Rocking Kin (Lucy & Harris, #3) - Terri Anne Browning Page 0,100
the large instrument and my arms are about to fall off from the endless cadence and drumline drills during class today. She asked me to pick a more feminine instrument if I was determined to be in the band when I started in the sixth grade, but I love the drums.
“Well that’s good, sweetie,” she says, biting a piece of the biscuit.
There’s an awkward silence between us. It’s no secret in this house that I’m the odd man out. I’m somewhat of a geek, I play in the band and I tend to like being by myself. The weird part is that gives me an edge. I have a secret life that no one in my family or small town know about. Well, my friend Clementine knows, but she’s the only one.
My brother follows in the steps of my father. The only difference - my father was a great football player. My brother is an above average football player. But the rest is the same, a different girl every weekend and average grades. Yeah, the well isn’t very deep there.
My sister follows in the patterns of my mom. The girl that pushes her parent’s boundaries, is a decent student and a cheerleader. Although she’s still in middle school, I see her life going a lot like my mom’s. Find a guy in this small town, get a two year degree from the junior college and raise kids while he slowly resents the life she’s thrust upon him, and while she secretly hates him.
The sound of the door from the garage opening pulls me from my miserable thoughts. James comes jogging in, freshly showered. “Hey, Mom! Sorry, I had to stay after with Coach and talk to a player.”
She smiles at him with all the pride in her face. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re the captain, you have a job to do. Come on, you’ve got to be starving. I’ll fix you a plate.” Yep, he’s gotta job to do. There’s your atta boy.
James parks himself in one of the ladder-back chairs at the rustic farm table in our small dining room. She hands him a plate that’s over filled. “Thanks, Mom!” he says, smiling with way too many teeth.
I look down at my plate which I fixed. I should forget seconds, I guess.
James laughs. “Mom, this is way too much food.”
“Baby, you’re burning tons of calories playing football. You need to eat.” She motions to his plate.
“Did you leave some for everyone else?” he asks with a small laugh.
She sighs. “Whenever your father shows up, there’s some left for him. Janae will bitch about anything I do anyway so she can fix something for herself.”
Mom gets up from the table and goes to the other room. James looks at me with a questioning glance. I speak softly, “Janae came home with stripper blonde hair. Mom is not happy. Dad’s down at the bar…nuff said.”
“Oh wow, Janae is an idiot.” He snorts as he starts shoveling food in his mouth. I’m not even positive that he’s chewing. It’s kinda gross. My brother might be a little more spoiled than me, but he’s still my big brother. “Oh,” he says, smiling at me with a mouth full. “I need a favor.”
I sigh, sitting back in my chair. “What now?” Everyone fucking owes me one. I’m not the one who ever needs favors. My brother and his damn charming smile. He has this Zac Efron look about him that generally gets him whatever he wants.
“Okay, the reason I was late coming home today was because of Collin Atwood,” he says quietly.
I whisper back. “What, do you need me to keep it a secret that you’re gay or something? Pass him a note during study hall? Help you break the news to Dad?”
He rolls his dark green eyes. “He needs a tutor in English and Geometry. I was tasked with finding him someone who would help him, not do it for him. You’re one of the smartest people I know, so you can teach him. I just know it. Also, someone who won’t be…a distraction,” he says matter of fact like. “Come on, sis, you’d be doing me a solid. I’ll owe you one.”
“I do have a life, you know,” I blurt out. He rolls his eyes. “Why don’t you just have one of the Bs or maybe those dumb chicks that give him morning blow jobs help out?”
He shakes his head, getting irritated. “Didn’t you hear what I said? Someone who’ll teach him and