Page 84 of High Baller

" Depends?" Trey cuts me off.

"Yes, on your family. I know your mum’s happy I'm back—she’s the one that flew over to talk to me, but now we’re back together, I might be known as the girl that only got back with you for your money and fame—"

"That's because you are.” Madison snarls at me.

I ignore her bitchy remark. “I'm not back with you for your money, and I want the world to know we're together again, but I also want the world to know the truth.” I turn to Trey’s mum. “So, Mrs. King, if you want Trey and me back together officially in the public’s eyes, Madison has to tell the world what really happened."

"I won’t," she scoffs.

"Well, as long as people think Trey slept with the girls, then I'm not staying.” I won't have everyone thinking that I just forgave him for what he did because he has money, that's not the girl I am, and that's not who Trey is. "Everyone thinks Trey's a player when he's not.” I jab my finger toward her. “You made people think that, not me."

"You're joking about not staying with me, right?" Trey's hand squeezes my thigh, and I can see from his saddened eyes that he's not happy about it.

"I love you Trey, but I'm not going to be the girl people will always think got with you for your money or forgave you for sleeping around, because if it were true, I wouldn't have forgiven you."

"Then Madison will tell them the truth," Trey says while glaring at his spiteful sister. I know that I might be out of line for this, but I won’t let people think that about me when it's all been a lie. "Shorty, Calvin has just messaged me. He said to call him."

I turn to Trey. “It's three in the morning in London." I grab my phone and walk out into the garden. I glance back over to the house and see them fighting about what I said I want done.

"Hey, it's early, isn't it?" I ask when Calvin picks up.

“Sorry, but I had to speak to you,” he says, his voice trembling. “I checked the online banking, and there’s a problem. I think your parents might’ve logged in. Money has been transferred to another account that I don’t recognize.”

I worry my bottom lip. That didn't take my parents long to run out, did it? "How much?"

"All of it,” he sighs, and I freeze. I can’t speak right now. I mean, how much more can my parents do to me? "Sky?"

"I'm still here, just… I've had enough.” I turn back around to look at the house, and see Derek walking over to me, andI take the glass of wine he offers.

"Do you want to press charges?” Calvin asks. “My name’s on the account, so I could close it—"

"Then what? You know—"

"Sky, one thing at a time,” he says, trying to calm me down. I know he's only helping me, but I really can't keep living like this with my parents.

“Do you need me to come back?” I ask, but I don’t want to.

"No, spend time with Trey. If I need anything, I'll call you."

"If you close the account, I can’t have my wages paid in. I’ll have no money at all, Calvin. What am I meant to do for two weeks? I need to find a way to come home and figure things out,” I tell him. I need to sit down and really talk to Dave and Calvin about a plan for me with my parents—a plan to finally get them out of my life for good. “Hey!" I stare at Derek when he takes my from out of my hand.

"Hi Calvin, she'll stay for the two weeks...Yeah, I heard a little of it, but I've got the gist of what's happened… Even though she won't take it, Trey will be help-"

"No, he won't—" I stop as Derek puts his finger up to stop me talking. How rude! He can't just over take over my conversation.

"I'll let her know.” Derek ends the call, and hands me the phone. "Calvin said he'll call you once he gets back from the bank."

I walk over to sit on the swing bench, and take a long sip of my wine. There’s nothing I can do on the other side of the world, and I trust Calvin to deal with the shit that’s just landed on me.

“How’s it going in there?" I jerk my chin toward the house.

"A lot of shouting, but Trey has told Madison that she's doing it, or their relationship ends. Madison’s annoyed that her mom went to England to talk to you, so I'd say a normal King family fight." Derek fills my glass with some more wine. "Don't worry about them, Madison will do as Trey wants. His mom likes you, and Trey…” He grins. “Well, he loves you."

“Do you think it was too much to ask?"

"No, she needed to know that you won't be pushed around,” he replies. “And now she does. I think she might even hate you a little more because of it.” I shake my head and laugh, although I’m far from amused. “Are you going to tell Trey what your parents have done?"

I lean my head on his shoulder. "I don't want to. How much did you hear?"