Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
My mom laughs. “Sorry, sweetie, you got all my best and worst traits.” Her expression softens and grows serious. “You can talk to me. You know that, right? Whatever it is, I’m always going to be on your side.”
I nod and glance up at the roof. There’s some kind of stain above my head. I don’t want to know what it is or how it got there. “So, you know how we decided I’d live with Mav and River so I could get settled this year instead of moving into the dorms?”
“Let me guess, living with your brothers is a nightmare?”
I blink a few times, shocked by her reaction. Although maybe I shouldn’t be. This is my mom we’re talking about. She and I have always been a united front against the endless testosterone and smelly sports equipment. Or Robbie’s horrible science experiments. “Um, well, it’s not exactly what I would call fun.”
“Because they’re overprotective slobs who like to party too much and the house is always full of half-drunk jocks?” she offers.
“Uhhh . . . yes to all of the above?”
“I figured as much. Your brothers are idiots, by the way. Just between you and me, I follow them on social media under a fake account, and all of their friends, so I see pretty much everything they do.”
“Oh my God.” I slap a palm over my mouth. “How have they not noticed that?”
“Because it’s a catfish account. I use stock photos of hot girls in bikinis.” She rolls her eyes.
“You’re a genius.”
“Just sneaky.” She tips her head to the side. “So, this hasn’t been the dream scenario we all envisioned?”
“Not really, no. I actually put myself on the waiting list for the dorms.”
“I can understand keeping your options open.”
“And today I got a notification that a room is available.”
My mom nods slowly, almost as though this isn’t a surprise. “Kody wouldn’t happen to be a factor in you wanting out of there, would he? And before you give me a high-pitched no, I’ve already seen that picture of you two from last night.”
“Oh shit.”
She hmms and rubs her bottom lip. She always does that when she talks to me, probably because of the scar on mine. “It didn’t look much like a friendly, ha-ha, let-me-carry-you-into-the-house-so-we-can-get-all-cozy-with-each-other situation.” Her voice is purposely light, but her concern bleeds through.
I sigh. “I pissed him off.”
“I gathered. What happened? And was that a thong bikini?”
I can feel the fire in my cheeks. My mom isn’t nearly as excessive with the overshares as Gigi, but she has zero problem addressing sometimes uncomfortable topics.
“Gigi got it for me for pre-Cancun tanning.”
“Of course. I need to have a talk with her.” My mom rolls her eyes. “So, I’m guessing the bare-ass show was meant to get someone’s attention.”
“Mom.”
“Well, you’re not much of an exhibitionist, so I assume you were doing it to make a point.”
I blow out a breath and explain what happened—not all of what’s been happening, but the part about Kodiak seeing my schedule and then magically appearing in my art class to pose as our nude model.
“Nude as in . . .”
“As in swinging free.”
“Really? Kody vomits before games, and he got naked in front of your class?”
“How do you know he pukes before games?”
“Rook and your dad talk, and your dad tells me everything before he falls asleep.”
“Oh, well, yeah. He was totally naked. For almost three full hours.”
“Huh.” My mom taps her lips. “That’s an interesting way to communicate your undying love for someone.”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes. “He was being a dick.”
My mom gives me a look and drops her head, snickering like a teenage boy, which is roughly the level of her sense of humor.
“Seriously, Mom.”
“Oh, come on! It’s kind of funny.”
“Well, it might be if he wasn’t a complete asshole to me all the time.”
That seems to sober her. “It’s that bad?”
I shrug. “I know things were messed up when we were kids, but it’s been years. I don’t get why he needs to keep reminding me I messed up his life.”
“You didn’t mess up his life, Lavender.”
“Well, he’s very intent on making me feel that way. And don’t you dare tell Lainey I said that. The last thing I need is Lainey telling Kodiak he needs to be nice to me. Then I’m the sucky baby who runs to Mommy when I can’t handle it,” I snap.
“Talking to your mother doesn’t make you a sucky baby.”
I kind of love how offended she sounds.
I point at her two-dimensional face on the screen. “Do not tell her.”
She scowls. She really, really hates pointing, which I did a lot of as a kid. “I won’t, but I wish you’d said something to me before we agreed to let him move into the house, even temporarily. Lainey and I thought we were doing the two of you a favor, and I don’t believe Kodiak thinks you messed up his life.”