22. Andrew
CHAPTER 22
Andrew
SIXTEEN YEARS OLD
“Congratulations, man.” I give Luke a hug, patting him on the back twice.
I’m going to miss this motherfucker when he leaves for college. I’m not too worried. Two more years and I’ll be following in his footsteps. The University of Ravensfield was never on my radar, but now that Luke is going there, I have no choice but to put it on my list. The Palmer boys need to stick together, after all.
Becca runs over to my cousin, both hands wide and greedy for his hug. Grinning, something he only does for her and me, Luke scoops her up and spins her around. It doesn’t matter that he’s still wearing his cap and gown or that his classmates are watching, Luke give Becca the affection of a teenage dad. He only has one goal and one goal only—giving his baby sister the world.
That’s what I admire the most about Luke. When he wants something, he focuses all his energy on achieving that one thing.
I’m not above admitting that my cousin is attractive, at least that’s what the girls at church like to huddle around and gossip about every time he picks Becca up. He’s also crazy smart. I mean, getting a full ride plus being valedictorian? He could’ve spent his high school years utilizing his looks and pulling girls, not that he hasn’t on some occasions, but he invested most of his time hitting the books and taking care of his baby sister, instead.
It’s amazing how much of a non-asshole he turned out to be considering who his dad is. I mean, my dad sometimes drinks and throws a tantrum or two when I don’t do what he tells me, but he’s not a jackass like Uncle Vince. He’s not even here today for his son’s graduation. My dad thinks his secret is safe, but I heard the hushed yelling over the phone this morning. From what I gathered, my uncle was too hungover to come.
“You three ready to go?” Mom asks.
Luke and Becca nod, but I have this uneasiness boiling in my stomach. I don’t want him to go back home and see his dad being the deadbeat that he fucking is. Today is Luke’s day.
“Mom, Dad, do you mind if I hang out with Luke? Maybe you two can take Becca out for ice cream or something.” Don’t want her seeing the abomination that is Vincent Palmer, as well…
Luke cocks an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind?”
“Nothing.” I smile, shaking my head. “Just want to spend time with my favorite cousin before he ditches me, that’s all.”
“So you excited to go to college or are you scared?” I ask with a mouth full of burger and sauce dripping on my fingers.
“I’m scared, man.” His eyes meet mine, and I can see he’s dead serious about this. “I haven’t been anywhere. I didn’t even go on my stupid school trip to DC.”
“DC is so-so anyway,” I mumble, trying to cheer him up. He didn’t go because he was too proud to ask us for money and Vince only had enough to pay for Becca’s field trip that year. “You didn’t miss anything good.” He looks away, smiling, but not really happy, so I try to turn the mood around. I shouldn’t have brought it up knowing their money problems. Luke hates that topic. “You’re going to study accounting. Dude, after you graduate and become rich, you can go to DC. However often you want. Live there, even. Fly first class.”
“I think you’re overestimating how much an accountant makes.” He rolls his eyes. “One step at a time, Andrew. I don’t want to be rich. For now, I’ll settle for being able to take care of my future family.”
“Dude.” I glare at him. “You’re fucking eighteen, not fifty. Live a little. Don’t picture fucking imaginary families in your head and stress out about how to provide for them. Picture dollar bills and bitches.”
“Does Uncle Mike know your future plan is dollar bills and bitches?”
We both laugh. My holier-than-thou dad would put me in a dungeon if he knew I was talking like this.
“Seriously, Luke. You need to become a party animal in college. And that’s an order.”
“No promises, Andrew.”
But I see him warming up to the idea, mulling it over in his head. “You going to get a job while you’re in college?”
“Nah.” He crumples his burger wrapper and tosses it on his plate. “They’re going to give me some money as well for living cost. Not much, but enough.”
“That’s awesome.” I nod, a little bit jealous of my cousin that he’s smart enough someone would give him actual money to study. I tap my temple with my index finger. “Party animal time.”
“Ever since you joined the basketball team, you’ve become a cocky son of a bitch, you know that?” Can’t argue there. “I’ll try my best, asshole.”
“You’re going to have lots of time to save up for your family,” I groan. “God, you’re so mature it’s disgusting.”
Luke shrugs. “I just don’t want my kids to grow up like I did, that’s all.”
“You need to fucking hang out with people your age other than me, seriously. You’re starting to sound like my dad.” I shake my head. “You can think about all the adult crap when you’re thirty or something.”
I try to get Luke to be excited for his new life even though I feel sad on the inside that my best friend is moving. I’m pumped for him. Honestly. I can’t wait until it’s my turn. My plan is to follow Luke to the University of Ravensfield. Everything he does is so amazing. If I had his brains, I’d be an accountant, too, but I don’t, so I’ll settle for the same university. If I succeed, when I join him in two years, maybe he can show me the ropes.