“What do you want?”
I keep my tone light when I shrug and say, “I was just checking on you. That sounded pretty heated.”
“It’s nothing,” he says, brushing past me to head for the lifts.
I follow him. “Okay. I’m not going to push, but I will throw your advice back at you. If there’s anything I can do to help, or if you’re in trouble…”
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I’m not in trouble. Dad’s just being a pain in my arse. I’ve got it handled.”
I don’t believe him, but I also know I’m not the best person to help with family drama. Not with the skeletons in my cupboard.
Instead, I clap him on the back and say, “Forget about him. Let’s get ready for dinner and drown our sorrows with the team.”
He huffs a humourless laugh as the lift doors open. “Way to cheer me up.”
I grin as we step inside, squeezing his shoulder. “That’s what housemates are for.”
Everett shakes his head with a laugh, and the tension between us fades away. “That game was a disgrace.”
“It was embarrassing,” I agree, rubbing the back of myneck. “I don’t envy Jasper having to room with Galdeen. I’ve never seen him so pissed.”
“I don’t blame him. We didn’t help him out there tonight.”
The lift opens to our floor, and we walk down the hall until we reach our rooms, where he holds out his fist.
I bump it.
“See you at dinner,” I say as I let myself into my room.
There area few sore heads on the bus on the way back to Beckford on Sunday morning. A few of the guys went back to Griff and Halloway’s room after dinner and continued the pity party. I’m glad to have a clear head, since Everett and I have his sister’s party.
“Are you sure this isn’t weird?” I ask, tugging on the hem of the white and gold Prince Charming shirt that Emily brought with her. The maroon pants are embarrassingly tight, and I feel like if I bend over, they’ll split up the middle.
Everett snorts, fixing the collar on his blue and silver shirt. “Of course it’s fucking weird. We’re in our twenties dressed as fucking Disney princes.”
I roll my eyes. “I meant me coming to Tinsley’s birthday.”
“Oh, no,” he says, shaking his head. “You’re not pulling out on me, man. She thinks of you like another brother. If I have to look ridiculous to keep that little girl happy, the least you can do is keep me company. It’s like housemate law or something.”
“That’s completely made up,” I scoff, but something warms inside me at his comment about me being like another brother to her. She’s a sweet little kid.
“I think you both look ruggedly handsome,” Emily says, brushing Everett’s hair off his forehead and fighting to hide her grin. She’s dressed in a blue Cinderella ballgown, her blonde hair pinned in an elaborate up-do.
With a groan, I grab the pink gift bag off the dining table. “All right, the quicker we get there, the quicker we can get home and out of these ridiculous costumes.”
“Wait!” Emily pulls out her phone. “I want to get a photo.”
“Absolutely not,” I say, stalking towards the front door. “No chance in hell.”
“Party pooper,” she calls after me.
“Sticks and stones,” I call back.
I climb into the back of her car, cursing as I try to get comfortable in the small space. Everett and Em chat the whole way there—the tension from his phone call last night seems long forgotten. I don’t know why I’m letting it play on my mind. The last thing I need is to get involved in someone else’s problems. I have enough of my own.
We’re about fifteen minutes late to the birthday party, and there are a few cars already parked out the front of Juliet’s when we pull up. I cast an awkward look around as we approach the front door, feeling like a bit of a creeper. Thankfully, Everett lets himself in, so we don’t have to stand on the front step waiting.
We follow the sounds of kids laughing and squealing through the house and out to the backyard, which has been turned into every little girl’s dream paradise. There are fairylights strung up in the trees, a giant blow-up princess jumping castle, and a marquee set up with tables draped in princess tablecloths. Juliet went all out.
