I usually clean up after a party before she gets here, but I was distracted this time. “Yeah, I will. But how do you figure this is a me problem?”
Connie moves to the other side of the kitchen, strategically stepping around the heap of solo cups and empty beer bottles, then she looks to me with a shrug. “Superalo.”
“I can’t get over it. I have nothing to get over, they do. Connie, I’m not wrong here.”
“Mi amor, you may not see it the way they are, but I promise you, it’s two against one—this is a you problem.’”
I cross my arms over my chest. “So, you’re saying I’m wrong?”
She looks up to me, her brown eyes smiling. “Si, now you hear me. Good, glad we talk. Ahora, ve limpio, andale.”
I groan and make my way to the cupboard pulling out the garbage bags. “Isn’t this what we employ you for?” My back’s turned to Connie, so I don’t see the shoe flying Mach three at my head. “Ow, what the—” When I turn to look at her, she’s standing there with a look the devil himself would fear. “I was kidding.”
“Yeah, ahora, it’s three against one.”
I let out a sigh. I know she doesn’t mean it, although she would have every right to be mad. But Connie knows me, and apparently, she may be the only one.
The next few days turtle by with not a word from my brother or Jordan. Evidently, they’re holding out longer than usual this time. As I make my way through the quad, I spot Jordan with redhead deep in conversation.
He can’t be serious? He does know that the do-gooder charity work doesn’t have to carry on past the initial occurrence, right?
I walk toward them. It isn’t until I’m just ten feet away that redhead notices me. She taps Jordan on the arm then nods in my direction. He looks up and stands instantly to his feet, pulling her up and whispering something to her. She sneaks a glance over to me then like it’s as normal as breathing she gives him a soft kiss on the lips before walking off.
When I reach Jordan, he just shakes his head. “Don’t even start, Dylan.”
“What? I wasn’t going to say anything,” I reply with a chuckle.
“Yeah, you were. You can’t help yourself.”
I let out a dry laugh. “Jordan, man, you’re paranoid. I wasn’t going to say a word. But now that you brought it up, you do know that I slept with her, right? Like just a couple of weeks ago, she was spread out on my bed and screaming my name.”
“You can’t help it, can you? Dylan, don’t you ever get tired of this constant act you put out there?”
“Who says it’s an act?”
Jordan’s the one to laugh now. “You forget, I know you. This jackass bravado isn’t you, man. Sure, we play it out like that, but lately, with you, it’s over the top and honestly, getting real old.”
“You act like you’re not just like me. Like every weekend, you weren’t there right by my side, working the angles and laying on the charm.”
He nods. “Yeah, sure. I won’t deny I liked playing the field and did it often, but I was never a dick. It’s done, Dylan. We’re twenty-two, and for the past four years, we’ve been laying it down like freshman with not a shit in the world to give. But I’m done. I want more.”
I take a step back. Who the hell is this, and where’s Jordan? “Are you saying that you want to marry this chick?”
He lets out an exasperated breath. “Why is everything with you all or nothing? Better yet, why do you have to know the outcome of every situation before you decide to jump in?” He lets out another breath grabbing his bag off the table. “Look, I have no idea what’s going to happen with Ava, and that’s the best part—we’re just taking time to get to know one another. Am I going to marry her? Maybe or maybe not, who knows? What I do know is that she’s a great girl, and I’ve been enjoying spending time with her and intend to do more of it.”
“So, what we’re done?”
He shakes his head. “See, all or nothing. That’s up to you, man. I’m here, and for now, Ava’s going to be right here with me. Either you accept that and treat her with respect or give me a shout when you decide to grow up.”
Jordan gives me one last look with a nod then turns to leave. He makes it just pass the far side then turns back. “Oh, and Dylan, you might want to consider the same thing for Chase and his friend Velyn, or you may just end up temporarily shut out of his life too.”
Heading to the parking lot, after a moment, I can see him take Ava into a hug then walk off hand in hand. I have no idea what’s gotten into him, but the one thing I do know is when he comes crawling back in tears begging for me to accept his apologies, I just may not be there to listen.
Chapter 8 Velyn
Chase and I have been sitting in the school library for what seems like hours now, and sadly the only thing I’ve accomplished is to frustrate myself even more.
“Why is it that every time I think I got it, I don’t?” I let out a groan as Chase sits opposite me, chuckling.
“That would be because you keep forgetting the formula. Velyn, the math itself is correct. You’re just getting the formula all backward.”
I look to boy genius feeling defeated. “I’m never going to remember it. I’m
