“Yeah, but you didn’t have to be so crass,” I say, wondering if I missed a fight between Jase and Mila. “Everyone’s cool, right?”
Jase straightens his jacket with a smirk, “You know me. I’m all about peace and love.” He starts to walk and passes really close by Mila with a seductive whisper, “There’s enough of me for the whole campus. Just say if you want a piece, babe.”
My mouth drops open, and I look to Kao for answers. He lets out a chuckle and shakes his head as he turns back to the kitchen to place his empty mug on the counter.
“You’re going to wash that, right?” Fallon suddenly asks behind me. Stepping to the side, I see Hana standing beside her with Hunter right behind them.
Kao takes a moment to stare at Fallon, who looks breathtaking in a pale blue dress. “If I leave it on the counter, will you stand there and lay into me for being messy? That way, I can enjoy the view for a couple of minutes longer.”
“What the hell did I miss?” I ask no one in particular.
Noah gets up off the couch. I didn’t even see him sitting there. “The guys' balls dropped, and the girls noticed. You can all continue flirting and fighting after the ceremony. We’re going to be late.” He heads for the front door, and as he opens it, his face settles into a bored look. “Oh, look, the kindergartner arrived.” He pushes past her and stalks down the hallway.
“Screw you too,” Carla, Jase’s younger sister, calls after Noah. She lets out a huff, then turns her glare on Jase. “Are you ready? I want to get this day over with.”
Damn, I’m confused. Have I been so caught up in myself that I haven’t noticed the dynamics of my friends' circle changing?
“Daddy,” I call as I break out in a run. Not caring about my image around campus, I fling myself forward as Dad opens his arms wide to catch me. He locks me in a tight embrace before setting me back on my feet. Leaning over to Mom, I give her a hug and kiss her cheek. “Hi, Mom.”
“Have you settled in, Bean?” Dad asks while his eyes scan over the other students.
“Yep. I just need to get my class schedule later, then I’m all set for this year.”
Dad recognizes someone, and it has me glancing over my shoulder. Kao, Noah, and Mila walk toward us with their families.
A flurry of glitter and colors rushes toward us, then Miss Sebastian grabs hold of Kao, hugging the ever-loving shit out of him before giving me a hug. “How are my god-babies?” She glances around the campus. “Anyone hit on you yet?”
“Hey, Mamma G,” I grin, calling her by the special nickname Kao, Noah, Mila, and I have for her, the G standing for godmother. “We’ve all been too busy settling in to be social.”
“Speak for yourself,” Kao says. “I already snagged a date for the ball.”
“Well, at least you’re not taking forever like your father did,” Miss Sebastian comments.
“I didn’t take forever,” Uncle Marcus defends himself.
“Honey, it’s a wonder my angel-girl, Willow, put up with you for so long. If I didn’t have my hands in your chest, I’d seriously doubt there was a heart in there.”
I let out a chuckle. Miss Sebastian loves getting Uncle Marcus all riled up.
My gaze lands on Hunter, Jase, Fallon, and Hana, where they’re posing, while their mothers take enough photos to fill all the walls of their mansions.
It just solidifies the decision I made to check my temper around Hunter. I don’t want to place Fallon and Hana in a position where they’ll have to choose between Hunter and me.
Hunter’s parents make their way over to us. I notice how Hunter slowly trails behind them, stopping a couple of steps behind them. When he sees that I’m watching him, he takes a step to his right, so Uncle Mason’s between us.
Is he hiding behind his father or doing that to keep the peace? Must be the latter. There’s no way Hunter’s scared of me.
I take a deep breath and smile at Hunter’s mom. “It’s nice to see you again, Aunty Kingsley.”
“You too, hon. Are you excited to start studying?”
“Yeah,” I nod, and my smile turns natural. I love Hunter’s parents, and just because the two of us don’t get along, I shouldn’t let it affect my relationship with them.
Aunt Kingsley smiles warmly. “I remember my first day. It was epic. You’ll make so many new friends. Just remember to have fun.”
“I will.”
“It’s your final year, Hunter. Are you ready to join CRC Holdings?” I hear my dad ask Hunter.
“Yes. I’ll already spend time with my father this year, so it’s not too overwhelming when I officially start working.”
“As your mom said, don’t forget to have fun,” Uncle Mason says. “Just nothing that will start a lawsuit. I’ve had my fill of those.”
“God, yes. Please, no lawsuits,” Aunt Kingsley adds.
“Did your parents ever tell you about all the trouble they got into while attending here?” Dad asks Hunter.
“Yes,” Hunter lets out a burst of laughter. “They always blame Uncle Lake.”
“What about me?” Uncle Lake suddenly says as he comes to join us. He looks at Hunter, then asks, “What happened to your lip?”
Oh shit.
I freeze while I wait for Hunter to reply. “The mug nicked it when I had coffee.”
I feel torn about the white lie. Part of me is relieved I don’t have to explain why I punched him to our families. But the lie only solidifies the fact that it’s so easy for Hunter to cover up the truth — just like he did with Brady.
Soon we’re one big group, and we begin to move toward the auditorium where the ceremony will be held.
Only the kids of the founding families go to sit on the stage, while their parents join us in the front two rows.
When all the seats are taken, Jase gets up and goes to stand behind the podium. “Welcome to Trinity Academy. As the future chairman of CRC Holdings and Trinity Academy, I am proud to stand here today. Our campus has expanded a great deal, and the dorms were recently renovated. Trinity prides itself on only schooling the best. Past presidents, senators, business magnates, and philanthropists have graduated from Trinity, and we hope to continue with the legacy they have left for us.”
When Jase is done talking, his father, Uncle Julian, takes over. The speeches don’t last too long, and soon we all file out of the auditorium again. Tables have been set up on the huge lawn between the dorms and the lecture halls. We follow the seating plan, and I pull a face when I see that Hunter’s family is situated at the table next to mine.
Can’t catch a break from the guy today.
Once we’re all seated, servers begin to move between the tables.
Dad orders himself a whiskey, then looks at me, “What would you like, Bean?”
“Just a coke, please.”
The server leaves with our order, and Daddy asks, “Did you see the gym on campus?”
“Not yet.” I glance in the direction of the gym, that’s situated next to the pool house. “I’ll probably go check it out this afternoon.”
I hope there’s a punching bag so I can take all the tension out on it, seeing as I can’t hit Hunter.