F I F T Y - S E V E N

ALEXANDER.

Josie is standing by the door, and she stammers when she speaks. "I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in. I didn’t know you had someone over. I’m so sorry." She apologizes, and I shake my head, signaling for her to leave. Thankfully, she catches onto the sign without me having to add words, and she nods. "I’ll come back later."

She turns and bows to my Mom before she disappears through the door, and my chest drops shakily as I turn back to Mom.

"Another one of your girls?" She arches a brow, and I scoff. "She’s my friend. From Florida, and you’d have known her if you paid any attention to me."

"I’m not here to listen to your whines about me abandoning you, Alexander." She snaps. "I’m here to remind you the only reason I’m letting you stay here and do things your way is because I thought you’d be more responsible. Change and turn better, but if you find it hard to even do that, then I’d be left with no choice but to—"

"But to what?" I cut in her words. "What will you do