Elysia hung up without another word.


    Winona shook her head. "Why are you so mad at Mr. Bradford? He didn''t do anything wrong. Poor guy''s totally innocent."


    Elysia was fuming.


    "Innocent? Not even close. He and Keaton are thick as thieves-if Keaton messes up, Bradford''s guilty by association!"


    She knew Keaton was getting the short end of the stick, but this whole mess started with him!


    Alicia was his plus-one-his responsibility, period!


    While Elysia and Winona climbed into the ambnce, meanwhile, the two "drama mas" were on the phone with each other.


    Drama Ma #1: Tarquin.


    "I just called Elysia. She didn''t say much, but she''s furious. What the hell happened?!"


    Drama Ma #2: Keaton.


    "Don''t even get me started. I just started dating someone new and she-"


    Tarquin cut him off, voice icy.


    "I don''t care how you fix this, but you better sort it. I''ll tell you right now: if my wife bans me from hanging out with you over this, we''re done."


    Keaton: "Aw,e on-"


    "And before we''re done, I''m kicking your ass!"


    Tarquin hung up before Keaton could answer.


    Keaton just stared at his phone. "... Seriously?"


    Before he could process, Janelle''s number lit up his screen. She sounded frantic.<fn5b37> Readplete version only at f?ndnovel</fn5b37>


    "I just heard Winona''s at the hospital! She hurt her head, needed stitches-what the hell happened?"


    Keaton sighed. "It''s...plicated."


    Janelle snapped, "What do you mean, plicated''?"


    "I mean, it''s not something I can exin in a sentence or two."


    "Put Winona on the phone. I''ll ask her myself."


    "I''m not with her. I''m at home."


    Janelle''s volume shot up.


    "Winona''s hurt and you''re at home? Why aren''t you at the hospital with her?!"


    Richard was pacing in the background, chiming in with a sarcastic, "And you''re supposed to be courting her? Winona gives you the time of day, she must need her eyes checked!"


    Janelle was losing it.


    "Are you out of your mind? How could you let her go to the hospital alone? Even if you don''t love her don''t you care as a friend? My God, Keaton, what am going to do with you?"


    "Wait a second-knowing you, if a pretty girl got hurt, you''d be the first


    one to rush in Why didn''t you,


    with her? Did Winona tell you not toe?"


    Keaton hesitated. "... Yeah."


    Janelle''s tone turned deadly serious.


    "Why would she tell you not toe?"


    Keaton was silent.


    "Did you hurt her?"


    "No! I''d nevery a hand on a woman."


    "Then why? Was she hurt because of you? Keaton, did you get yourself a new


    girlfriend again?!"


    "It''s all a big misunderstanding."


    Something clicked for Janelle, and she exploded.


    "Keaton, you ungrateful brat! You''re going to drive me insane!"


    "Mom—please, just let me exin—"


    "I don''t want to hear it!"


    "Mom-"


    "Don''t call me Mom! I don''t have a son like you!"


    The line went dead. Janelle had hung up.


    Keaton stared at his phone, defeated.


    A minute ago she was calling him her darling boy, now she''s disowned him.


    Figures—Janelle''s always loved Winona more!