“Neither do I.”
“Right,” he grunts, frustrated that he isn’t getting through to me.
“Is that why your name wasn’t on the list? You don’t want to associate yourself with those… what did you call them… unsavory assholes?” I ask out of curiosity.
Since taking Price as my last name, I have never been barred from anywhere. Not from bars, nightclubs, or a girl’s panties. Shit, I could lead with my surname alone, and everyone would swing their doors—or legs—open for me with the biggest smiles on their faces. If all the so-called big boys like paying a visit to such a place, then why doesn’t he?
“Pretty quiet there, Dick. It isn’t a hard question.”
“My name isn’t there out of respect for your mother,” he deadpans as if I should know better.
“I don’t think she’d be too upset with you frequenting it. She hardly knows where you spend most of your time anyway.”
“There is a difference between not knowing where I spend my time and how I spend it.”
“If you say so. Are we done?” I arch a defiant brow.
“Yeah, we’re done.”
“Thought so.”
I walk out of the room, feeling ten pounds lighter now that I know I’ll be able to watch Scarlett perform tonight. I grab my phone and see I still have a good twelve hours to kill before her show, which means I’m going to need a diversion to take my mind off the wait.
Me: Where u at?
Finn: Linc’s.
Of course, he is. Since his dad kicked him out, Lincoln’s mansion has become his permanent place to crash. It’s good, though. Lincoln living all alone in that fucking house was all sorts of wrong anyway.
Finn: We’re all here. Where u at?
Me: Just wrapping things up with your Momma. Be there in 30.
Finn:
I let out a chuckle, grab my stuff, and head to the Hamilton estate. My fingers twitch on the steering wheel as I drive past the hidden dirt path leading to Scarlett’s cottage alongside the entrance of Oakley Woods.
I’ll see you soon enough, Scar.
Twenty minutes later, I drive up to the gate bearing the Richfield family crest and notice a few familiar cars in Lincoln’s driveway. Guess when Finn said everyone was here, he wasn’t joking. Not that I’m surprised. Since this whole Society hoopla started, Lincoln’s family home has been the headquarters we all come to hash shit out in.
With the front door open, I enter into the foyer and hear laughter coming from the living room. I lean against the door frame, watching Stone teach Kennedy how to knock a guy out. A quick glance at the TV screen shows a scene from Fight Club set to pause, so I can only assume that’s where they got their inspiration from.
“Fuck, Ken! What do you have those long legs for if you’re not gonna use them?” Stone reprimands teasingly, as she quickly jumps left to right and away from a flustered Kennedy.
“Stay still, and I will!”
“Not a chance. Come on, Barbie. Give me your best shot.”
“You’re lucky I like you,” Kennedy grunts, winded, and bends over to catch her breath.
“Even if you didn’t, you still couldn’t catch me. You Northsiders sure are weak. Just hit me already.”
Kennedy rushes at the Southie, but Stone really is too quick for her, leaping up onto the couch, then over it, always making sure to be far away from Ken’s grasp.
“This is totally not fair. You’re tiny. That’s why you’re so fast.”
“Nope. She’s scrappy. You just need to knock her off her game, babe,” I say, grabbing their attention. “Remember, the best warfare happens all in here.” I point to my head to drive the point home.
“Easton!!!” Kennedy shouts, instantly running over to me and hugging my waist.
“Finn’s girl is teaching you how to fight, huh?” I ask after kissing her sweaty temple.
“Yep. Barbie here might know how to play mind games with those rich-bitch debutantes, but she should know how to hold her own with the boys, too. A girl can’t be too safe.”
“Is that so? You’ve never had a problem before.” I tease the girl who used to rough house with me all the time when we were younger.
Ken always gave me and the rest of the guys a run for our money. And if memory serves me right, she once even gave Colt a black eye when he grabbed her ass in eighth grade.
“It can’t hurt my game, now can it?” She winks before going over to the couch and crashing. “And you,” she starts, pointing menacingly at the grinning Southie. “You know I hate it when you call me that name.”
“Well, duh! That’s why I say it. Someone needs to ruffle your princess feathers,” Stone taunts, grabbing two bottles of water and handing one to Kennedy.
“You see what I’m dealing with here?” Kennedy retorts with a broad smile, not one bit bothered by Stone’s hassle.
“All I see is two fine women going at it. I’m surprised no one offered to get you some mud, or film you two.”
“Colt might have mentioned something.”
I bet he did.
“Where are the guys anyway?”
“Outside by the pool.”
“Hmm.”
Stone sends me a warning glare without Kennedy noticing. Since she’s here, the rest of the guys probably thought being outside was the only place safe enough to talk without her listening in. I’m sure Stone keeping her busy indoors was also a calculated move.
Fuck.
If Kennedy ever finds out about what’s been going on right under her nose, there will be hell to pay for keeping her in the dark. Stone teaching her how to kick a guy in the junk doesn’t bode well for us, either. She already has a mean left hook as it is.
“What’s up with you? You’ve been acting moodier than Colt lately. Which, I have to say, is not an improvement for you,” Kennedy declares when she sees my disposition change suddenly.
“Funny, Ken.”
“Don’t worry about East. He’s only having girl troubles,” Stone chimes in with an explanation that will divert Ken’s attention away from the true source of my morose temperament. Little does Stone know that she just created a monster with that one sentence.
“A girl, huh?” Kennedy coos, already showing the fucking stars in her eyes.
Jesus.
“Don’t even go there, Ken. I’m too damn sober to be given the third degree.”
“It’ll be painless, I promise. Do I know her? Does she go to our school? Where did you guys meet? Has she met your momma yet? A name. Just give me a name, East?”
“No. Don’t you two have a movie to watch or a TikTok fight video to do or something?” I grumble in annoyance.
“See? You’re becoming a total moody jackass. It’s not a good look on you, East. I miss my friend.”
Fuck my life.
I walk over to the couch and place a kiss on top of her head.
“I’m fine, Ken. Stone is right. Just some girl stuff I need to get sorted. You’ll be the first to know when I do.” I give her the excuse that she wants to hear while, from my peripheral, I watch her new tattooed bestie silently gag at my dishonesty.