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“C’mon, Dad, chill out,” Trent says, always the calm, levelheaded one.
Nothing ever bothers him. No matter what, he allows it to roll off his back and move on.
“I was only trying to help Tuck out,” he continues. “I didn’t want him to fail a class I got an A in last year. If his grade point average drops, he’ll get kicked off the team, and I couldn’t allow that to happen, not when I knew I could ace the test for him.”
“But your plan failed,” Dad booms, his voice echoing off the high, vaulted ceiling in the living room. “You keep coming up with these ridiculous ideas and none of them work. When is it going to sink in that you can’t do whatever you want? Have I spoiled both of you so much that you have no respect for anyone or anything? It’s like you two think everyone should cater to you, that you’re someone special just because you’re my sons.”
“Dad,” Trent says. “That’s kind of harsh. Don’t you think?”
He shakes his head. “No, not at all. You both think you can pass my name around like it’s a ‘get out of jail free’ card. Not this time. Not anymore. The next time you get into trouble, you had better dig your own grave and lie in it because I will not come to the rescue. You have to learn that your actions have consequences. I don’t care if you have to learn this the hard way or not. If you mess up your chance with the NHL, I’m not sticking my neck out for you. You’ll do it the same way I did, through hard work and dedication.”
Trent steps forward to cup Dad’s shoulder and pulls him into a hug. “We’re sorry, Dad. We get it. We understand what we did was wrong, and I swear I will not take any more tests for Tuck. He can either get a tutor or fail out of school.”
“I won’t even ask Trent,” I tell my dad. “I’ll get a tutor. Promise.”
Dad peeks over Trent’s shoulder at me, and then he holds out his other arm for me, welcoming me into his arms. I do as he commands and hug him. “My boys,” he whispers. “You know I love you, but please stop testing my patience.”
“Love you, too, Dad,” Trent and me echo in unison.
The front door slams, followed by wheels rolling and heels clacking on the entryway floor, signaling my older sister is home. Ava enters the living room, suitcase handle in one hand and a purse in the other. She smiles so wide it illuminates her face.
“I’m home,” she coos, dropping her bags to rush over to my parents, who are moving toward her.
They say their hellos, my parents asking Ava about her trip to Milan and Paris, wondering how long she’ll be home before she has to go back. Ava’s the oldest—five years older than Trent and me—and now has a successful career as a high-end fashion model. She works for French houses like Dior and Chanel, her career taking her around the world.
Ava glances over at Trent and me, confusion scrolling across her face. “Dumb and Dumber, what are you guys doing here? I thought you were at school.”
“We came to see you,” I say with a smirk.
She slides her hands to her hips. “Aww, you’re adorable. And such a filthy liar. You guys have the same looks on your faces from when you were kids, like you just got busted stealing from Dad’s candy bar stash.”
I shrug. “Yeah, something like that.”
Ava hugs Trent first and then me. “What did you guys do this time?”
I give her the CliffsNotes version of what happened at school, and when I’m finished, she raises her hand to her mouth and laughs. “Serves you right for getting turned in by that girl. You can’t treat women like they’re disposable and then think they will let you walk all over them.”
I hold out my hand. “Save the lecture, sis. We know we messed up. Dad already yelled at us.”
“All right.” Ava lets out a groan and slaps me on the back. She does the same to Trent as she squeezes between us. “I don’t know about you two, but I am starving. Plane food sucks. I need something good to eat.”
“I made your favorite, honey,” Mom says to Ava, walking out of the living room and stepping into the hallway.
Relieved the yelling wasn’t as bad as Trent and I had expected, I start to relax a little bit. My sister is home, for the first time in a while, and if we’re lucky, the rest of the night will be like any other night. I hope. Because three days from now, we start working off our first punishment, when we have to report to the Kappa Delta house. Except this time, it doesn’t feel like a punishment, it feels more like a reward.
