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Well, I guess he’s going to completely ignore me. I don’t move, deciding standing between Lucas and Frank is the best thing to do, just in case things get physical. I’ve never seen Frank get abusive, but I have heard things in the rumor mill.
“Nothing,” Lucas says, his voice unusually calm. “I’m just living my life, the way I’ve always wanted to. What exactly are you so angry about?”
Frank juts a finger in Lucas’s direction and I lift my arms in a protective way, not wanting him to touch or harm my friend. “You,” Frank spits. “Why can’t you just give it up? How long are you going to drag this out for?”
“Drag what out?” Lucas asks, his voice filled with confusion. “You’re the one who cut me off. You’re the one who wants nothing to do with me.”
“That’s not true and you know it!”
“Frank!” Christina shouts, her heels clacking against the floor as she briskly strides toward us. “Frank, stop this! We shouldn’t even be here!”
Christina looks over her shoulder, and I follow her gaze, noticing both my parents watching from the threshold. Dad looks absolutely pissed while Mom looks worried. She’s nibbling on her bottom lip, like she always does when she’s trying not to cry.
“I don’t care!” Frank shouts. “Lucas is my son. If they didn’t want a scene then they shouldn’t have invited him.” Frank looks over his shoulder, his gaze narrowing on Dad. “Sticking their fucking nose into something they shouldn’t.”
“Dad, just leave me alone,” says Lucas. “I’m doing fine without you and your money.”
“You think you can really survive without me? Becoming a fucking writer?” Frank laughs bitterly. “You’ll die out on the streets before you hit twenty-five. Just like the other fucking losers you associate yourself with.” Frank’s gaze flicks between me, Rachel, Hunter, and Seth.
“Well, at least these losers actually care for me.”
I grimace at the shaking in Lucas’s voice. Ever since we were kids, I knew his home situation was terrible. He was often left on his own. He hardly knew his parents. His family was a combination of the nannies and the chauffeurs paid to look after him.
“You think they care for you?” Frank scoffs. “Who in their right mind would want you? You’re nothing without the Brent name and the Brent family. You hear me? Nothing!”
“Alright,” Dad announces while stalking toward us. “That’s quite enough. Frank, I think you should leave.”
“I’ll leave when I’m good and ready!” Frank shouts while turning to face Lucas.
Frank reaches for Lucas and I don’t know what comes over me. I smack his hand away, pressing my body further between them. “Don’t touch him!” I shout. “Leave him alone. He’s done nothing wrong.”
“You stay out of this!” Frank grabs my shoulder, his fingers digging into my skin. I wince at the pain coursing through my body. Frank’s other hand fists and my eyes widen. Is he really going to punch me?
I brace for impact, expecting to feel knuckles against my cheek. Instead, I hear some grunting followed by Christina shrieking, “Stop! You’re grown men! Stop this right now!”
I open one eye, and then the other. My mouth opens in horror as I find my father wrestling Frank to the ground. Christina hovers above them, clutching her purse to her while a hand covers her mouth. My mom runs forward, holding a cellphone to her ear.
“I’m calling the police!” Mom shouts. “If you don’t stop this now, you’ll be spending your New Years in jail, Frank!”
But Frank isn’t listening. Dad has Frank’s hands pinned behind him, but he won’t stop wiggling. His face is beat red, spit sputtering from his lips as he shouts, trying to release himself from my father’s hold. Several men and women, all my parents’ age, step forward, watching with appalled gazes as Frank continues to struggle against my father.
“Please,” Christina begs, placing a hand on Mom’s shoulder. “Don’t do this. Don’t call the police. I will get him out of here. He’s just,” Christina waves her hand at Lucas, “upset. We thought Lucas would come to his senses by now and return home.”
Mom’s gaze darkens on Christina, her frown deepening. “Well, you definitely don’t make it easy, now do you?”
Christina takes a step back, her hand flying to her throat. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Fine!” Frank shouts, his struggles dissipating. “Fine! I’ll leave. Let me go.” Frank’s head hangs from his shoulders, the tension leaving his hands.
Dad slowly lets him go, taking a step back. He moves carefully, as if he expects Frank to jump up and attack him. I glance at Lucas, finding him clenching his jaw, his eyes glimmering with unshed tears, his face flushed with embarrassment and anger.
“Hey,” I say while touching his shoulder. “Are you—” Lucas shrugs my hand away. He turns on his heel, stalking out of the room. I watch with a grimace as he runs up the stairs. If I was him, I would run and hide, too. My gaze turns to Rachel, and I find her staring at the staircase, worry tenting her brows.
“Where the fuck did that ungrateful jerk go?” Frank shouts while looking around.
Rachel grabs my hand, her grip tight as Frank’s gaze lands on her. I notice the way he gazes at her—filled with hate, as if she’s a bug under his shoe. I don’t know why Frank is looking at her like that. One of these days, I might learn why, but tonight is not the night. I’m worried about Lucas. I want to go and see how he is, but not with Frank here. I don’t want that asshole following us.
“Leave,” Dad says while pointing at the door.
