Break Me (Brayshaw High #5)(17)

I allow myself five minutes to relax and enjoy my Yoo-hoo and the last bites of my donut, and then I get to work.

I pull out my books and start on my homework, feeling guilty for wishing the light away, but so ready to be able to climb into bed and stare at the stars.





Chapter 5





Royce



I drop onto the springy ass bed in the so-called suite and prop my phone up on the Bible I found in the drawer. The second I’ve got it planted right, my phone rings.

I grin, answering the video call from my family.

Raven is the first face to pop up on the screen, her black hair tied up on her head, baggy-ass hoodie covering her entire body.

“Ponyboy!” She grins.

“RaeRae, I fuckin’ miss your ass already.”

She laughs, scooting back what must be the laptop back on the coffee table. “Same. Hang on, let me make more room.”

I nod, reaching over to grab my takeout bag and drop it in front of me.

A couple seconds pass, and then Captain’s dropping onto the couch, Victoria perching on the armrest beside him.

“VicVee,” I call to her, brushing my finger along my lip. “Got a little dried cum there,” I tease.

“Fuck off.” She laughs, swiping at it. “Zoey insisted on feeding me a bite of her pasta.”

“Where is my niece?”

Cap looks past the camera with a grin. “She’s comin’.”

“RaeRae, where’d you go? Where’s Maddoc?”

“I’m here!” She comes back on the screen, dropping beside Captain. “Maddoc’s grabbing a soda from the pool house ‘cause your dad has the good shit in there.”

“You mean Maddoc replaced everything with caffeine-free shit again hoping you’d go for it?”

“Exactly.” She laughs.

I grin. “Lemme see my baby.”

“Stop saying your baby, dick!” Maddoc shouts in the distance.

Both me and Cap laugh, our eyes glued to Raven as she stretches her arms out as much as she can, pulling the bottom of the hoodie up to show her perfectly round belly. Yeah, I was with her a few days ago, but I don’t want to miss any of this.

“How the fuck’s there a person in there, RaeRae?”

I stare at her belly.

A couple weeks ago I got a surprise in the form of an envelope, and inside it was the official sex of Maddoc and Raven’s baby. The sex that they themselves don’t even know.

It was a gift she gave me, that they gave me, one I could never repay or match.

I know it’s because she wanted me to have something to hold on to, and it was a damn good one. Now all I need to do is get a little present that’s fitting so I’m prepared for when that little baby meets mama and pops. And us.

Raven smirks, knowing I’m thinking about what she’s having but doesn’t dare ask. She drops back onto the cushion, Maddoc finally beside her.

“What up?” He nods his chin, the corner of his mouth lifting, his eyes trailing every inch of me he can see. “Shit’s fuckin’ weird.”

I nod, my smile small.

It is.

It’s only been a few days, but that’s a long ass fucking time for us. With the exception of the few fucked-up situations over the last year, we’re always together this time of day, so not to be, fucking sucks.

It’s not normal for us to be apart.

We live and breathe for each other, with each other.

We don’t need words to speak, we don’t need action to understand.

We’re like triplets, connected way deeper than most. We talk without words, understand with action. We breathe for each other. We’re three assholes who couldn’t be any more different, yet somehow, we’re still the same. We’re a team with an empire ready and waiting for us.

I scoff, thinking of what Brielle called us—the Three Musketeers.

I guess that works in a way, even though our threesome has grown to five.

I’m the odd man out now.

The leftovers.

“Royce...” Raven eases.

My eyes snap to hers, and concern brings creases to her forehead.

She leans closer to the screen, frown growing. “You good?”

“Damn good, if I’m judging myself.”

There you go, deflect like a motherfucker.

She scoffs a laugh, but we all know what she’s gettin’ at.

“So, what up? How’s the hump-cation going now that you’re practically a fuckin’ continent away in the back wing of the house? I see you can still sit and stand as well as that belly allows, Madman must not be—”

“I’ll fuck you up, brother,” Maddoc cuts me off with a glare.

“But I’m so far away.” I grin.

He chuckles, flipping me off as he takes a drink from a water bottle.

“We’re good, Ponyboy.” Raven smirks. “Good mornings, afternoons... nights.”

“That’s what I like to hear.”

She laughs, her eyes moving to Maddoc when he reaches out and I know what’s coming.

And there she fuckin’ is.

Bouncy blonde curls pulled up tight, little strands framing her face, and a megawatt smile pointed right at me. “Uncle Bro!” our princess screams, leaning as close as possible to the screen.