The auntie's smile snapped back, "And your dad?"
"He's between jobs."
"Oh?" Her eyes bulged a bit.
Zach whispered again, "Actually, he made a killing in the stock market last year."
Her grin came back even wider.
Man, her acting could win awards.
"By the way, that face cream set me back $1,580. Make sure you reimburse me," Zach said the second we left the restaurant.
His nerve! Right after we got out, he was already hitting me up for cash.
I glared at him, "Dream on. You're not getting another penny."
Typical Zach—every time I got money, he'd swoop in to "manage" it for me.
"You just won that $8,000 scholarship, right?" he prodded.
I stared him down, realization dawning.
His affection was always just skin-deep—it was always about the cash.
"Get lost," I snapped.
I was done with his games.
In my last life, today was supposed to be a high school reunion with Heather and the crew.
I couldn't wait to show up and drop some punches in the faces of the bullies.
I'd been honing my newfound taekwondo skills after the rebirth.
Today was the day!
I spun on my heel to leave.
But Zach blocked my path.
"Since when do you bite back?" he teased, reaching to pinch my cheek.