Page 54 of Stay Toxic

"Dude, no one cares," Ari says, rolling her eyes. "Mom will help because you're my friend, and because what you did to your poor hair will break her heart. But what happened to your money?"

"Mother cut my cards off after I ignored her yesterday. And kicked out Rob last week."

Ari stills for a moment. "Is that how she punishes you and controls you? Taking your money?"

I glance out the window. I'd gotten a look at the tall buildings from a distance, of course, but it's still strange to see skyscrapers and shiny high-rises in Thorn Falls. We must be in southie.

"Amongst other things," I reply. "The main threat is my tuition, and André's."

Ari nods. "Right. So what's the plan?"

I lick my lip. "I thought I might make her sweat for a little while, rather than run back to her," I admit. "Change my hair, post on my main social media to show I'm breaking her rule. In the meantime, I can ask my brother to lend me some cash—just to get by. He'll get it. He was raised by Mother. I think if she sees I'm not caving, she's going to panic and give me a bit more wiggle room about her asinine rules. She can't afford to really disown me; she's just trying to tighten my leash."

I say all that casually, but in truth, I'm terrified. I've never done anything so openly rebellious in my life. And my first attempt is a disaster currently stuffed in a beanie.

"Badass," Ari praises. "Showing her you're not a doormat. I like that."

"So long as it works," I grumble, trying not to wince.

She parks in front of a modern building, amongst hundreds of cars. I look up at the silver high-rise with a dozen, maybe fifteen floors. I would have thought it was for offices, but on closer inspection, I see plants and clotheslines on the balconies.

So, that's where Ari lives. It's not that bad. It's clean, for one. We enter the hall, without a reception. "Sorry, the elevator’s out," she tells me, heading to the staircase. "As usual."

She's on the seventh floor; no wonder she's so dainty and muscular if she has to go up and down all these stairs all the time.

"That's a workout," I huff.

"Tell me about it. I might have been used to it back in high school, but damn."

She knocks, loud, and screams, "Incoming!" before keying in a long code to open the door.

The apartment we walk into is modern, well designed, and tidy.

"Ari, darling, is that you?" a lovely voice calls. "I'm in the bath."

"Alone?" Ari shoots back somewhat warily.

I guess her indulgence in all things sexy has one firm boundary: her mother.

"Yes, alone, sadly. Give me five minutes. Make yourself a martini, darling." After a beat, she adds, "And me. Make me one, too. A double, please."

I chuckle, already liking her mother.

I remove my jacket to hang it up next to Ari’s, and start to remove the beanie, too, but she stops me. "You want to give Mom a heart attack? We have to ease her into that mess."

I would say it's not that bad, but she has a point, so I keep my mouth shut and keep the hat on.

"It's a nice place," I say, walking into the inviting apartment.

Open concept, and pretty large, the kitchen-living area has a large reading nook, a set of drums, and a guitar, as well as what looks like a yoga corner.

"It's a bit messy," Ari admits with a fond smile. "But I love it. Mom makes a point of always having stuff for all of us, you know."

"You're the reader…who plays that?"

"Lawrence; both the drums and guitar.Natalie is the fitness freak, hence the weights and stuff. Victor has an art studio—my old room. As he and Nat are still at home, they have a bit more space than the rest of us. AndBenjamin's into cooking, so the fancy stuff in the kitchen is for him.Vince is just into video games at the moment, so the TV and his laptop are all he needs."

"You have a pretty epic mom."I whistle, thoroughly impressed. "But if your room's now a studio, where do you stay during the breaks?"