“I know, dude; I told you, she’s smart as hell,” Jaxon replies. “Hate to break it to you, Zeke; you slept with a freshman.”
“Sure didn’t act like one,” he says, pushing off the fridge and returning to his room.
“What about you?” Fletcher wonders, finally dropping the trash bag in his hand and looking at Jaxon.
“What about me?” he questions.
“Where’s your guest at?” Jeremy adds. “We saw you getting it on with that girl before you went to your room.”
We hear footsteps again, and we all turn, expecting to see Jaxon’s conquest, but instead, it’s Brinley. Her face is clean, the tears from last night erased, but she’s still not all there.
“Hey Brin, you want some food?” I wonder, holding the box of Cheerios out to her. “Or we could go get breakfast or something.”
She looks at Jaxon and then back at me.
“I should get going,” she mumbles, walking toward the door.
“Brin, are we still on for the horror movie marathon at the drive-in tonight?” Jaxon leans to the side to see her.
“Can’t,” she replies. “Something came up.”
She doesn’t give him any more explanation before I hear the door slam. Jaxon’s shoulders droop as his attention comes back to us.
“That was weird,” Fletcher says. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah,” I lie.
“Now, back to your night,” Brooks replies. “Where is she? She still in your bed?”
“I’d say she’s probably in her own bed by now.” He shrugs. “Or someone else’s.”
“You cold-hearted snake, I never saw you as the type of guy who sleeps with a girl and then kicks her out before morning!” Brooks adds. “Even Zeke lets them stay the night.”
“I didn’t kick her out,” Jaxon responds. “She left last night. Nothing happened.”
“Then what did you guys do in your room?” I wonder.
“Made out a little more,” he continues. “The window was there, but I wasn’t feeling it.”
“But she was hot,” Zeke adds.
“Yeah, I guess,” he says, grabbing water from the fridge. “We still going to the weight room today?”
“That’s the plan,” I begin.
“Cool, come get me when we’re heading out. I’ll be in my room.”
He doesn’t wait for confirmation; he just disappears. I know I should follow him and see if he’s okay. He’s my best friend. But I’m also worried his sudden mood change has to do with Brinley, and I don’t know if I’m ready for that conversation.
And even if she’s the reason. Even if he’s finally realized that maybe there could be something more there, it doesn’t matter. We talked about this when we got to high school. Sisters are off limits—
No exceptions.
fifteen
Ember
Two weeks,” Maia says, sitting a plate of fries in front of me, “and neither of you has brought it up?”
