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Staring at Gibs.
I glanced at him, but he hadn’t so much as noticed her. He was focused on whatever it was Lachlan was saying. Lachlan could talk about anything. Mom looked happy about whatever it was.
When I looked at KC again, her expression crumpled before she pivoted and walked away.
Away.
Not to us. The guy she was with hurried after her. I stared until her hair vanished. Should I follow?
Maybe she hadn’t known Gibs was coming today? Or did she just not want to see him? Mom said she never returned calls, or cards.
“Jonas, baby.” Mom was there pulling my arm. “Come on, we’re going out to eat and get real food. Yeah?”
“There’s a good steakhouse near the interstate, according to the app,” Gibs said as he held up his phone. “Been a while since I had a good steak.”
He didn’t mention KC. She hadn’t known who we were. Gibs wasn’t talking about her now.
Should I bring her up?
“Yes, and you boys can tell me what your summer plans are. Gibs and I are…”
I trailed after them, only half-listening. Dinner wouldn’t take that long. I’d go see KC after.
Thank her for the lyrics.
Maybe we could talk…
One
RAMSEY
Despite being awake already, I let the alarm increase in volume gradually as it repeated the alert that it was time to get up. The louder it grew, the more irritating the sound of chimes became.
Sitting up with a sigh, I picked up my phone and turned it off. It was just after seven. Jonas would be flying back to Tahoe from his father’s today. It was why I was getting up early. Lachlan had barely been around through the course of the summer.
As soon as school was out, Lachlan took off to his dad’s. Jonas and I came here, to Gibs’ house outside of Tahoe, for a break. The plan had been for Jonas to leave to go to his father’s for a visit at the beginning of July.
With our mother and Gibs in the studio recording, it was just going to be the two of us this summer. I had two online classes I would be taking. The extra credits would apply toward my degree and keep me certified as a teacher’s assistant going into another school year.
June was a tense month. Jonas managed to say next to nothing to me the entire month. Not only that, he locked himself away in his room until I had to get the extra set of keys and let myself in.
A part of me had expected to find him in there hurting himself. Thankfully, I’d been wrong. His fury at me checking on him had been somewhat refreshing. Apathy was a lot worse than anger. Still, his anger where KC was concerned, worried me on other levels.
I had no idea he’d developed such an attachment to her. For that matter, I didn’t realize Lachlan had either. They’d carefully edited those moments out of any conversations we’d had.
Then again, I hadn’t kept them updated on my tutoring sessions with her or how I’d rearranged her schedule to make sure I could keep an eye on her and help her without tipping my hand.
After scrubbing both hands over my face, I rolled out of bed and then remade it. Neat corners that were even with the sheets and blankets helped relax me. I liked a tidy environment. Lachlan and Jonas both thrived in chaos. I couldn’t do that.
Once the bed was made, I checked the messages on my phone on the way to the bathroom. Jonas had sent a message with a time only.
That must be when his flight was coming in. Helpful. I had a couple of hours. There were some news alerts on my phone too. I kicked on the water as I scrolled through them.
Over a dozen featured KC partying her way through Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and Hollywood. She was the talk of the town. More than one article featured pictures of her dancing. In a couple, she looked almost stoned.
I stared at those pictures for a long time before finally turning off the screen and setting the phone down. In the shower, I ducked under the hot water and let it beat down on me. Kaitlin Crosse could irritateandtempt a saint.
Even after telling myself I would turn off the alerts about her, alerts I’d turned on when I found out she was coming to Blue Ivy, I just hadn’t done it. Stubbornness? Masochism? Idiocy?
