Rich Prick – Tijan Page 0,40

needed a crew to back him up. That’s what we did for him.”

“Well, gee. Thank you for the history lesson I didn’t ask for. I’ve got to be going now.”

I made a move to walk around him, but he blocked me again, stepping to the side.

He threw his keys up, catching them, but his eyes were still locked over my shoulder. He began to grin. “He never thought it through.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What are you talking about?” I turned to look at what he was seeing, and even I was surprised.

Zeke stood at the edge of the tables, a cup in his hand and his jaw in a firm scowl. He looked ready to march over and beat us down.

Cross laughed low. “He hates the thought of me. I bet he never considered that you and I might get along one day. Why would he? We can’t stand each other, but he doesn’t know what you and I both know.” His eyes turned my way, growing more wary. “We’re stuck with each other for the rest of our lives. You ain’t stuck with that prick.”

I wanted to rub my hand over my face with my middle finger. I refrained. “You getting to a point? Because I’m about at the end of my patience.”

“No point. I just liked stopping you to talk and making your boy all jealous. He came to one of our parties and leered at Bren. Turnabout is fair play, and I’m going to love screwing with him. He hates the thought of losing you as a friend.” He paused, frowning. “Why does he got such a hard-on for you anyway? I saw your confrontation, and we’ve been hearing, even in Roussou, how you’re starting to challenge him. Your boy is a bully. No way is he going to let this go for long, and what then? He gets all his boys to beat you up?”

I stilled.

What the hell?

Was he…?

Yeah. He was.

I winked at him, knowing it’d piss him off. “So that’s what you fuckers are nervous about? That my best friend might give me a beatdown and what? You’ll have to rally for me? ’Cause we’re brothers?”

Cross clenched his jaw. “’Cause Tasmin would never forgive me if I let that go, and yeah, I’ve been to war with your school already. I want an easy summer with my guys and Bren. That’s it. You getting your ass beat by your crowd won’t bode well for us.”

I rolled my eyes and patted his shoulder. “Then you’re off the hook. I get my ass beat, don’t worry. I won’t be calling you for vengeance. I’ve got a whole group of boys in New York who will gladly hop a flight out here to have my back. Unlike you, I don’t have just three people to back me up.” My tone turned mocking. “I have ten times that amount.”

With that, I got in my Wagon and pulled out.

My words echoed in my ears, and I tightened my hold on the steering wheel.

My words had sounded good. They’d sounded confident, but they were empty. I might be able to wrangle up a group to have my back, but that wasn’t the point. Zeke wasn’t the bad guy Cross thought he was, but he wasn’t a great guy either. That’s where I understood him when no one else did, because he and I were the same.

We weren’t all bad.

There were pockets of good in us.

Or maybe that’s just what I told myself as I turned my car toward Aspen’s house.

20

Aspen

Knock, knock!

Keys and phone in hand, backpack on, I paused in my room. I’d been about to head to the store. There was a new camping security system I wanted to check out before buying.

“Yes?”

Miss Sandy opened the door, a frown on her face.

She’d been frowning most the week. I was sure she was on to me and my whole “sickness,” but she’d never said a word. She kept doting on me. I got hot packs, warm washcloths, and tea. I got bowls of chicken noodle soup, boxes of Kleenex, cough drops, medicine for nighttime, and medicine for daytime. You name it, I got it, so I was feeling all sorts of guilt. But my parents were still in LA, so I only had a few more days until I was in the clear.

“Miss Sandy! Hi.”

Her eyes traveled over my jeans, sandals, and tank top.

I was busted.

But after a small sigh, all she said was, “There’s a young man at the gate