“No, youdowant to be a surgeon. It’s all you’ve talked about! Don’t.... Don’t you?” I mentally flailed. If Sophie—beautiful, exceptional Sophie, who had always known exactly what she wanted to do—was stumbling on her way to her dreams, what chance did I have with mine?
She played with a few strands of her golden hair. “I don’t know. I’m taking a semester off until I figure it out.” She walked forward and bopped her forehead roughly onto my shoulder. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Quain carrying a tray of chicken. I hadn’t noticed him, but maybe he’d come around theside of the building from the direction of the grill. He set the food on the table near the bowl.
“You’re only taking off one semester, right?” Quain asked. “Otherwise?—”
She stomped her feet, then straightened to pout in his direction. “I won’t go back. Everyone has said the same thing. It’s like I’m doomed if I don’t get back after one semester. Luke said it. Three professors said it. Even the guy who drove the bus I took home from Cambridge said it. I knoooow.”
Barber came around to give her a one-armed hug. His nose piercing glinted in the firelight, and I had to chuckle. He and Ren both had one. They were so much alike.
“How long can you take off again before you’re doomed? One semester, is it?” he asked, shaking her around.
She shrieked and started pummeling him with open-handed slaps. “You jerk! Stop saying it!”
He laughed and didn’t do much to defend himself except stumble away. She only stopped when he tripped and landed on his ass.
Errol came to the table with two trays—ribs, steaks, burgers, and hotdogs were on the menu. I didn’t notice any buns, but that wouldn’t stop anyone as long as—yes, there was ketchup, mustard, and mayo out. He set his load down, then came at KC with his hand extended.
KC grinned and shook with him.
Errol was a wild-looking man. He was solid, with a large round gut, a gray beard, and out-of-control gray hair that reached his shoulders. He hadn’t been in for a cut in a while, and Barber would be chasing him around the house with scissors soon if he didn’t make time.
“Shit, kid. You get any bigger, you won’t fit in my house!” He slapped KC on the side.
KC shrugged. “I can always get bigger.”
“Not unless you’re gonna be the Jolly Green Giant.” Errol snorted as if he’d told the best joke ever.
I frowned at KC because he’d just been in the hospital recently due to his ridiculous belief that he wouldn’t be a good linebacker if he didn’t getbigger. Ren was doing the same thing. Why did KC act like he wasn’t already perfect?
Quain walked up beside the two and clasped his hands behind himself. “Can we talk?” he asked, staring up at KC with a small frown, which was his version of a scowl.
“It doesn’t take two eyes to see you want to tear into the boy about something.” Errol shook Quain’s shoulder, and he lightly stepped out of Errol’s grip. “I got a pork shoulder coming out of the smoker, so whatever you need to say can wait until after we eat. Come help me, muscles.” Errol smacked KC on the side again, then retreated toward the house.
Barber elbowed Ren. “Go help them. It’ll be a nice excuse to meet Uncle Errol.”
“Uh, he seems tipsy. Maybe this isn’t a good time?” Ren rubbed the back of his neck and glanced around at us.
Barber laughed. “Uncle Errol’s a little bit sauced almost all the time.”
Sophie tugged on my hand. “Come sit by the fire until everything’s ready.”
“Sure.” Anxiety prickled across my skin because this was all too normal after what had happened earlier today.
Sophie sat down close to me on a bench by the fire and knocked her shoulder against mine. “Are you doing okay?”
Barber sat down on a camp chair nearby and tilted his head. “Yeah, you could always come back to the barber shop.”
Of course he would think the issue was the move to Revenge Tattoo. Part of me took a grim satisfaction in what I was about to do. “My father is out of prison. He’s at my house, probablysleeping in my bed. Oh yeah, and Mom’s probably beside him.” I shuddered. “Or under him.”
Sophie made a face, and I loved her for it.
Barber jumped to his feet. “Fuck! Cain is out?”
I nodded.
“Does the club know?” He tugged his leather jacket, like thinking about the Kings of Men had reminded him it existed.
I shrugged, feeling pissy. “I’m not allowed to be involved in club business. How should I know?”
