hadn’t, something would’ve happened that I don’t want on my conscience. When we get to the hospital, Mom is admitted. Then the twenty questions start. I’m actually nervous. I’m a minor and don’t want Child Services involved.

Sitting nervously in the waiting room, I look around as people come and go. There’s a lady with three kids in the corner, and one of them has been crying the whole time. The guy that is sitting across from me is coughing up stuff into a Kleenex. It’s making me feel sick just being in here. I sit for hours before someone calls me up to the nurse’s station. “Excuse me. Are you here with Grace James?”

“Yes.” I yawn loudly.

“What is your relation to her?”

“I’m her son.”

The nurse looks down, and in a quiet voice she asks, “Do you have any other family?”

I look around nervously. “No.” I know what question is coming next. I don’t want to lie, but I’m scared that I will be put into a foster home if they think I’m not in a safe environment. I think of Shay. I won’t be taken away from her. “We don’t have any other family members. I’m all she has. Please, don’t say anything.”

The nurse looks around, and then brings her sad eyes back to me. “Your mom had to have her stomach pumped. She has alcohol poisoning, and they found other substances in her stomach. She will have to be in the hospital a couple of days for recovery.”

I nod my head. “Do you need me for anything?” I ask.

“No. She’s on medical assistance. So, no, you won’t have any responsibility.”

“I will be back tomorrow to check on her,” I tell the nurse. “Thank you.” She looks at me with concern, giving me a slight smile. As soon as I walk out of the hospital, the fresh air hits my lungs, consuming me with what happened tonight.

What the hell?

Running my fingers through my hair, I pull at the ends. There is no bus right now, so I start walking. It’s four o’clock in the morning, and I’m walking through one of the worst areas in Los Angeles. The only thing that keeps me walking with my head up is my girl. Knowing she’s probably sound asleep in her warm bed makes me feel better. She’s all I care about, and she’s safe. Keeping to myself, just hoping that no one messes with me, I walk fast with my hands inside my pockets. It’s so quiet that I can hear every single sound around me. Turning my head quickly in the direction of a passing alleyway, I hear a loud crash. Someone is going through a dumpster. My heart picks up, causing my adrenaline to heighten. I’m on edge.

Shay.

She’s my focus right now, and the fact that my mom really could have died this time. If I had just turned and walked away from her, she probably would have died. I really don’t know how to help her anymore since she won’t listen to me. We are like two strangers living under the same roof.

TODAY IS MY
birthday. I do a little happy sweet sixteen birthday dance when my parents open the front door to our house, exposing my birthday gift to me. Parked in the driveway sits a new white car with a big red bow on top. I’ve wanted an Audi A4 convertible for quite a while. My dad hands me the keys and says, “Happy sixteenth birthday, baby girl.” I jump up and down and give them both a big hug. They laugh.

“You deserve it. You always work hard,” Mom declares.

My smile is from ear to ear as I drive to school by myself for the first time. Because of my sheer excitement, the school day drags slowly like a turtle. I just can’t wait to get to Jace. My car is packed and ready to go with all my favorite essentials for a beach day. Jace and I have never gone to the beach together. We’ve never even driven together alone.

This is a whole new chapter in our relationship, and I’m high fiving myself I’m so happy. It’s like we’re graduating from weekly hangouts. I’m taking him to the one place I have told him about for years that I love. We tried to go once before, but it didn’t work out, and he never makes it easy for me with the whole meet-me-at-the-center thing. Many times over the years he has made a point to attend my events, but he won’t ever let my family take him home afterwards. It drives me nuts, but now I can drive.

Yay!

While I was packing, I grabbed my surfboard, and after asking Beau, he said it was fine if I grabbed one of his old boards for Jace. I also grabbed a pair of Beau’s board shorts he keeps at the house for Jace to wear, as he doesn’t know we’re going to the beach.

Jules is having a little beach bash for me. It’s going to be just a few of my friends from school, and then we’re going to my house for dessert, because I promised my mom. Singing “Happy Birthday” is a must. Even when Beau is on location, we sing it as a family. On the phone or in person, it doesn’t matter, as long as we do it as a family.

When I get to the center after school, I see Jace standing there talking to a couple of guys. He looks so cute. Once he sees me, he walks away from them while I park my car. I get out just to give him a hug. He looks at me intently.

“Why are you in a bathing suit, baby?” He leans in, picking me up in his strong arms.

Inhaling deeply, he says, “Mmm… you really smell like summer today.” I’m wearing jean shorts with a sheer white top, so my bikini top is visible, and I already sprayed a ton of my coconut-infused sunblock.

“I’m taking you to the beach, in my new birthday present from my parents,” I tell him. He puts space between us.

“The beach, huh?” He looks at my car. “This is a beautiful car, baby.”

“Thank you. Yes, we are driving to the beach.”

“Sounds like fun times, pretty girl. I need your lips, baby.” He pulls me in, and yup, best kisses ever. He groans and smiles against my lips.

“Jules is throwing me a birthday beach party. You know, just some cute girls in bikinis carrying surfboards.”

“You’re the only cute girl in a bikini I want to look at.”

“You might change your mind when you see my friends. They are way curvier than I am.” I pout.

He raises his eyebrows. “I love your curves.”

“Curves? I’m a late bloomer.” I put my hands on my hips. “I hope that’s not a problem.”

I stick out my bottom lip. He glances at me adorably after he gives me a once-over.

“No problem here. I like when it takes a long time for a flower to bloom. You can appreciate its beauty before it opens up and—”

“Okay, that sounded really sexual,” I cut him off. He chuckles.

“Did it? I didn’t mean for it to.”

“Uh-huh, sure, you didn’t.”

“I’m serious, baby.” His voice gets that low, sexy tone. Leaning forward, he brushes his lips to my ear. “I’ve been watching you bloom since you were twelve and rolling sunshine all over those pouty lips. You’re the prettiest flower I’ve ever seen.”

I sigh. “You always say the sweetest things, Jace. How did I get so lucky? You’re the sweetest boy ever,” I tell him, reaching up and squinting from the sun.

Jace takes my face in his hands, like he always does. Dreamily and firmly, he brings my lips to his. He tastes like heaven. “Happy birthday, pretty girl.”

I open my eyes and smile. “Mmm… now it’s a happy birthday.”

“Oh, yeah, why is it so happy now?” He nuzzles against my neck.

“You know why. I’m with my boy.”

“That’s right, baby. I’m your boy. Forever.” Slow kisses are my favorite, and that’s what he gives me when he kisses my lips. Then he slowly grazes my neck with his tongue before kissing the corner of my mouth. “I love you, birthday girl.”