Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“Yeah, sure have,” I answer, hoping that it was the right answer. I play it off cool and light a smoke.
“Those two been here all day?” he asks, looking like he’s already won whatever game he’s playing. He points to the two strangers in the hot tub, and I must be seeing things because I swear that the guy looks a lot like the picture of my brother, but it’s not possible, so I shake off the thought.
“Uh, yeah, man. It’s been a party up in here,” I respond with a laugh. I hold up my cigarette. “I just made a smoke run.”
The officer raises his eyebrows in suspicion. “Tell me. If they’ve been here all day, then what are their names?”
I smile and tap on my head with my open palm, trying to delay my words. I glance back over at the guy in the hot tub. I can see his face perfectly now as the breeze blows the steam away, and I’m about to gasp or collapse, but I gotta keep my shit together. It’s him. Holy fucking shit. It’s him. My brother is in that fucking hot tub right now.
Breathe. Breathe.
“Ah, man. I didn’t catch the girl’s name. First time I met her was tonight, and we had a lot of beers.”
Great, Kevin. You just admitted that you’ve been underage drinking to a fucking cop. Hope he doesn’t ask for my ID. Get it the fuck together.
I turn to the girl and continue, “Sorry, I’m not real good with names.”
She offers me an understanding smile for the error I never made.
“Alright then. What’s his name?” The officer asks, standing above the guy on the deck.
Fred sits straight in the hot tub, and Meryl looks like he’s about to say something.
I scratch my head and yawn, pretending like I’m bored with this shit when my heart is actually racing. I want this to be over and now. Because I have so many questions. “Oh him?” I ask. “That’s Preppy, but don’t fucking ask me what his real name is because I don’t fucking know.” Yes, I do. “Everyone just calls him Preppy or Prep. Is this some sort of weird test?” I take a seat at the patio table. “Am I on a hidden camera show?” I look under the table as if I’m checking for cameras. By the time I lift my head, the officer is gone. The back gate slams shut.
“Holy fuck,” Fred exclaims, “That was fucking great!”
“Why was he so afraid of you?” The girl asks Meryl. Obviously, referring to whatever went on before I came out here.
Meryl takes a drag of his smoke and smiles. “Because I’m the fucking state attorney!” Everyone except me bursts out into a fit of laughter. I already knew he was the state attorney. It’s not news. What is news is Preppy, who I look over to and realize he’s the only other person not laughing. He looks as confused as I feel as the others in the hot tub cheers and clink their wine glasses.
“Our newest accomplice here is Kevin,” Fred says, introducing me.
“How do you know my name?” Preppy asks. He’s looking at me like he’s searching for recognition he can’t and won’t be able to find.
I take a slow drag off my cigarette and realize that anything I tell him is going to sound bizarre as fuck so I go with the truth. “I just know it,” I say with a shrug, still trying to act casual and cool when inside I’m about to fucking explode. All eyes turn to me, and the girl gasps like she’s seeing what Preppy can’t. I look him in the eyes for the very first time. Something I never thought I’d get the chance to do. “Maybe, it’s on the account of you being my brother and all.”
Preppy stiffens.
Meryl and Fred freeze with their wine glasses on their lips.
Preppy scrunches his nose and I don’t blame him. I’d be confused as fuck if I were him. I’m confused, and I’m the one who just got here. “There’s no fucking way you can be my brother. I don’t even know who my old man is.”
“Neither the fuck do I,” I reply. “But you know that cunt of a mother you got?”
“Unfortunately.”
I stub out my smoke in the ashtray. “Well, it’s the same cunt of a mother I got.”
“I think we should go inside and let these boys talk,” Meryl says. He gets out of the hot tub and grabs another bottle of wine from the cooler. He wraps a towel around his waist and hands one to Meryl who does the same. He grabs a third and holds it up to the girl. “You coming, gorgeous? I’ve been dying to show someone besides this old fuddy-duddy the new kitchen renovation.”
She looks to Preppy who nods, then takes the towel and steps out. It’s only now I realize that I’m staring because the chick has a banging body. Her long black hair is wet and clinging to the curve of her tits. She sweeps it over her shoulder.