Free Crushed by Amity Hope Page A

kicked her out, as he had often threatened to do, she thought she had enough money to get by for at least a little while .
    The money was supposed to be for college . She ’d rather not waste it on rent because she kne w how fast it would go. B ut it was a comfort to know it was there if she need ed it.
    “I don’t have to let y ou live in this house,” he said. It was as if he was reading her mind and driving home his threat.
    “ Dad !” Luci exclaimed . It was almost a sob.
    Cleo didn’t say anything. She didn’t want Luci any more upset than she already was.
    Cleo’s birthday was coming up soon. She’d be eighteen then. She knew what he was really
     threatening her with was foster care. But that was n’t going to be a viable threat much longer. Cleo wasn’t sure if he was actually aware of this. Her birthday wa s probably the l ast thing on his mind. She was honestly not sure that Paul even knew when it was. It wasn’t like it had enough importance to him that he’d actually remember.
    But even then, she didn ’t plan on going anywhere. No matter how badly she might want to.
    She’ d never leave Luci behind. And Paul knew this.
    “You think about that, Cleo. You just think about how lucky you are because I could’ve
     kicked you out on your ass a long time ago.”
     
    ***
     
     
    She was awake again, way before her alarm went off. Sometimes, it seemed the more exhausted she was , the harder it was to sleep. She’d had to work right up until dinner time. After Paul’s tirade, he’d left. Then she’d had dinner to put away and the kitchen to clean. Luci hadn’t folded the load of clothes like she’d been asked. She claimed to have
     homework . Cleo had a hunch that it had more to do with her class’ trip to the library . She was pretty sure that she couldn’t tear herself away from whateve r book she’d delved into before Cleo got home . So after dinner Cleo ha d folded the laundry. H elped Luci with the math homework she always seemed to need help with. H ad gotten her to bed and then spent a few hours doing her own homework.
    She ’d tumbled into bed exhausted, yet wide awake, finally drifting off what fel t like hours later. And now, she was awake again
    Her conversation with Reece , that horrible conversation in the classroom, seemed to be on an instant replay.
    And she couldn’t get memories from the past out of her head.
     
    Fall, junior year…
    “I need something to drink,” Reece said as he slid off his bed. “Do you want something?”
    “Sure,” she replied with a shrug. She sat up as she watched Reece go. Then busied herself organizing the homework they ’d just finished.
    “Is that girl here again?” Landon Hilde n brandt demanded as Reece entered the kitchen. His voice blasted down the staircase, across the family room to Reece’s open bedroom door.
    “Dad— , ” Reece started but Landon cut him off.
    “Reece, I’ve told you I don’t want that little gold digger in this house!” he shouted . His voice was so loud. Cleo w as sure it was his intent for her to hear him.
    She wasn’t stupid. His c oldness toward her the two times that she’d met him had tipped her off that he didn’t
     like her. She hadn’t realized that, perha ps, he went so far as to hate her. Reece hadn’t clued her in on the fact that she
     wasn’t welcomed there. She thought maybe, he hadn’t really understood the de pth of his father’s hatred of her yet, either.
    “We’re just doing homework,” Reece explained.
    “Find someone else to do your homework with! Did you purposefully set out to find
     the biggest piece of trash in town? Her family is a disgrace! Her mother was certifiably
     loony! Her father is a falling-do wn-drunk ! He’d rob me blind if he had half a chance. Don’t think for one second that girl isn’t after money. I can guarantee the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and everyone knows it!”
     He paused and she thought he was done. He wasn’t. “Are you