Rich Prick – Tijan Page 0,62

to collide.

31

Aspen

“This place is lit! Holy pussy shit.”

“Zeke,” Blaise warned.

“Sorry, but wow.” His mouth hung open, and he hadn’t even stepped into the garage yet. We were still standing in the driveway.

This was a surreal moment for me. I never thought I’d have people over.

Owen was the one who made friends, and I’d thought his were mine—until after. Then it just seemed too much work.

Now I was getting the point. Kinda. But this was also surreal because it was Zeke Allen.

He’d been the most popular guy in our school until Blaise came.

I talked to Miss Sandy and Benny. Both were under strict instruction not to mention my last name. Blaise was worried about Zeke’s freak-out meter. I’d told them not to discuss what my parents did for a living—because again, freak-out meter.

I mean, he might already know but why bring it up? Why make it something when it might not be something. If that even made sense?

He finished gawking at the front of the house, and when he turned to me, his eyes warmed. “Hello there.”

Blaise introduced us, a hand to the small of my back.

Zeke looked me over before throwing Blaise a smirk. “I can see why you’re keeping her to yourself.”

Blaise’s hand pressed harder to my back. “Yeah?”

“You are one fine piece of as—”

“Dude.” Blaise glared.

I felt myself blushing. “Thanks?”

Zeke grinned.

Blaise put his hand on my hip to propel me back inside. “Aspen, you do not have to thank a guy for telling you that. Any other guy who said that would be hitting on you with your man right next to you. That’s not cool.”

Zeke followed us. “But not me. That’s me giving my approval. I can tell you’re nice, and you’re going to take care of my boy for me.”

I almost stumbled, those words were so unexpected, but Blaise caught me. I looked up, and he was smiling. Five minutes in, and I was beginning to see why Blaise liked Zeke.

I never could before.

Zeke proclaimed almost the same sentiments when he met Miss Sandy and Benny, though fortunately he didn’t comment on their looks. And Blaise had given up trying to censor his friend.

After we sat to eat the breakfast spread or to watch Zeke eat, he leaned back and lifted his chin. “So, man, what’s the word? What are we doing today?”

My eyebrows lifted. Not one word had been spoken about what had happened with Blaise last night, and Blaise had been tense. I knew he’d been waiting. With this question, he relaxed. His hand had been gripping the back of my chair, but it eased down and he shrugged.

“I’m thinking that’s up to you.”

Zeke nodded, eyes falling to the table. “Yeah.” Then he looked back up. “Anyone called you today? Your family or…anyone?”

Blaise’s hand stalled on my leg. “Nah, man.”

Zeke went back to studying the table. “You turned your phone off after my call?”

Blaise’s jaw clenched as he leaned forward. “The phone’s on. If you got something to say, say it.”

Zeke didn’t blink. “That piece of shit needs to go to jail.”

My stomach dropped. I froze in my chair.

“He put his hands on you,” Zeke added. “I’ve got a big fucking problem with that. I don’t know if your girl knows about this—” His eyes slid my way, an apology there. “But I’m your best bud, and I fucking love you. You’d be okay if someone did that shit to me?” He nodded at me. “To your girl?”

Blaise’s fingers gripped my leg. He wasn’t hurting me, and he pulled me in closer.

I looked over.

He wasn’t looking at Zeke. And his jaw kept clenching, unclenching, and clenching again.

A wave of sadness pierced me. I felt a tear fall, but I let it go.

My voice was hoarse. “You were beaten?”

“No,” Blaise hissed.

“Yes,” Zeke said at the same time. “‘You beat me, you miserable piece of fuck.’” He paused. “That’s what you said. Locked in closets. He threatened you. He threatened your mom. He used belts on you.” He leaned forward in his seat, his voice dropping low. “If you don’t think those words are going to be permanently engrained in my memory, you’re a fucking moron. You saved me when I was kid, and then you went home and were beaten on by an adult, a parent.” He placed a fist on the table. “Make that fucker pay.”

I closed my eyes.

I couldn’t.

Belts? Locked in closets?

Wave after wave of sadness sliced me.

My entire chest felt like it was caving in.

An adult did that to Blaise? My guy!