Filthy Foreign Exchange(6)
“The college called. Seems they’re not so organized over there, and wound up short a room. So we agreed, as his host family, for him to stay here. I’m sure you can understand and make him feel at home, right?”
It’s more a statement than a question, which I simply nod in answer to. But my stomach clenches at the idea of spending an entire school year with Kingston only a room away. We’re going to need some ground rules.
“Echo?” My brother spits food crumbs as he talks. “Will you help me with my magic tricks today, pleeease?” Lots of food escapes with the “p” sound.
“Sure, as soon as I’m done cleaning the bleachers. That might take a while, though.”
I continue eating, but with my eyes cast downward now as I feign aloofness and mask any trace of smugness, sure of what I’d find if I looked up.
And…
“I suppose,” my father grumbles, “Sammy can help you clean to get it done faster, so you can help him. But this is for Sammy’s benefit, young lady. You’re not being let off the hook by any means.”
“Yes, sir, of course not.” I nod, my head still slightly lowered since I know I can’t tame my knowing smirk.
~~~~~
After breakfast is cleaned up, I change into ratty clothes. Just as I’m heading out to the pavilion, there’s a knock at the front door.
“Come in!” my father hollers from his recliner.
That’s the nice, yet-sometimes-annoying thing about our town, Kelly Springs: no need to check a peephole, because everyone knows everyone.
And in walk Savannah and Clay—neither of whom I was expecting to see today, but I know why they’re here. Not many new or exciting things ever happen in this town, and the arrival of a young, hot guy with a hypnotic accent is too tempting for Savannah to resist checking out, or Clay to resist sizing up.
And how do they know he’s here instead of at the dorm, as previously planned? Because of another phenomenon in Kelly Springs: Everyone knows everything.
“What brings you two by?” my father asks as he turns down the TV. “You just missed breakfast.”
“Thought it’d be polite to come meet your visitor,” Clay answers him, though he stares at me. It’s no secret Clay has always harbored a small crush on me—one Sebastian has shut down several times, with both words and fists. And if Clay thinks my brother’s absence has changed my unreciprocated feelings, he’s dead wrong.
“That’s mighty kind.”
My dad starts to get up, to go find Kingston I assume. But the latter saves him the trouble by choosing that moment to descend the stairs, with Sammy at his side.
Savannah bounds forward, using the voice I thought was reserved solely for Sebastian. “Hi! I’m Savannah Turner, Echo’s best friend. It’s really nice to meet you, Kingston.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Kingston responds, taking her hand in his and laying a kiss on her knuckles. Yeah, he’s gonna want to watch that if he expects my parents to believe there’s a chance in hell he’s considering a future in the priesthood.
Clay steps forward, lowering Savannah’s arm for her and extending his own for a handshake, his voice as gruff as he can get it. “I’m Clay Morris.”
Kingston shakes his hand and eyes him up, a small curve forming at the corner of his mouth. He peers over at me and I’m shocked, because after only one night, I already know exactly what he’s thinking: Is this guy for real? Are those actual highlights in his hair?
I cover my mouth to stifle my laughter, but answer his unspoken question with a quick, subtle nod of my head.
“I’m Sebastian’s best friend,” Clay continues, seemingly unperturbed by our silent exchange. “Figure it’s my duty to get to know the guy who’ll be living in the room next to our Echo.” He taps the end of my nose, and I jerk my head away, like I always do. “If you’re not busy, me and my boys thought we’d take ya out—show ya around town.”
“It’ll be fun!” Savannah exclaims as she claps and bounces in place, making sure Kingston notices how well-endowed she is. And he obviously does, if the widening of his eyes is any indication. Not exactly sure when she became “one of the boys,” but it looks like Savannah has every intention of joining in on this so-called “tour.”
Enough of this fun. I grab Sammy’s hand and head for the door.
“Let’s go, Mr. Magic. Daylight’s burning!”
Chapter 3
After a long day of cleaning and magic tricks, I emerge from the shower, more than ready for bed. It’s nearly ten and there’s no sign of Kingston, but I’m not sure what my parents set his curfew at—nor do I care. He may be an adult, placed as a junior in American college, but I know my father will still establish a curfew of some sort, just like he did with Sebastian.
I wake sometime later to a nearly full moon, trying its best to illuminate my dark room. However, I soon realize it wasn’t the intruding glow that disturbed my sleep, but a commotion coming from downstairs.
I sit up to listen, unable to make out precisely what’s being said, but catch one undeniable thing: John Kelly, AKA my dad, is not happy.
I slip out of bed and tiptoe across the room as quickly and quietly as possible, opening my door a crack to more effectively eavesdrop on the conversation in which my father is laying into Kingston mercilessly.