Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 111038 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111038 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
I wasn’t really going to make my brother camp with me, but he didn’t need to know that. We would drive out to a campsite, and he could set everything up. I’d make him hang out with me for a bit, and then I’d text Blaise where to come.
Nate could go back to town, and I could spend another night with my boyfriend.
And then, tomorrow afternoon, I’d do what they all wanted.
I’d graduate for Owen.
But I didn’t want to dwell on that just yet. I had a day of camping first.
38
Blaise
I figured since Aspen was dealing with family, I should too.
When I swung into my driveway, my mom’s Prius was parked outside, and so was Stephen’s car. There was another car too, but I didn’t know who it belonged to.
I heard voices as soon as I went inside, but when the door shut behind me, they quieted.
A chair pushed back over the floor.
“Blaise?” my mom called.
“Yeah.” I didn’t want to deal with this.
My mom came down the hallway. “Hey.” She seemed tentative. “Hi. How are you?” She started to reach out, but paused. “What?! Your face.”
I winced. “No. I’m fine.”
“But—”
“I’m good, Mom. I’m fine.”
“Blaise.”
“Mom. Seriously. Not now.” I gentled my tone. “Okay?”
She stared at me, her hands wringing together. Then, she stepped close and gently pulled me in for a hug. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.”
It seemed like an eternity had passed since that night. She acted like she hadn’t seen me in months.
I hugged her back. She was my mom.
As soon as she felt my arms, she started crying.
“Oh, God. Mom.”
She gave me another big squeeze before she stepped back. She tried to wipe her tears all dainty like, as if she could absorb them without messing up her makeup.
I shook my head, grabbing a Kleenex. I dabbed it against her face. “Hold still.”
I cleaned her up, and she laughed a little when I was done. “You’ve always done that for me—kept your mother looking good and sane.”
I grunted. “Ship’s long gone for that, Mom.” I gave her a look. “For both of us.” I started to move past her.
“Hey.” She blocked me. “Where’ve you been?”
“We talked about this. He was here.”
“I know, but he’s not anymore, and you’ve still been gone.” She frowned and moved closer, dropping her voice. “Is there—are you in trouble?”
“What? No. I’m not in trouble.” For once. “I’m fine. Just been partying a lot. That’s all.”
“He has a girlfriend,” said a voice from behind her.
Seriously?
Taz had come to stand by the fridge in the kitchen. She gave me a smug look and tossed her hair back. “And he’s been fighting with Cross.”
“Honey.”
I ignored my mom and glared at my sister. “Snitch.”
Taz just grinned, moving back into the kitchen. “Come and eat, brother. You’re late for brunch.”
I gave my mom a look. “Brunch?”
She ran a hand down my back before giving me a firm pat on the shoulder. “Your sister brought her boyfriend over.”
“Yeah.” Taz took a bowl of biscuits to the table as I entered the kitchen. She set it down and filled her glass with orange juice. “We’re talking about graduation parties. I’m having one for me and Cross, whether he wants it or not—and whether he knows it’s happening or not.”
Stephen sat next to my mom’s chair. Sure enough, Taz’s boyfriend was sitting at the table too.
“Come on, Blaise. Sit.” My mom made it sound like I didn’t have a choice. “You owe me two weeks. The least you could do is have brunch with us.”
I needed coffee. With whiskey.
I held up a finger and disappeared into the kitchen for a moment. I couldn’t find the whiskey, but I grabbed the brandy.
Taking my drink, I went back over and sat.
“It’s nice that you didn’t ask Zeke to brunch,” Taz said.
I had my phone in my hand under the table. I smiled at her. “Uh-huh.”
Me: Brunch. My house. Asap.
My phone buzzed two seconds later.
Zeke: On it.
Taz gave me a look. “You just texted him, didn’t you?”
“Uh-huh.” I gave her a closed-mouth smile, sipping my coffee. I needed more brandy.
“Uh, so…” My mom folded her hands together, resting her elbows on the table and smiling brightly at everyone. “We’re only missing Cross and Bren. Then we’d have a full table.”
My phone buzzed again.
Aspen: I’m making Nate go camping with me. I’m not mad at you. I’ll call later, okay?
A whole buttload of tension left my body. I almost felt light-headed.
Me: Okay. I meant what I said.
Aspen: Come camping tonight.
Me: Tell me when and where, I’ll be there.
Aspen: I will.
Taz cleared her throat. “Hello? Excuse us, Blaise. Are we boring you or something?”
The world felt right again, so I grinned and sassed back. “You don’t know me well enough to think of me like that, so that makes me think your real brother’s given you that complex, not me.” I gave her a dark look. “Stop putting your brother issues on me. I’m not your twin’s replacement.”