Page 100 of Golden Days

I freeze. Shit. Someone saw us in Palm Beach?

No, no, this is bad.

“What do you want?” I manage to ask.

“Your fathers’ copays have gone up,” she says lightly.

I close my eyes and breathe through my nose. I know that’s a lie because I have access to his dashboard and bills. So, this is about money. Of course it is.

“How much do you want?” I ask, defeated.

“Look, you know I wouldn’t resort to this, but you’re clearly doing well for yourself, and we need a little help here. The roof needs some work; the bathroom could use an upgrade.”

“None of that is my responsibility, Mom.” I choke on a sob and press a fist to my mouth to contain it.

“Well, it is now. We gave you everything you needed and wanted growing up. Those golf clubs weren’t cheap. It’s the least you can do.”

“The least you could have done is not blow all your life savings,” I growl.

“Watch your tone,” she says.

Silence stretches between us as I try to compose myself. But ultimately, I’ve reached my wit’s end with her. “I’m done, mom. I’ll pay for dad’s bills, but besides that, you won’t see a dime from me. It’s time you figure out how to get a job yourself.”

“Funny you say that. You know, I looked into how much these tabloids pay for stories. It’s—” She whistles, taking me by surprise. “It’s good money. I could tell them all about you and Levi.”

“You don’t know anything about us,” I hiss. Sweat drips down my back and I clutch the phone tightly.

“I know enough. Your dad mentioned you were working for him, as a coach of some kind.” The accusation lingers between us. You slept with your employer.

“You’d really do that?” I ask, voice breaking. “Sell me out for some petty cash?” Even though I no longer work for Levi, it could hurt his reputation if word got out he was seeing his employee, even if it was a temporary arrangement.

She breathes a frustrated huff on the other end of the line and says, “It wouldn’t have come to this if it hadn’t been for your father’s heart attack.”

Anger gets the best of me and my lip curls in disgust. “Right, blame the man who almost died, and not yourself for blowing all his hard-earned savings,” I spit out.

“Send more money or I’ll be forced to talk to the press,” my mother says, hanging up.

My eyes fill with tears, and I look up at the sky. I want to scream in frustration.

“Hazel, what’s wrong?” Levi’s voice comes from somewhere behind me.

I sniff and wipe the tears away from my eyes.

“Nothing,” I say, giving him a wobbly smile.

He doesn’t buy it.

“Did something happen?” he asks, his fists clenching at his sides.

I shake my head, swallowing down the instinct to blurt it all out and melt into his arms. I don’t want him to fix this for me. I don’t want him involved in my mother’s drama. I hug my arms around myself instead.

“Just family stuff. I don’t wanna talk about it,” I say, looking down at my feet. I kick a pebble around with my shoe until Levi steps into my line of sight.

“You can tell me anything,” he says gruffly, gently grabbing my shoulders, stroking his thumbs over my collarbone.

I sniff and look up at him, finding his green eyes pinched in concern. I purse my lips and shake my head again. His hands fall to his sides and my stomach drops.

He’s disappointed in me.