Mad Boys (Blue Ivy Prep, #2)(2)

“Stop being such a dick,” Ramsey said over his shoulder to Lachlan. “Antagonizing him is only going to make it worse.”

“Whatever,” Lachlan said. “Let’s just go. You know how she gets if she has to wait too long.”

Icy. Impatient. Insulting.

Ramsey shook his head, but Lachlan missed it as he was already gone. “Look,” he said, removing his hand when I backed up a step. “I get it, you’re pissed at us. Maybe we deserve it. Maybe we don’t. But for the next hour, we’re going to make nice with Mom and Gibs and be perfect sons.”

I just stared at him.

“It’s all she’s asking.”

I continued staring.

“Right, fucking off. Just come on.” Not waiting for me, he turned on his heel and stalked out of the suite Lachlan and I had been sharing this year.

Next year I would be rid of him. Lachlan graduated in a week. I had already requested a single. No roommate. No brother. No more backstabbing.

Despite my lack of hurrying, both brothers waited for me before we headed for the dining hall. I kept my hands in my pockets as I followed them. The urge to punch Lachlan buzzed under my skin like a beehive had been kicked over.

He was such a dick

The noise from inside hit like a tidal wave as Lachlan shoved the door open. Ramsey caught it before it could close, and then we were inside.

“There’s my boy!” Mom’s grin was wider and more open than I’d seen it in a long time. She gave Lachlan a big squeeze before reaching out a hand to me. I wasn’t big on—I held my breath as she crushed me to her.

The overwhelming floral spray she favored filled my nostrils. It was almost enough to overpower the smell of cigarettes. Mom was smoking again. Didn’t surprise me. Gibs smoked. Mom would smoke with him.

“All of my boys.” Mom pulled back then pressed a kiss to my cheek before she went to Ramsey. Gibs chuckled as he clapped my shoulder.

“Good year?”

“Yes, sir,” I said, shaking his hand briefly. At least he didn’t expect much more than a quick handshake.

“Good. Good. Your mother worries.” He said it like he shared a confidence. I was aware. My mother didn’t worry that much. Gibs, however, had already turned away to Ramsey, and I savored the reprieve. There were too many people in this vast, overcrowded room.

A flash of blue caught my eye and I shifted to see KC staring at us.

No.

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.