Hood River Rat (Hood River Hoodlums #1) - K Webster Page 0,9
out.
Charlotte scoffs. “Hollis! Don’t be a butthead!”
Roux flinches at my words, which makes me feel like an ass. It sets Roan off, though. He stalks over to me and pokes my chest with his finger. “Watch the tone you take around my sister.”
Charlotte blinks in surprise. Back home, we were well-liked. Popular and revered. She’s never seen such animosity from anyone before. The tension between Roan and me is so thick and cloying you can taste it.
Guilt swells up inside me. “Don’t be sorry, kid,” I say, injecting lightness into my voice for her sake. “I was just confused. Aunt Karen is inside. Go on in.”
The girls hold hands and walk inside. Roan stares after them, an unreadable expression on his face. He turns, waves at Jordy who takes off, and then looks down his nose at me.
“Stay out of my way, rat.”
Roan
I should get great satisfaction each time he flinches at my insults, but it only makes me feel dirty inside. Is this how Dad feels when he asserts dominance over anyone who isn’t him? I hate my dad and don’t want to be anything like him.
But I also don’t like Hollis.
He’s already seen too much of me.
It was one thing for him to see that me and Ms. Frazier have an agreement. It’s a whole other for him to see Roux. Roux is a vulnerability not many are allowed to know about. I protect her at all costs. She has no one but me. Sure, she has Jordy and Cal and Terrence and Ms. Frazier and a couple others, but that’s it. Her father is in prison and her mother’s a fucking addict.
“Close your mouth, rat, or you’ll catch snowflakes.”
The promised snow has just started to fall. Tiny flakes of white dust his features that look as though they’re carved in porcelain—not unlike the dolls Roux used to have when she was little. Guys aren’t supposed to look so perfect. Perfection isn’t real anyway. It’s unattainable and fucking ridiculous. Still, I can’t look away from his face.
Why not?
My skin heats in an uncomfortable way I don’t understand. All I know is the sight of the snowflakes dusting his long, dark blond lashes and settling on his slightly pink cheeks is one I can’t look away from.
His brows furl together and his blue eyes flash with anger. I’m not like Sidney or Miss Fields. I can see right through his façade. He wants everyone to think he’s as perfect on the inside as he is on the outside.
He’s not and we both know it.
I hoard this secret just like he knows about Roux.
I’ll be damned if I let him use her against me.
“Why are you here, Roan?” he demands, his arms crossing over his chest.
It’s cold as fuck and I’m still dressed for basketball practice. We’re standing outside arguing. I hate this kid.
My eyes skim over his preppy coat in disdain. “I’m here to work.”
“Work?” His probing expression contorts into one of confusion. “Doing what?”
Jesus. Does this family not talk about anything?
“Doesn’t matter. You don’t pay me.” I start for the door when he grabs my still sweaty, but now chilled bicep. His touch sends fire racing through my arm.
“It matters. Tell me.”
I shake off his grip and throw a finger in his face. “You don’t get to order me around, rat. Just because I work here doesn’t mean it involves you. So fuck off.”
His lips press together and I note that they’re full and pink, like a girl’s. I don’t know why the hell I notice his lips, but I add it to the growing list of annoying shit he does. I’ve known this guy for a day and he’s already the most obnoxious person in my life. That’s a lot considering my mom has a revolving door of horrible boyfriends.
Ignoring his poutiness, I hurry into the house to look for Ms. Frazier. I find her already at the kitchen table with Roux with a textbook open. Charlotte, Roux’s new friend she prattled on and on about today on the way here, grins at me.
“I can help too, right, Aunt Karen? I’m good at math like Hollis.” She beams at me. “This is so exciting!”
Roux giggles and it causes tiny cracks to form inside of me. My sister rarely smiles or laughs. The ride home and her incessant talking about a new friend was so out of character for her, Jordy shot several worried glances my way.