The Billionaire Boys Club (Billionaire Romance Series Book 1(68)

“He woke me up at five this morning,” Mr. North continued. “He told me that he had a problem and that he needed to deal with it. We called his parents, and I put him on the plane. He won’t return to Darrow this semester.” Kelsey sat down in a chair next to the door.

“Poor Dylan,” Jessica said.

“He’s taking care of it now, while he’s young. He’ll be okay,” Mr. North said reassuringly. “Look, I’d better help your mom. We can talk more later. You guys come out when you’re ready.” Mr. North left the room, and closed the door.

“Poor Dylan,” Jessica repeated. Kelsey looked up at her. There were tears streaming down her cheeks. Kelsey stood up and gave her a hug.

“I had no idea it was so bad,” Jessica continued.

“I know,” Kelsey agreed.

“Do you think Darrow will let him return?”



Kelsey nodded. “They won’t punish him for getting help,” she replied.

Jessica wiped a tear from her eye. “I can’t believe he’s gone just like that,” she said.

“Me neither,” Kelsey said sadly.



The next day, Kelsey and Jessica put their things into the trunk of Dylan’s car. They were going to drive it back to Darrow, clean out Dylan’s room and pack his things. Dylan’s brother Ian would pick up the car before the Christmas holiday. Dylan’s parents had driven him straight from the airport to the rehab center, so he hadn’t contacted Kelsey.

Kelsey’s mom placed a small cooler in the back seat of the car.

“Plenty of snacks for the week,” Mrs. North said glumly.

“Thanks, Mom,” Kelsey said, giving her a kiss.

“I’m glad you girls came for a visit,” Mr. North said.

“Thank you for having me,” Jessica said somberly.

“Anytime, Jessica,” Mrs. North said, giving her a hug.

“I’ve filled up the tank,” Mr. North said. “Make sure you call us when you get back to campus.”



“We will,” Kelsey said, taking the keys out of her pocket and putting them in her hand. She kissed both of her parents. “Take care,” Kelsey said. She and Jessica got into the BMW and drove off.



It was sad driving back to Seattle without Dylan. Kelsey and Jessica barely spoke in the car, and a few times when Kelsey looked over at Jessica, it looked as if she was crying. Kelsey parked the car on the ferry in Kingston.

“Want to go upstairs to the deck?” Kelsey asked. Jessica nodded and got out of the car.

They stood on the deck and Jessica put her hands into the pocket of her fleece as the wind breezed through her curly brown hair.

“It’s destroying everyone,” Jessica finally said. “Ashley, Dylan. Who’s next?”



“Jess…” Kelsey said.

“It’s not right, Kelsey. Nothing should be this difficult,” Jessica replied.

“We’re going to be OK, Jess. We’re unstoppable,” Kelsey said.

“Maybe you are,” Jessica said.

“We are,” Kelsey replied. “We just have to get through the stress, deal with it.”



“Dylan dealt with it. So did Ashley, getting involved with that idiot.”



“That’s not dealing. That’s avoiding.”



“What if we fail?”



“Then we start over,” Kelsey said.

Jessica turned her face into the wind. “I don’t see how you can be so positive,” she said.

Kelsey stood next to Jessica, and put her arms around Jess’s shoulders.

“I don’t have a choice, Jess. What will I do if I quit? Move back to Port Townsend? Hope that someone buys me a wedding ring? I don’t want that for myself. Morgan, Jasmine, that’s what they’ve dreamed of. But not me. I want more. And I’m going to get it or die trying.”



“I wish I were like that.”



“You are like that. You’ve just forgotten,” Kelsey said. “We just have to keep trying, Jess. We can’t give up.”



Jessica nodded, and wiped a tear out of her eye.

“I know,” Jessica said. “I know that you’re right. But this is so hard. I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t know what I don’t know.”



“No one does,” Kelsey said.

Jessica looked at her and giggled. “What?”



“I didn’t understand what you said either,” Kelsey grinned.

Jessica wiped her eyes again. “Exams, Kels. I’ll hang on until exams. Then I’m going home and let the chips fall where they may.”



“That’s all I’m asking, Jess,” Kelsey said. Jessica looked back out to the water.

“I had no idea what I was getting into,” she said bitterly.

“None of us did,” Kelsey said. “But we know what we’ll get out of it.”



After she and Jessica had settled back into their room, Kelsey walked downstairs and knocked on Matthew’s door.

“Yes?” Matthew said after he opened it and saw Kelsey.