Mad Boys (Blue Ivy Prep, #2)(66)

“I have a couple of things I wanted to talk to you about. First…thank you.”

“For… what?” I was drawing a blank. “We just finished the test with everyone else.”

His expression turned droll. “For what you said to the dean.”

“Oh.” I shook my head. Fuck, that seemed forever ago. “Been a long week or two…” Actually, I didn’t even remember when that conversation was, other than it was done. “Yeah, no problem.”

Ramsey stared at me, a frown tightening his forehead. “They told me you cleared me for everything. That it was you who kissed me.”

“Why don’t you shout it a little louder?” I suggested. “People in the hall might not have heard.”

“They won’t,” Jonas offered in a cool tone. “These halls tend to be better about sound proofing for the tests.” Well, that was something. “Why did you defend him?”

I turned to Jonas. “I didn’t. He said some shitty things and he’s had some shitty opinions. I don’t need him to get fired because someone took a picture of us and sold it.”

“Nevertheless, he shouldn’t have kissed you.” It sounded so reasonable. “He’s always talking about proper behavior, meeting expectations, and not being stupid.” Now he switched his attention to Ramsey. “Or does that only apply to me and Lach?”

Captain Douchebag sighed. “No, it doesn’t just apply to you two. I would like to say I have a better grasp on my behavior and my impulses.” He gave me a damn near apologetic look. “You could have had them fire me. It would have served me right. I broke protocol. I was inappropriate.”

I shrugged. “It’s done.”

Instead of assuaging his concern, he frowned. “But you—”

“Could have been a bitch. Been someone who judged you for a few careless moments? Took some petty pleasure in getting even with you by escalating to having you fired?” I pushed off the wall and moved a few steps away to face them both.

“Yes,” Ramsey said carefully. “You would have been right. I know you didn’t report me… even when you could have.”

“Well, maybe that’s just not me. Look… I didn’t know you were my stepbrothers. All of you did. I didn’t know what I’d done that pissed you off so badly you felt the need to treat me like shit—repeatedly. Now, I do…maybe. Actually no, I don’t know. And I’m not asking. I’m too tired for this conversation to go too much deeper. You didn’t deserve to be fired by some pompous jackass and his attorney who were desperate to cover the school’s ass, even when they’ve failed repeatedly to keep photos of me from being sent to the press.”

I shrugged again. It was impossible to prevent the scrape of hurt out of my voice. I cleared my throat, resolved to shaking it off.

“Then you saved my life… and Jonas gave me a place to stay that doesn’t have Payton in it. I didn’t know you guys, and you clearly didn’t know me.” Only what they thought they knew.

Captain Douchebag managed to look more troubled, if possible. “I’m beginning to get that impression.” He looked like he’d just sucked on a lemon, too. Truth was rarely perfectly sweet. He rubbed the back of his neck, discomfort radiating from him.

Almost made me feel sorry for him.

Almost.

“That brings us to the second thing.”

I lifted my brows.

“Holidays are right around the corner…are you possibly interested in coming to Tahoe?”

Jonas gave a little start next to me, and I cut a look at him, then up at Ramsey. “For what?”

“For Christmas with—us and you know…”

“Your dad,” Jonas said abruptly. “But I think Ramsey is figuring out that you and Gibs aren’t tight. No one invited you.”

“Oh, well, then no. Not planning on Tahoe. I have plans to see my siblings and hang out with my friends, maybe eat a whole pie and then lay on the floor and moan about food babies. It will be great.” The more I spoke, the more bewildered Ramsey seemed to become. Right. Time to go. “Anyway, I’m gonna go. Jonas and I were gonna order pizza.”

“Yep,” he said. “And maybe watch a movie and do nothing.”

I laughed. “Doing nothing sounds good.”

Ramsey stared at us, almost impassive, like he wanted to say more. Apparently, he opted against it ‘cause he nodded. “I’ll take care of the pizza. Text me what you want.”

I could afford to pay for myself. But what the hell… “Thanks. Later.” Then before we could drag this uncomfortable moment on any longer, I headed for the door.

As awkward as the whole conversation was, it had nothing on Jonas waiting until we had pizza in front of us, ice cold sodas, and a movie up on the screen ready to play to ask me, “Did you tell them you kissed him first because you wanted him to kiss you?”

Pizza slice in hand, I considered the question for a moment. “I don’t know,” I said slowly. “I don’t like bullies. I never have. I don’t like hypocrites or overly judgmental jackasses who patronize others. I get that they were doing their job, but they didn’t care about me or him. They cared about the school’s reputation. So…I don’t need him to be fired because he kissed me.”