Page 93 of Arctic Titans of Northwood U: Volume 2

“Michael’s the worst offender,” I whispered.

Eryn’s lips stretched into a guilty smile. She pushed the salad bowl my way and picked up the gravy to carry back. “We can gossip about our big brothers later.”

“No. We are going to.” I wore a polite little smile as I returned to the dining room.

Mom sat on the opposite end of the table from Dad. She seemed delighted to see me carry the salad. “Look at him,” she exclaimed. “Such a gentleman. That girl is so lucky, isn’t she?” she asked no one in particular. “What’s her name, again, dear?”

I shook my head as I placed the salad on the table. “There’s no girl, Mom.”

“Truly?” she asked. “I was sure there was…”

“Not anymore,” I said tightly. As I sat down, I made the mistake of looking at Dad. He was staring at me like I’d grown a pair of boobs out of nowhere.

“Don’t you think it’s well beyond the time you settled down a little?” he asked.

I’m turning twenty-three this summer, I wanted to say. Besides, I have settled down. Instead of speaking, I shrugged. I knew that there was no winning an argument with them.

We ate the roast turkey in silence after Dad said the graces, and at every scrape of the knife against the plate, Dad shot a glare in the offender’s direction. I was the most common target. And after dinner, the more annoying of my brothers decided to linger around. Dad, Michael, and I sat in the living room after Mom refused my offer to do the dishes, sounding almost scandalized. Eryn had no choice.

I crossed my legs knee over the knee and uncrossed them promptly when Dad let his gaze linger on them. Jesus Christ. Is there anything allowed in this house? But before I could even begin searching for some topic of conversation, Dad exhaled through his nose. “We are glad to see you, Sebastian. You don’t visit nearly as often as other children.” He left that hanging for a few moments. “We are worried.”

I shook my head. “What are you worried about?” I asked.

Dad hesitated for a short time. “Those boys you live with,” Dad began.

“We’ve seen what they are promoting. It’s not right, Seby. You’re better than that, but you’re not as smart as you think.” Michael’s voice was impatient with all the things he’d been wanting to say to me.

My stomach turned. Dad lifted a hand to silence my brother. How the hell had this guy become a doctor?

Michael ignored Dad. “No, he needs to hear this, Father. He’s exposing himself to their influence, thinking he’s immune. Nobody’s immune from temptation.”

I choked. “What are you…?”

“You could think it’s cool how people cheer and applaud when two of your teammates kiss in front of the cameras, but you don’t know how deep the risks are, Seby. You’re too young to know these things.” Michael was growing more agitated with each word.

“Enough.” Dad’s voice was tight. He waited for the silence to settle. “Michael is right, Son, but his language is extreme. We are worried, yes. We worry that you could be influenced in ways that would harm you. You don’t even know until it’s too late. It’s the job of your family to protect you.”

“You’re inexperienced,” Michael said flatly. After drumming his fingers on the arm holder of his recliner, he looked into my eyes. “What happened to Jennifer? Why aren’t you two together anymore?”

I held my tongue. It was none of their business. Besides, I never knew how to talk to any of them except Eryn.

Dad leaned forward and examined my face thoroughly. “Son. Nobody here will blame you. Nobody here thinks any less of you. If you lost your path, it’s not too late to find it again.”

Air drained out of my lungs and blood left my face. “What…are you asking?”

“Have those wicked boys tried to tempt you? Have they promised you something? Agents or contacts or what do you call it in exchange for…”

“No,” I snapped. “What?”

“It’s okay,” Michael said. “Nobody thinks it’s your fault.”

You’re such a fucking coward, I snapped at myself. “What the hell are you…?”

“Language,” Dad snapped roughly.

“Nobody’s been tempting me, Michael. Jennifer cheated on me and we broke up. There.”

“The wickedness of this world leaves me without hope,” Dad whispered, sinking back into his recliner.