Dirty Toe Drag by Toni Aleo

Chapter Thirty-One

Stella

I usually dressup for family dinner, but I also usually don’t have a sleepless night full of uneasiness and fear. I went by Wes’s, and he didn’t answer the door. I looked for the key, but it wasn’t there because I’d left it in the drawer in the kitchen. I stood on his porch, ringing the bell and calling him for about ten minutes before his neighbor started watching me through the window. That’s when I decided to leave since I was worried she’d call the cops next. I got home, and sleeping wasn’t an option. I almost feel like crying. Maybe it would help. But I’m not worried about our relationship; I’m worried about him.

I never in a million years thought his dad would show up. I made my point abundantly clear. Stay the hell away. What did he think he would gain? He has already hurt Wes enough. What a piece of shit. I hope he goes straight to hell and becomes Satan’s sex slave. As for his stepmom, hell is too good for her. I want her to rot. I don’t carry anger like this in my heart, but for those two, I carry it fiercely. Because I love him. I love Wes so much, and I’m so worried.

Emery, on the other hand, is annoyed.

“Why didn’t you just break in?”

I don’t even look at her. I press my forehead into the counter, growling loudly. My dad is highly unaffected by my distress and agony. I’m pretty sure he isn’t a Wes fan. “Because only psychos break in to their boyfriend’s houses.”

“I would have.”

“That doesn’t make it better, honey,” Dad calls to her, and Emery snorts at him.

“He locked her out and wouldn’t answer the phone, when she was only worried about him.”

I look up as Dad glances over at me. “So, dump his ass.”

Typical.

“If he hasn’t dumped you first,” he adds, and I glare.

“We are fine. I made a small mistake. Everything is fine. I’m just worried about him,” I insist, but Dad doesn’t seem convinced.

“I don’t like you dating anyway. Why don’t you become a nun?”

Emery hoots. “Don’t you have to be a virgin to be a nun?”

Dad’s face turns white, and I push her off the stool, the cacophony of her crashing to the ground alarming my mom.

“What in the world!”

I look over at her innocently. “She told Dad I’m not a virgin.” Mom glances over at Dad, who is still standing there gawking at me. “Dad, come on. I’m nineteen! What were you doing at nineteen?”

Mom grins at him. “Not what, but whom?”

“Fallon!” he cries, and she laughs. “Baby, they’re growing up.”

He then whips his gaze to Emery. “You could be a nun, right?”

After sitting back on the stool, still laughing, she nods. “As of today, yes. Tomorrow is a new day.”

He looks back at Mom, who is practically bent over laughing. “Fallon, we’re locking her up. I can’t handle this.”

Mom rolls her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Why don’t we go grill the steaks, then? We can pretend it’s the man meat of all future suitors for our daughter.”

He exhales loudly. “Fine, but dump that Wes kid’s ass, Stella.”

Confidently, even without knowing what Wes is thinking, I say, “No way, Dad. I’m in love with him.”

He looks to Mom. “She loves him?”

Mom nods. “She does, just like I loved you at nineteen.”

He doesn’t seem convinced or even pleased by that answer. “But I am cool.”

“Of course you are—and were,” she says as she pulls him away. Thank God.

I roll my eyes as Emery says, “Yeah, I deserved that. But come on, it was the perfect time to say that.”

I give her a dry look. “Emery, there is never a perfect time to tell our father I’m not a virgin.”

She shrugs. “You’re probably right.”

“I am,” I snap as I look down at my phone. With Emery over my shoulder, I write Wes quickly.

Me: Just tell me you’re okay. I’m so worried about you. I know I should have told you, and I get why you’re upset with me. But the silent treatment when this is a serious issue is not okay. We love each other, Wes. Just tell me you’re okay.

I lay my phone down, frustrated. “I may have to go back over there.”

“I mean, I can call him if you’d like.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t want him to think you know anything.”

“I don’t. Only that you didn’t tell him something and he’s shutting you out.”

“That’s all you need to know,” I say, clicking my phone to wake it up. Unfortunately, there is no text from him. Not even a text bubble. “Ugh, I don’t want to stand outside his door, banging on it. His neighbor gave me such a weird look.”

Emery looks bored at this point. “Dude, I can get you in.”

“Em,” I warn, shaking my head. She shrugs, and I almost consider her offer. But I don’t know how he would feel about it. When Aiden’s voice echoes through the house, announcing his arrival, I almost go to my room. I am in no mood for a family dinner, but I know my mom would get pissed if I hid out in my room. I sure as hell don’t want to hear Aiden’s comments on anything related to Wes. Though, I wonder if Wes reached out to him.

I look up as Aiden comes in with Shelli. My sister-in-law looks beautiful in a little sundress, her belly poking out only slightly. She comes over, hugging me, and I pat her belly, to which she grins at me. She told us she loves it when we do that. As she hugs Emery, I ask, “Got any names yet?”

Shelli rolls her eyes. “Aiden wants to name him Hulk.”

We all look at my brother, who is putting a cheese tray in the fridge. “He would be the only one with that name.”

Emery nods. “And a total disappointment when he doesn’t turn green and Hulk smash stuff.”

I hook a thumb at her. “You’re setting him up for failure.”

Aiden doesn’t seem convinced. “Whatever. But Samuel is good? I want something strong because he’s going to be the most badass kid ever.”

I look back at Shelli just as Emery does. With a huff, Shelli says, “See what I deal with?”

Emery snickers as Aiden waves us off. “You know I’m right. Where is Dad? He’ll agree with me.”

“He’s outside by the grill, unhappy that Stella isn’t a virgin.”

When Aiden gags and starts for the door, I roll my eyes and then grab his wrist to stop him. “Hey, have you spoken to Wes since y’all got back?”

His brow furrows. “I talked to him when I dropped him off.”

“What about after that?”

Shelli glances over at me from where she is picking at the grapes. “You haven’t heard from him?”

“No, and I’m a little worried.”

Aiden makes a face as he pulls out his phone. He hits something and then brings it to his ear, waiting. When he hangs up, he types something and then looks up at me. “That’s weird. He never ignores my calls.”

I nod. “Yeah. I might head over there again.”

“Again?” he asks, and Emery nods.

“Yeah, I told her to break in since he won’t answer the door, but she won’t listen to me.”

We all look at her, and Shelli says, “Because no one is trying to go to jail but you.”

She snorts as she shrugs. “You guys are just scared and jealous. I always get what I want.”

Aiden ignores her, looking back at me. “Is he mad at you?”

I shrug. “He might be, but the whole situation has me worried. I can’t tell you anything ’cause it’s his business.”

To my surprise, he accepts that before looking back down at his phone. I watch as he brings it up to his ear. “Hey, do me a solid and call Wes. Yeah, I just need to know he’s okay. He’s not answering my calls. Thanks.”

“Who was that?” Shelli asks.

“Boon.”

My stomach clenches. “I don’t want to overwhelm Wes.”

“That’s why I called Boon.” He looks down at his phone, answering it as it rings. “Hey. Okay, thanks. Yeah, I’ll let you know.” He hangs up and says, “Yeah. He’s not answering Boon either. Maybe I should go over?”

I shake my head. “No, I need to fix this.” I bite my lip as I look back at my phone with no texts from Wes. I’m so frustrated. “Should I give him space?”

Aiden shrugs. “I don’t know the whole story, so I can’t tell you one way or another.”

“What does your heart say?” I look at Shelli as she asks, and she moves some of my hair behind my ear. “You know your relationship and what’s going on with him.”

My throat tightens. “I feel like I need to go over there again.”

“Then go,” Aiden says simply. “We can cover for you.”

“For sure,” Emery says just as the back door opens and my parents come in. Before I can thank my siblings or even sneak off, I’m trapped in my chair because Mom and Dad are loving on Shelli and Aiden. I’m two seconds away from jumping the counter—which is what Emery did—when Asher and Ally come into the kitchen.

“Hey. The door was open, and you’ve got mail,” Asher says before he kisses my mom and hands her the mail.

Dad makes a face as he hugs Ally. “I miss that when I would log on to AOL.”

“Dad, your age is showing,” Emery teases, and everyone laughs. I take that as my chance to sneak away.

I don’t get far.

“Stella, it’s a letter from school.” I turn suddenly, but before I can even grab it or move through this entirely too-big family to get to her, she’s already opening it. Her brows come in as she holds what looks like a check and then the letter. She looks across the bar at me. “Why does this say you withdrew from school?”

Oh fuck.

My stomach drops, and all eyes are on me. Aiden has that “oh shit” look on his face that he always wore when I would tell on Emery. Asher looks like he has no clue what to do or even say, and Shelli and Ally look as if they want to leave.

Please, God, take me with you.

Dad is gawking at me, confused, as he asks, “Did you drop out?”

I hold out my palms to them. “Yes, but I have a good reason.”

Mom’s eyes widen. “Stella Ann, you had a 4.0! Are you crazy?”

Maybe? “Listen, can we talk about this later? I can’t do this right now. I need to go see—”

Dad looks utterly bewildered as Mom roars, “Stella! Maybe let someone know before a letter comes so we can prepare.”

Ah, this is how Wes must feel. Well, fuck me sideways. “I know. I’m sorry. But I really can’t handle this right now.” And I know I should be freaking out a bit more, but honestly, I’m too worried about Wes to care that they know. They are only holding me up. But before I can even try to get out of this, my sister, my ride or die, Emery has my back.

She jumps in front of me, pointing toward my parents. Or so I think. “Asher and Ally got married in Spain!”

Oh, big fuck.

Asher’s eyes widen as Ally turns bright red. Mom and Dad both scream, “What!” at the same time as Emery takes my wrist in her hand.

With a wild look in her eye, she says, “Let’s blow this joint.”

As hysteria breaks out, we do just that.

I just hope that blowing off my parents and their endless questions won’t bite me in the ass, but do I really care?

No, I only care if Wes is okay.