“What the hell, man?” Peter grunts, shaking Brock off. “You agreed to this,” he says, grabbing the hand of his date and stalking off. “She’s a psycho bitch,” he says over his shoulder, eyeing me again.
I raise my middle finger, letting him know exactly what I think of him. I’m sure the video will be all over social media in a few hours if his phone still works.
“You good?” Brock asks, and I nod, catching my breath, unable to believe that he’s checking on me. “Can we talk for a second?”
I must be in shock because I follow him as he walks away from our little group. I wrap my arms around myself and stare at him, not feeling hospitable in the least.
“Talk,” I say.
He gives me a curt nod. “I want to apologize for all the shit I put you through. I had my reasons, but I should have outright asked you. Just know that I always take care of my family, and I felt like your mother and possibly you were here to fuck us over.” He shuffles one foot and glances off for a second. “Anyway, you aren’t who I thought you were, and I guess, in a weird way, you are part of my family now. So, I got your back. And I’m sorry.”
He clears his throat, and I tilt my head to the side. I can’t believe I got an apology from one of the kings, Brock Montgomery himself. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone, but I won’t pass up this opportunity.
“You did put me through some shit, and I don’t appreciate it. But I do appreciate you wanting to make it better. I’m not saying you are forgiven. Maybe, in the future, I can be on better terms with you, if only for Corbin,” I say, raising a finger and pointing at him.
He gives me a small nod in acknowledgment of my words, and I nod back.
“You’re a rounder, lil sis,” Bodhi says, walking up behind me, throwing an arm over my shoulders.
Trixie stops on the other side of me, her gaze bouncing between Brock and me.
“See you at the ball,” Bodhi says, letting go of me. He winks at both of us, his gaze lingering on Trixie’s for a moment longer before he and Brock walk off, looking like they don’t have a care in the world.
“Come on,” Trixie murmurs, clearing her throat as she pulls her eyes away from their retreating forms. “Let’s go fix your hair.”
We head back inside, Lawson trailing behind us, as I realize my night is shattered like the screen of Peter’s phone.
33
Corbin
I peek in the door, breathing a sigh of relief when I see Abe’s sleeping form. The last few days have been hard on him and also on me. I want him happy and to not go through what I did as a child. I make my way down the stairs, spotting Andrea standing at the counter, her hands wrapped around a mug with steam curling from the top.
“Thanks for taking him in. I’m glad the social worker agreed,” I say, coming to stand beside her.
She turns toward me, leaning a hip against the counter, and brings the mug to her mouth. After a long sip, she sighs. “These things are never easy, and he’s so young to be going through something like this. I’m glad I can be here to help.”
I nod, not knowing what else to say. I mirror Andrea’s image, leaning against the counter and crossing my arms. “Abe is my world. I would do anything to protect him.”
“You are a good brother. Most kids your age wouldn’t be thinking about things like that, so wrapped up in themselves.”
“I didn’t grow up like most of the kids around here,” I say and cringe a little when I watch her face fall. I didn’t mean for it to come out like I said it. I want to reiterate that I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. Sometimes, I didn’t know what I was going to eat that day or whether my dad or Grandpa was in a bad mood and I shouldn’t come home. No one was there to protect me, but I’m here to protect Abe.
“He can stay here as long as you’d like, Corbin. And you are welcome as well.”
“I’ll be back in the morning before he gets up. I don’t want him to wake up in a strange place without me.”
“Of course. Here,” she says, turning and opening a drawer. She pulls out a key ring and takes two keys off, putting them on a new key ring and extending it toward me. “A key to the house and one for the car. Come in whenever.”
I grab it and give her a tight smile. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you, Corbin. For deciding to trust me. I want to make all the lost years up to you. I don’t think I’ve earned a place as your mom, but I want to.”
I shuffle one foot and clear my throat. “I would like that.”
She smiles and wraps her hands back around her mug. “Go on. Abe is in good hands here. I have your number if he needs anything.”
I head out the door, the keys clasped firmly in my hand, and climb in my borrowed car. I’m late, and my heart hammers in my chest. I wanted to be there when Landry realized what was happening. I wanted to be the knight who swooped in to save her. But family needed me, and I can’t help that.
I speed toward Almadale Prep. Thankfully, Andrea’s house is only twenty minutes away, and I hastily park as soon as I pull up to the girls’ dorm. There’s no one around, but I didn’t expect there to be. With the Fall Ball happening tonight, everyone is in the pool center.
I take the stairs up to the third floor, spotting a guy standing outside Landry’s room. I scowl at him as I stalk his way, and he blanches and stands straighter.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“I’m, um, waiting,” he stammers.
I get closer, recognizing Lawson. “For what?”
“Trixie,” he says.
I relax. He must be her date. I ignore him after that and rap on the door. There’s no answer, so I knock again. Finally, Trixie opens it a bit.
“What do you want?” She scowls at me, but I push the door, making the crack wider.
I can see Landry, her back to me, her body hunched in the chair in front of her desk. I want to find Peter and punch that asshole. I want to kick myself for not telling her sooner about what he was going to do. In truth, I forgot about him. That day he’d asked her to Fall Ball seems so far ago, and so much has happened since then. But I am here now and will be from this day forward, if she lets me.
“Landry,” I say, watching her back stiffen at my voice.
“She doesn’t want to see you,” Trixie says, trying to close the door and drawing my attention.
“Please, just a couple minutes,” I say, pleading. I don’t do it often, but this time, I have something that makes it worth it—Landry.
“It’s fine, Trix. Let him in. And go. Don’t waste your night here with me. Have fun,” Landry says over her shoulder.
Trixie’s resolve weakens. She eyes me up and down with the look of a ferocious friend, enough to make a normal guy’s knees knock together. But I know that Landry is mine, has always been mine. I need her to see it.
“Are you sure?” Trixie backs away from the door, bending down in front of Landry and taking her hands. “I can stay here with you.”
Landry shakes her head.
Trixie stands with a sigh. “Okay, but I’ll have my phone on me. Remember, my dress has pockets,” she says, and I can hear Landry softly chuckle. Trixie presses a kiss to the top of Landry’s head and then glares at me as she passes me at the door. “Hurt her again, and I’ll rip your dick off.”