Not only that, but Isla would be too. Our birthdays weren’t far apart. We’d legally be adults, and for some reason, it felt as if that would cause a further divide, especially between Julius and me.
There were about twenty people there, and it was the last place I wanted to be, but Isla insisted.
Roland stood next to me, bumping his shoulder into mine. “You’ve been awfully quiet tonight. What’s up?”
“I’m good.”
“You having problems with your brother?”
I glanced at him. “When are we not having problems?”
“Yeah.” He nodded, deeply inhaling. “You’re too hard on each other.”
I shrugged. “What can I say? It’s our love language.”
He scoffed out a chuckle before giving me a serious expression. “So it’s not about the girl?”
Playing dumb, I cocked my head. “Isla?”
He arched an eyebrow with awho do you think you’re talking toface that made me laugh. No matter what, Roland always came through for us. When we were kids, he’d sometimes sleep on our couch. Always made sure we had food, even if he had to share his. He was a good man, and I hadn’t met too many of those.
“Is it that obvious?” I asked.
“You tell me.” He laughed. “You’ve got that look about you.”
“So I look like a dumbass?”
He grinned. “At least your wit is still intact.”
“It’s about the only thing I have going for me these days.”
“I heard you’ve been doing better in school.”
“Isla told you that?” I nodded to her. “Don’t get too used to it. She hasn’t been tutoring me lately.”
“Kraven, you’re smart. You applying yourself is what got your grades up.”
“Debatable.”
“By just you,” he clarified. “I know what you’re capable of. Yougraduate this year despite everything you’ve overcome, and you know Julius is a big part of that.”
With a snide smirk, I snapped, “He doesn’t let me forget it.”
“You’re not being fair.”
“Fair to who?”
“Listen,” he reasoned, grabbing my shoulder. “At the end of the day, you’re brothers.”
“And sometimes blood isn’t thicker than water.”
“Kraven…”
I stepped back. “I don’t expect you to take my side.”
“There are no sides. You’re on the same team.”
“Easy for you to say.”
