Ultimatum (Dirty Secrets #1) Read Online Free

responsibilities. I cook and clean the kitchen, Hailee cleans the living room, and Trey takes out the trash. We all take care of our own laundry and bedrooms. The house isn’t spotless or anything, but it looks nice considering our mom and her boyfriend don’t help at all. Before Trey and I learned to clean, the house was always really dirty. Dad was clean, but not Mom. And Ben, her boyfriend, is just lazy. He doesn’t technically live with us, but he’s always there when our mom is. He stays the night every night.
    “I will,” Jace promises. “Thayer loves coming over here. I think he has a crush on you, Mads.”
    If only his big brother had a crush on me too.
    “Well, Thayer is the cutest nine year old on the planet,” I say.
    “That’s because he looks just like me,” Jace says, smiling.
    I roll my eyes and pretend to be annoyed, but Jace is right. Thayer does look a lot like him when he was nine. I’m glad that he got his looks after his mom and not his dad. I bet it would be harder if Thayer looked like his dad, considering what happened. We never discuss Thayer’s dad, but I know it’s a painful memory. I can see the pain in Jace’s eyes when he thinks Thayer isn’t looking. And his mom still has the scars from it. I hate it for them.
    Jace leaves to go get Thayer, and I get started on the enchiladas. Haliee comes downstairs and helps me roll them up, and I can’t help but think how lucky my family is. I miss my dad like crazy, but I am blessed to have such amazing siblings. How could I ever ask for more?

    8pm
    Just the same old boring ones.

    After dinner, I get online to see I have a new message from my grandma on Facebook.
    My dad’s mom, Margret Grey, lives in Los Angeles. She thinks she’s really hip because she drives a convertible VW Beetle. She’s eccentric. Last year she decided to dye her hair blue. Thankfully that phase only lasted a few months before she dyed it back to dark brown. I love talking to her, because when I do, I feel closer to my dad in a small way. Last summer, I went to visit her for a couple of weeks when I had a break from softball. It was a lot of fun.

    Margret Grey: Hey, Madeline. How was your first day of school? Any cute new guys ask for your number?

    Me: Ha. No cute new guys… Just the same old boring ones. But today was awesome. I found out were doing Cinderella for the play this year… Also, my glee club teacher wants me to try out for a solo, which I’m super excited for! I hope I get it.

    Margret Grey: You’re so much like your dad.

    Me: :) That’s pretty much the ultimate compliment. Thanks, Grandma.

    Margret Grey: How is your mom treating you?

    Me: You know how she is… Work, Ben, work, Ben.

    Margret Grey: After you graduate, you know you have a home here. Trey and you both.

    Me: But then Hailee wouldn’t have anybody to look after her. I can’t do that.

    Margret Grey: You’re a good big sister, but I think Hailee will be fine on her own. I’m here for you when you need me.

    Me: I know. Thanks… But I have to get off here for tonight. I’ll talk to you later.

    Margret Grey: Night, sweetie.

    I shut my laptop and think about what Grandma said.
    She’s right — Hailee would be fine on her own. Out of us all, she’s probably the most outspoken. I’m not sure if I’d want to move to California; I like living in Louisiana, but maybe I could apply to a college a little further from home. Maybe Florida or Georgia.
    Really, I just want to go wherever my brother goes.
    My phone starts ringing. I look to see a call from Frannie coming through. I sigh and answer.
    “Hey,” I say.
    “Hey, Mads,” Frannie greets me. “Have you given anymore thought to what I said earlier today?”
    “I don’t know, Fran. I just want this year to be drama free. And Dee isn’t always bad. She’s always been a good friend to me,” I say, even though it’s not true. Daisy has done a lot of bad things to me. Sophomore year she told everybody I had an STD