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I hadn’t gotten that from Royal, though, and he asked me if I was okay when he saw me with my things. I assumed the question came because of my lonely flight, and I told him I was fine before asking if I could help with anything.
“We got it. It’s the last of it anyway,” that came from Dorian upon watching the short exchange I had with his dad. Normally, Dorian was the one who didn’t hold on to anger. The guy was abrasive as fuck, but he burned fast and leveled out even faster.
That wasn’t today.
Today, I got to watch my friend’s back. He passed me, following his dad into the house.
Fuck.
As it turned out, he saved me from a distraction because I wanted to get inside anyway. I hadn’t known why until I crossed the threshold into an overly decorated foyer. I smelled sugar amongst the twinkling lights, something floral behind it. It was distinctly unique.
Distinctly her.
Someway, somehow, Red managed to make this whole big-ass house smell like her. She always held this light scent, soft, feminine…
My blood simmered the moment I smelled it, and I didn’t fucking like that.
You need to talk to her.
It was important we kept our distance this trip. I’d like to say that was mostly for her benefit, but I knew what would happen if I was within a decent proximity of this girl. I’d act, and since I didn’t know how I would, I decided a confrontation was needed sooner rather than later.
“What’s up?” I found Thatcher and Wells first, the pair of them on the floor playing video games. They were in a grand room with a Christmas tree that made our nine-footer appear small.
I’d passed some of the moms on the way into the room, my mom with them. They’d been moving things around, unpacking and getting things settled. I’d gotten only small pleasantries for the most part, but I did get asked how I was doing by one. That came from Dorian’s mom, my god-mom. I was close with D’s parents since I was over there so much as a kid. Dorian and I were the closest in age out of our best friend group, and I wondered if Royal’s laid-back disposition outside had anything to do with his wife’s.
My god-mom, December, never could really be mad at me, and she hugged me before I left with my things. I hadn’t even gotten that from my own mother. She asked me how my flight was and everything, but beyond that…
Yeah, I was in the doghouse with everyone, and I didn’t get much more than a chin-tip when I approached Thatch and Wells. I left my duffel and coat on the couch. “Where’s everyone else?”
I didn’t want to just put it out there, asking where Red was and all that. But even without me saying anything, all I got was a shrug from the pair of them. I frowned. “You don’t know where anyone is?”
I’d seen most of the moms. They were all there with the exception of Billie, Dorian’s god-mom. Apparently, she and LJ (Dorian’s god-dad) hadn’t arrived yet, and the dads were in town getting some supplies to feed all the people in this big-ass house. The Reeds kept a couple of cars down here, and December said they took one of those.
“Lost track after we got in.” Thatch didn’t even look at me, and though Wells did, it was brief.
I growled. “You fuckers going to be in your feelings this whole trip?” I got it. They were pissed, but it was going to get old real fucking quick. Besides, I needed them on the same page with me about keeping the peace while we were here.
I would have assumed Dorian relayed that information, but with the way they were acting, I wasn’t seeing it.
“You don’t really have a say in how long it takes me to get over what you fucking did,” Wells stated this, frowning. He scrubbed through his hair, only blond until it got to the root. “I think the girls are upstairs.”
“And Bru?” I’d gotten the information I needed. I figured Red was a part of the “girls,” but I didn’t need them to know I was looking to talk to her.
“Probably, yeah.” Again, no look from Thatch.
Sighing, I started to go, but rerouted. I ripped the PlayStation cord out of the wall, and that got a slew of obscenities from Wells and a chest bump from Thatcher. He got in my fucking face too, but I pushed him back.
“Whoa. Come on.” Always the fucking peacemaker, Wells put a hand on both our chests. “We don’t need this shit. We fight and the parents come out? That makes this shit worse.”
“So D talked to you, then? About making shit peaceful for Christmas?” I asked, and the aversion of eyes told me all I needed to know. I angled until I got their attention back. “So I don’t need to stress how we need to be acting down here?”
That was why I’d pulled the cord out of the wall. To get them to listen to me.
“No, but you’re a bastard for even fucking asking.” Thatcher gave me his back. He plugged the PlayStation back in before sitting down, and Wells joined him.
“Yeah, fucked up using your cancer and cheaper than shit.”
Wells was right saying what he did, but what I needed from them was true. “So y’all understand the assignment, then?”
