“Any French toast left?” Sebastian’s voice at the door interrupts whatever Brooke is about to say.
“Yeah, I’ll make you a plate,” I offer. “Is Sawyer coming down?”
“Not yet. He’s on the phone.”
A smirk dances around the edges of Seb’s mouth. Sawyer’s probably sexting Lauren, the twins’ girlfriend.
Daniel’s taunts suddenly flit through my mind. “You being careful?” I ask in a low murmur as I hand Seb his plate.
He scowls. “What the hell do you care?”
“Word’s getting around school, is all. I don’t want anyone running to Dad with rumors that would get you sent to boarding school.”
“Because you’re so good at keeping your nose clean?” Seb mocks.
I notice Brooke watching our hushed exchange with deep interest, so I turn my back and lower my voice. “Look, I care about you guys and I don’t want to see anything happen, but your little twin switches aren’t fooling anyone.”
“Mind your own fucking business. At least we can hang on to the girl we have instead of running her off.” The shock must show on my face, because Seb chuckles. “Yeah, we know it’s your fault and not East’s. We’re not that dumb. And we know about her, too.” He discreetly jerks his head toward Brooke. “So keep your stupid opinions to yourself. You’re just as sick as we are.”
Seb grabs his plate and stomps out of the kitchen.
“What was that all about?” Dad asks from the table.
“Boys will be boys,” Brooke chirps. The smile on her face is genuine. She enjoys seeing us fight. She wants us to fight.
I shovel down some French toast, even though my stomach feels full of lead. I don’t know if this family is ever going to recover from Mom’s death. The vision of her sprawled across her bed, face slack, her eyes cold and unseeing, is always at the back of my mind. With Ella, all the noise in my head quieted.
Now everything is falling apart.
The house is quiet. I don’t see Seb again, or Sawyer, for that matter. I don’t want to think about where Gid might be right now. And East is avoiding me—he hasn’t answered any of my texts or returned my calls.
I have a feeling he might not talk to me again until Ella shows up.
Around nine, Wade messages me about a party at Deacon Mills’ house. I have no desire to get drunk or be around drunks, so I decline the invite. But I do send a follow-up message.
Lemme know if E shows up. Can’t track him down.
Around eleven, Wade messages back. Ur bro’s here. He’s wasted.
Shit.
I shove my feet into a pair of kicks and throw on a long-sleeve shirt. The coastal air is getting chilly now that fall’s set in. I wonder how Ella’s doing. Is she warm enough? Is she sleeping well? Does she have food? Is she safe?
When I get to Mills’ house, it’s packed. The entire senior class looks like it’s getting lit inside. After fifteen minutes of searching for East, I give up and shoot another text to Wade, who’s also nowhere to be found.
Where is he?
Game room.
I bypass the living room, heading for the huge den that doubles as a billiards room. Wade is at the pool table, chatting with one of our teammates. He catches my eye when he sees me and nods to the left.
I follow his gaze. My brother is sprawled on the couch with a blonde in his lap. Her pale hair falls over her face like a curtain, so I can’t tell who it is, but I can see that her lips are glued to East’s. His hand is slowly tunneling underneath her skirt. She giggles, and I instantly freeze. I know that giggle.
She lifts her head and…yep, it’s Abby.
“East,” I boom from the doorway.
He looks over, blue eyes glazed, cheeks flushed. He’s drunk out of his mind. Awesome.
“Look, Abs, it’s my big bro,” he slurs.
“C’mon, time to go,” I order, reaching for him.
Abby stares at me with wide, guilty eyes, but I’m more concerned about East. Some demon is riding him hard if he’s decided to hook up with my ex.
“What’s the hurry? Abs and I are just getting started. Right, baby?”
Her cheeks turn pinker. “Reed,” she starts.
I ignore her. “Get up,” I snap at my brother. “We’re leaving.”
“Not going anywhere.”
“Yeah, you are.”
He doesn’t move. “Just ’cause you’re not getting any doesn’t mean my dick should go unused, right, Abs?”
Abby makes some small noise. Could be agreement. Could be denial. Hell if I care. I just want to get Easton home before he does something he’s going to regret.
“Your dick gets plenty of play.”
“Maybe I want more.” East grins. “And whatta you care? We both know I can do ’er better.”
Abby’s face is bright red now. “Easton,” she says tightly.
“What? You know I’m right.” His mocking gaze shifts toward her. “You’re wasting your time pining over him, babe. Did he ever tell you he loved you? No, right? That’s ’cause he didn’t.”
Abby makes a gasped, wounded sound. “Screw you, Easton. Screw both of you.” Then she rushes out of the den without a backward look.
Easton watches her go, then turns to me and starts to laugh. Cold and humorless. “Made another one run, huh, brother? Ella, Abby…”
“You’re the one who ran her off.” I shake my head at him. “Leave Abby alone. She’s not one of your toys, East.”
“What, she’s too good for a screw-up like me?”
Yes. “That’s not what I’m saying,” I lie.
“Bull-shit. You don’t want me to taint your pure, sweet Abby. Don’t want me to mess her up.” East moves forward, swaying on his feet. The wave of alcohol on his breath nearly knocks me over. “Goddamn hypocrite. You’re the bad apple. You’re the one who ruins chicks.” He comes even closer, until our faces are inches apart, and then he dips his mouth toward my ear and hisses, “You ruined Ella.”
I flinch.
Everyone’s eyes are on us. The Royals are in shambles, ladies and gentlemen. The twins have stopped talking to me. Seb must’ve said something to Sawyer and now they both look at me as if I’m a leper. East’s trying to screw his pain away. Gid’s angry at the world. And me? I’m just drowning.
“Yeah, I’ll make you a plate,” I offer. “Is Sawyer coming down?”
“Not yet. He’s on the phone.”
A smirk dances around the edges of Seb’s mouth. Sawyer’s probably sexting Lauren, the twins’ girlfriend.
Daniel’s taunts suddenly flit through my mind. “You being careful?” I ask in a low murmur as I hand Seb his plate.
He scowls. “What the hell do you care?”
“Word’s getting around school, is all. I don’t want anyone running to Dad with rumors that would get you sent to boarding school.”
“Because you’re so good at keeping your nose clean?” Seb mocks.
I notice Brooke watching our hushed exchange with deep interest, so I turn my back and lower my voice. “Look, I care about you guys and I don’t want to see anything happen, but your little twin switches aren’t fooling anyone.”
“Mind your own fucking business. At least we can hang on to the girl we have instead of running her off.” The shock must show on my face, because Seb chuckles. “Yeah, we know it’s your fault and not East’s. We’re not that dumb. And we know about her, too.” He discreetly jerks his head toward Brooke. “So keep your stupid opinions to yourself. You’re just as sick as we are.”
Seb grabs his plate and stomps out of the kitchen.
“What was that all about?” Dad asks from the table.
“Boys will be boys,” Brooke chirps. The smile on her face is genuine. She enjoys seeing us fight. She wants us to fight.
I shovel down some French toast, even though my stomach feels full of lead. I don’t know if this family is ever going to recover from Mom’s death. The vision of her sprawled across her bed, face slack, her eyes cold and unseeing, is always at the back of my mind. With Ella, all the noise in my head quieted.
Now everything is falling apart.
The house is quiet. I don’t see Seb again, or Sawyer, for that matter. I don’t want to think about where Gid might be right now. And East is avoiding me—he hasn’t answered any of my texts or returned my calls.
I have a feeling he might not talk to me again until Ella shows up.
Around nine, Wade messages me about a party at Deacon Mills’ house. I have no desire to get drunk or be around drunks, so I decline the invite. But I do send a follow-up message.
Lemme know if E shows up. Can’t track him down.
Around eleven, Wade messages back. Ur bro’s here. He’s wasted.
Shit.
I shove my feet into a pair of kicks and throw on a long-sleeve shirt. The coastal air is getting chilly now that fall’s set in. I wonder how Ella’s doing. Is she warm enough? Is she sleeping well? Does she have food? Is she safe?
When I get to Mills’ house, it’s packed. The entire senior class looks like it’s getting lit inside. After fifteen minutes of searching for East, I give up and shoot another text to Wade, who’s also nowhere to be found.
Where is he?
Game room.
I bypass the living room, heading for the huge den that doubles as a billiards room. Wade is at the pool table, chatting with one of our teammates. He catches my eye when he sees me and nods to the left.
I follow his gaze. My brother is sprawled on the couch with a blonde in his lap. Her pale hair falls over her face like a curtain, so I can’t tell who it is, but I can see that her lips are glued to East’s. His hand is slowly tunneling underneath her skirt. She giggles, and I instantly freeze. I know that giggle.
She lifts her head and…yep, it’s Abby.
“East,” I boom from the doorway.
He looks over, blue eyes glazed, cheeks flushed. He’s drunk out of his mind. Awesome.
“Look, Abs, it’s my big bro,” he slurs.
“C’mon, time to go,” I order, reaching for him.
Abby stares at me with wide, guilty eyes, but I’m more concerned about East. Some demon is riding him hard if he’s decided to hook up with my ex.
“What’s the hurry? Abs and I are just getting started. Right, baby?”
Her cheeks turn pinker. “Reed,” she starts.
I ignore her. “Get up,” I snap at my brother. “We’re leaving.”
“Not going anywhere.”
“Yeah, you are.”
He doesn’t move. “Just ’cause you’re not getting any doesn’t mean my dick should go unused, right, Abs?”
Abby makes some small noise. Could be agreement. Could be denial. Hell if I care. I just want to get Easton home before he does something he’s going to regret.
“Your dick gets plenty of play.”
“Maybe I want more.” East grins. “And whatta you care? We both know I can do ’er better.”
Abby’s face is bright red now. “Easton,” she says tightly.
“What? You know I’m right.” His mocking gaze shifts toward her. “You’re wasting your time pining over him, babe. Did he ever tell you he loved you? No, right? That’s ’cause he didn’t.”
Abby makes a gasped, wounded sound. “Screw you, Easton. Screw both of you.” Then she rushes out of the den without a backward look.
Easton watches her go, then turns to me and starts to laugh. Cold and humorless. “Made another one run, huh, brother? Ella, Abby…”
“You’re the one who ran her off.” I shake my head at him. “Leave Abby alone. She’s not one of your toys, East.”
“What, she’s too good for a screw-up like me?”
Yes. “That’s not what I’m saying,” I lie.
“Bull-shit. You don’t want me to taint your pure, sweet Abby. Don’t want me to mess her up.” East moves forward, swaying on his feet. The wave of alcohol on his breath nearly knocks me over. “Goddamn hypocrite. You’re the bad apple. You’re the one who ruins chicks.” He comes even closer, until our faces are inches apart, and then he dips his mouth toward my ear and hisses, “You ruined Ella.”
I flinch.
Everyone’s eyes are on us. The Royals are in shambles, ladies and gentlemen. The twins have stopped talking to me. Seb must’ve said something to Sawyer and now they both look at me as if I’m a leper. East’s trying to screw his pain away. Gid’s angry at the world. And me? I’m just drowning.
