“Heard there’s a party at Tommy’s tonight.”
“And you’re not going. Seniors only.”
“That’s bullshit because I know at least ten sophomores who got invited.”
“And you’re a freshman.”
“I’m your brother. If you say I get in, who is turning you down? No one. Colt’s word is law.”
“And my word is that you’re staying home tonight. Mom’s not feeling well and needs someone to watch over her. Besides, I’m thinking of not going at all.”
“Then I’ll go in your place.”
“No.”
My phone buzzes. I ignore it and keep eating. “You do your homework?” I ask.
“You’re not my parent,” Tuck fires at me.
Maybe this is why Mom drinks. “I didn’t say I was. It was just a question. Fail for all I care, but you’ll be stuck here while I’m traveling all over the country.”
“Fuck you, Colt.”
“Love you, too, little bro.” My phone buzzes again. Frustrated, I rub my eyes and then take out my phone.
L no cum
Tommy’s text looks like it’s code for some kind of sex act, but experience says that his text reads Logan isn’t coming to the party. There go my plans to stay home.
I text Logan.
Me: I’ll pick you up in an hour
He shoots a reply right back.
Logan: I’m not interested
Me: I’ll pick you up in an hour
“What’s that all about?” Tuck wants to know.
I tell him because it’s easier than another argument. “Logan needs a distraction from Renoir, and Tommy rounded up some girls from South. He’s backing out, so I’m picking him up.”
“I could pick him up for you,” Tuck offers.
“You can’t drive.”
“I can drive.”
“You can’t drive legally.”
“Give me your ID.”
Like I said, maybe this is why Mom drinks. Tommy and the other guys always wonder why I don’t have a girl, but I can’t handle another person needing shit from me. I have enough on my plate. There isn’t room for even one more person.
Chapter Six
Georgia
“Grandpa.” I laugh. “I think we have enough cookies.” Tricia bites into her third cookie since she got here ten minutes ago.
“You can never have too many cookies.” He winks at me. Grams moves him along. The two of them are adorable.
“You girls go and have fun.” She gives me a kiss on the cheek. “You keep that phone on you.” She reminds me the same as she always does.
“I will.”
I give them a wave before I follow Tricia out to her car. I have to admit I’m both excited and nervous to be going out. It’s really the first time besides going to school that I’ve been out and about without either Grams or Grandpa.
“Wow. This is your car?” I know nothing about cars, but I can tell this one is nice. Really nice.
“It’s a C-class. My mom got it for me.”
“A what?” I ask, opening the passenger door.
“It’s a Mercedes.” She laughs. I do the same, pulling my seatbelt on. “I would put the top down, but our hair would get messed up. It took me an hour to get it to look like this. How do you get yours to look so silky with that color?”
“I don’t do anything special to it. I just wash and brush it.”
“Shut up. That’s your real hair color?” I’m guessing from her tone she really isn't telling me to shut up.
“Yeah.” I pick up the end of my hair. Jerima used to always comment on it. Whenever he was around me, he’d often play with it. I loved my hair, but I started asking my mom to cut it off. She would never let me.
“Some girls have all the luck. It’s so blond it almost looks white.”
“Your hair is nice. And I think you have a lot of luck,” I point out. Tricia is wearing a dress that shows off every curve of her body. She reminds me of some of the girls in the magazines I see in the checkout line at the store.
I don’t have any curves really. My breasts are small compared to hers, but maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’m still a little under the weight the doctor wants me to get to.
“Not nice enough to get Colt’s attention.” She lets out a long sigh.
“I find that hard to believe.” If this Colt guy doesn’t find Tricia attractive, he must be blind or something must be wrong with him.
“You’re sweet, but it’s true. Colt only cares about his grades and baseball.”
“That could change?”
“Maybe, but do I really want to be with someone who has overlooked me all our lives? We’ve known each other since kindergarten.” I think about it for a long moment.
“No,” I finally say, thinking about some of the romance books I’ve stumbled across on my Kindle. “You should have someone that wants to be with you. Only you.”
“Shit. Did your ex cheat on you?” Tricia makes a disgusted angry face.
“Ex?”
“Your last boyfriend.”