Rich Prick – Tijan Page 0,13

like people didn’t know. A video would have been a problem. Then I’d have had to do damage to her, and there was something about her I didn’t want to hurt.

I mean, she was hot, but just this conversation told me she wasn’t worth it. No quick dip or taste. The girl had some severe damage.

And again, not my issue.

At all.

Why the fuck was I still thinking about this? I cursed, shaking my head clear and pulling myself out of whatever the fuck I was doing here.

Sick car, though. I wish I knew her better. I’d ask to drive it.

“Yo.”

I looked over. Jamie and Oliver were heading across the parking lot toward me.

“What’s your deal?” I asked as they approached. “Zeke ask you to keep an eye on me?”

They’d been like my shadow all day, and I didn’t know what they were thinking. That made me wary.

They shared a look.

Jamie shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. I was still standing next to the truck beside where Aspen had parked, and Jamie leaned a shoulder against it. “Zeke didn’t ask us to do anything. We’re just tired of how things have been here.”

Oliver nodded.

Both seemed resigned.

Well. Fuck.

I shook my head. “We’re almost out of here. It’s too late to change anything. This ain’t worth it for you guys.”

Oliver grinned.

Jamie laughed. “Exactly.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

He kicked up from the vehicle and shrugged, glancing back at the school, which was starting to empty of students. “Zeke might’ve done something if you’d pulled this at the beginning of the semester. You pushed back against him. He doesn’t forget that shit—or he doesn’t with us. You might be different, but you got pull. I mean, we’re here. We’ve never backed anyone else, and he knew that’s what we did today. We were backing you. He ain’t going to do shit because it’s almost the end of the year, but man, we got summer left. There’s parties to be had, to throw, to crash. Zeke loves you, and he ain’t ever gonna let you go.”

I grunted. “That makes him sound creepy.”

Oliver shook his head, shrugging. “No offense, but Allen is a bit creepy with you. He always has been. He really does love you, and not like he wants to fuck you. He’s got unconditional, agape-type-shit love for you. He won’t do anything to you, but us he might’ve fucked over. He won’t now. We’re heading into party season. He just wants to go along to get along, ya know?”

Party season. Summertime.

“I’m heading to New York.”

They both laughed. “Then we’re either all coming with you or you ain’t going to be there long.”

I studied them. Zeke had said the same to me a month ago, and my mom had laughed when I told her about my summer plans this morning. Why did everyone doubt that I was going to New York?

“I have to,” I told them. “My non-bio dad is being an asshole to my mom. I need to go make sure he’s not going to mess with her.”

Jamie held his hands up. “Whatever. We’ll come with you for that too.”

“You know Allen’s with you, no matter where you go,” Oliver added. “You won’t be able to get rid of the asshole.”

And as if to prove his point, Zeke came out of the school just at that moment. I noted neither Brian nor Branston was with him, which meant he’d specifically told them to steer clear. He walked across the lot, slowing when he was within talking distance. He kept some space between us, eyeing Jamie and Oliver.

“Hey, man. What’s the deal tonight?”

I let out a breath. I’d not realized I’d been holding it, but it didn’t seem Zeke was going to hold this morning against me. “I’m supposed to do a family dinner. You up for helping me with some distracting?”

His eyes lit up. “Your sister-in-law going to be there?”

Jamie and Oliver started laughing.

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up, douches.”

He was talking about my half-brother’s girlfriend, who was not someone to mess with. My half-brother wasn’t either, but Zeke already knew that. He’d gone against them earlier this year and gotten his car exploded because of it. He’d let bygones be bygones once he found out about my relation to them, but he knew things were dicey between my half-brother and me.

Zeke’s grin turned wicked. “What about your sister? You think her boyfriend will be there? He’s a nice little fighter dude to fuck with. Gets all hot and bothered if he