Chapter 1
Sawyer
“Fuck, I died.” Fallingbackwards into my pillows, it takes everything in me not to chuck my stupid controller across my bedroom.
“There’s still thirty seconds.” Scotty’s panicked voice is garbled in my headphones.
Figures, since I can see his character spraying and praying a volley of rounds at the overpowering opposing team.
My respawn countdown takesforever.
Five measly seconds left.
All I can do is reload and empty one burst.
“Game over, bro. We lost big time.” Scott’s avatar disappears from my screen.
“Wait. Where’d you go?” I was hoping for a few more rounds before I had to go hook up the hay trailer.
“My sister has me working right up until the second I leave. I can’t wait until all my classes start so I don’t have to be at the bar anymore.” He lets out a long groan. “It wouldn’t be so bad if the old ladies didn’t hit on me all the time.”
“You like it, don’t lie. Besides, I told you my dad would give you a job here, so don’t bitch.” I bet he’d like it more than I do.
But his laugh says otherwise. “And miss my chance to see co-eds on campus? Yea, shoveling horse shit soundswaybetter. I’d rather sling drinks for Val, and she’s a bitch.”
There’s a brief knock on my bedroom door before it swings open, my own sister popping her head through the gap. “Come on, we’re picking up pizza tonight.”
“I gotta go, Scotty. But might see you in a few.” The only place around that makes pizza is Val’s place, the Hilltop Bar.
“A’ight. Later.” The background noise from his mic disappears.
“Sawyer,” Sophia whines. “Let’s get there and back. We gotta start getting the room for Grandma and Grandpa ready tonight.”
Crud. I forgot they get in tomorrow.
This house is getting too full. At least I can’t hear the babies when they’re in Dad’s room at night.
But Grandpa snores loud enough to rattle the windows and they’ll berightnext to me.
Tossing my headphones onto my nightstand, I give my shirt a quick sniff test.
Val made fun of me once, years ago, for stinking like the farm.
I dunno why, but ever since I try not to stink when I know I’m gonna see her.
Weird, I guess. She’s maybe twelve years older than me and Scotty? I shouldn’t let it bug me.
Yea. Screw her. It doesn’t.
Grabbing my wallet, I stuff it in the back pocket of my jeans, then follow Sophia out into the living room.
“I ordered out. We’re gonna go pick it up,” she proudly proclaims to Lori.
I glance at Lori on the couch and immediately regret it.
Geez. She’s nursing.
It makes me feel strange catching a glimpse of the side of my dad’s wife’s breast before I flee outside.
