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I’d sooner die.
“So? Even if he did, do you seriously think I’d let anything happen? Come on, Jesse, you know me better than that.”
The muscles in his jaw twitching, Jesse sags into the driver’s seat and thinks long and hard on his response.
“I just want to get through the summer, buy a car, and forget any of this ever happened. Please.”
Dead quiet, my brother runs a hand through his dark, untidy hair before releasing one of his “I’m going to regret this” sighs.
“Fucking hell, fine,”he gives in.
Did he just… agree?
“Wait, so, you’re not going to tell on me?” I cover my bases.
An eternity later, he says, “No.”
All I can do in response is extend my arm around my brother for a brief side hug.
“Thanks, Jess. I owe you one.”
“But you keep me updated, got it? You call me if he tries anything, and you come back home every weekend, no exception.”
“Yes, Dad,” I joke as I pull away, but Jesse doesn’t laugh, the ice walls around him back up in an instant. “I mean, yes.”
“Now, get out of here before I change my mind.”
“Copy that.” I nod and hurry out of the vehicle.
Jesse watches me like a hawk as I gather my luggage from his back seat, throw the strap of my bag over my shoulder, and speed walk toward the mansion.
He doesn’t drive away until the exact moment the front door closes behind me.
Barking is the first thing I hear when I step inside the house. I spot Lexie in her dog bed and smile. She sits up, her tail wagging, and rushes down the hall to meet me. She’s so excited she nearly slips on the hardwood floor in the process.
Dropping my bag, I kneel to give her a proper greeting, and Lexie throws her paws over my shoulder. Her body wiggling from left to right, she alternates between licking my face and barking.
“Did someone miss me?” I chuckle. She’s so hyper I can barely pet her, and my heart swells.
It isn’t long before Lexie gets tired of our reunion and retreats to the living room to nap. She circles multiple times before dropping down on her dog bed.
Milking every drop of courage in my body, I kick off my shoes on the welcome mat, pick up my bag, and trail toward the kitchen.
I can hear the boys laughing in there, but I haven’t had lunch today, and nothing—not even Assface Richards—will stand in the way of me and the tuna casserole I left in the fridge last week.
The conversation gets dry the moment I enter the room, and I glance at Finn just in time to see his dimpled smile slip off his face. He proceeds to glare at me as though he’s hoping he’ll stare me out the door.
We’re about two seconds away from ranking a solid ten on the Awkward scale when Theodore Cox, nicknamed Theo by everyone at school, cracks a hint of a smile.
“Told you.” Theo snorts, unfolding his hand in front of Finn. “Hand it over, fucktard.”
Cursing beneath his breath, Finn digs into his pocket and lobs something into his friend’s face.
A twenty-dollar bill.
These assholes…
They bet on me quitting, didn’t they?
