35. Mac
MAC
I happen to be walking down the hallway when Darian and Charli stop together by the bathroom door. He’s just coming out, and she’s walking past. They pause to have a little chat, and I narrow my eyes as I watch them. Something feels kind of off, and I can’t put my finger on what it is.
I heard about the eyebrow thing and thought it was fucking hilarious. Darian has always cared too much about his looks, and I needed to see his humiliation for myself.
The second I spot that hairless patch on his face, I nearly laugh out loud, but the sound is stolen because my suspicions are growing. Maybe they’ve been brewing all weekend. I don’t even know if I was aware of it, but it’s pretty fucking clear right now. These two are up to something.
I narrow my eyes even more as they head toward the stairs. They haven’t noticed me and are whispering together and… what are they up to?
If it’s payback on Nix, I definitely want to see that.
But I don’t think it will be. Charli wouldn’t let that happen. Would she?
I pick up my pace, trying to keep my steps light so they don’t notice me, but Charli glances over her shoulder when I reach the top of the stairs and gives me a tight smile.
“Hey.”
“Morning,” I greet her, following them into the kitchen.
The mood in the house is kind of somber. Darian’s bringing everyone down with his shitty attitude over a really funny prank. It’s an eyebrow, for fuck’s sake. It’ll grow back.
It could also be the fact that half of us are hungover. My head’s got a dull, fuzzy ache, and Ben’s looking worse for wear. I didn’t realize he got wasted last night. In fact, I hardly saw him at the party. Wasn’t he tucked away with his woman?
Where is she now?
I glance around the space, then watch the way he’s preparing food for one. Has she left already?
Checking Ben’s face, I’m suddenly wondering if he’s not hungover at all. Something must have happened with her this morning or sometime in the night. Did they have a fight?
Should I ask about it?
What? No! Mind your business, man.
I turn away from the guy and open the fridge door, pulling out milk for my cereal. I may be a grown-ass man, but I still like me some Cocoa Puffs. Don’t judge. I wouldn’t eat them during the season. They’re just a vacation food.
Plunking down at the table, I pour myself a massive bowl and soak it in milk before crunching down the chocolatey treat.
My eyes dart left and right as I quietly assess the room.
I’ve been doing that my whole life. It’s a good way to gauge what battle you’re in for each day or who wants to use you for their latest scheme.
But no one seems to be talking. Sawyer’s cooking eggs, Jimmy’s doing his Tai Chi shit on the deck, and Nix is on the other side of the room, sipping something hot and ignoring everybody.
There are still a few party stragglers milling about, and Adonis is muttering under his breath and rubbing his forehead like he was hit with a baseball bat.
“Advil’s in the bathroom.” I point to the one downstairs, and he heads toward it, moving like a snail.
Seriously. People really can’t handle their liquor around here.
“So, what’s the deal with today? When’s everyone heading home?” Sawyer starts dishing up eggs for him and his buddies. “Are we gonna do something around here first or—”
“We need to allow time for cleanup.” Ben takes a sip of his drink, then plunks into his seat, his lips turned down.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll call the cleaning service who deals with this place,” I tell him.
Ben frowns and looks around. “It’s a mess in here, man. I wouldn’t want to leave anyone to have to deal with this on their own.”
I shake my head and assure him, “They’re a team of people, and I’ll pay them extra. They won’t mind. Seriously.”
The guy looks doubtful, and I roll my eyes.
I guess he can clean shit if he wants to, but I’m not doing it.
And the cleaning team who comes here gets paid really well.
I’ll never take people who do that kind of work for granted.
They’ll appreciate the bonus. At least, I think they will. I’ll definitely pay extra.
“I’m not quite ready to leave yet.” Charli darts her eyes at Darian. “We should stick around. Go for a hike or play some games or something.”
Someone on the floor groans, like the idea of any of that lame shit is too much.
Charli rolls her eyes and looks at Darian again, giving her head a quick shake.
He lets out a soft snort through his nose and takes the plate of eggs Sawyer hands him.
I watch them carefully, my suspicions rising even more when Charli starts up a game of Would You Rather.
People unenthusiastically get involved, but my hunch spikes when she starts throwing out questions like “Would you rather spend your evenings studying so you’ll ace your grades or partying until three in the morning?
” or “Would you rather cook a smelly curry or burritos?” or “Would you rather listen to death metal or rap?” or “Would you rather watch The Big Bang Theory or The Office?”
She works through about ten of these questions, and she’s honestly listening to each answer like it matters.
What the fuck are you up to, Charli Gomez?
I watch the siblings carefully for the next hour or so, and when Charli tips her head at Darian and they sneak away to the downstairs office, I follow them.
Leaning my head against the door, I listen in for a second.
“I can’t handle death metal, so Remi is out. That still leaves three spaces. What’s your gut saying?”
Those little schemers. Did they get a house for the year?
Well, fuck me. This weekend has just been one big audition.
Shitheads.
Pushing the door open with my shoulder, I slip inside and quickly shut it behind me.
They both flinch, and I walk toward them with my arms crossed, eyeing them both up. Charli swallows and looks at the floor, while Darian scratches the spot above his nonexistent eyebrow.
“What’s up, guys?” I dart my gaze between them.
Charli shrugs. “Nothin’ much.”
“We’re having a private conversation here, man.” Darian raises his chin toward the door, but I ignore him and just get straight to the point.
“Do you guys have a house off campus this year?”
They both blink at me like I’m a genius for figuring it out, and they seriously were not expecting me to be a genius.
I’m not, though. I’m just observant.
“Cool.” I bob my head. “I want in.”
I don’t know exactly why I want this. I have a sweet little place near the football stadium, and my current roommate is so quiet you barely know he lives there.
Maybe that’s it. I’m sick of living with someone who I don’t interact with.
A house full of basketball guys. That could be fun.
I nod again. “I let you use this place as your little testing ground, so I should get automatic entry.”
Charli rolls her eyes and starts shaking her head.
What’s her problem?
I’d be an awesome roommate.
And they can’t stand in here discussing everyone behind their backs and expect me not to mind.
“So, how many rooms is it?”
Charli bites her lips together, and Darian gives me a dubious frown before muttering, “Six.”
“Dee.” Charli scowls at him.
“What? He’s not stupid.”
I let out a harsh snicker and continue to ignore the fact that Charli doesn’t want me in on this thing. Well, I don’t give a shit.
I don’t know what her problem is with me, but she’ll have to get over it or I’m gonna tell every person in this house what they’ve been up to.
“So it’ll obviously be you two plus Sawyer. I’ll take the fourth room, and that leaves two. I say you ask Jimmy.”
“Jimmy?” Charli gives me a skeptical frown.
“Yeah, he’s good people.” My voice gets tight as I defend my friend. She better not insult his ass.
“But… wouldn’t he hate it? He’s looked like he’d rather eat slugs than be here all weekend.”
I work my jaw to the side, then softly explain, “He needs this. And he’ll be the best roommate. Have you seen how thoughtful the guy is? Plus, he respects peoples’ spaces and privacy.” I point a thumb over my shoulder.
“And he does look pretty hot doing shirtless Tai Chi,” Charli admits with a head tip and a quirk of her lips.
Darian frowns at her.
“What?” She bulges her eyes at him. “I’m only looking.”
“Who else are you thinking?” I ask. “I’ll help you narrow down the list.”
Scrunching up her nose, Charli refuses to answer me, while Darian crosses his arms, looking just as stubborn.
“Really?” I raise my eyebrows at them both. “You want to play it like this? You want me to go out there and announce to everyone what you’ve been up to?”
Charli narrows her eyes at me.
“You know half that room would want in on this thing. And you know that one bad roommate can ruin it for everyone. Don’t force me to screw this up for you.”
Darian huffs and looks at his sister, who finally answers me.
“Ben. I’m thinking Ben.”
My face bunches. “Why?”
“Because he cleans up after himself… and everybody else. He’ll keep the place tidy.”
“So you’re just gonna turn him into your personal slave?” I seethe, unable to hide my disgust. Sure, I’ve grown up with people cleaning up after me, but they get paid well. I would never expect anyone to do it for free, and I doubt Ben’s the type of guy to accept payment.
“Of course not,” Charli growls. “But he can help keep the rest of us organized.”
“And he’s not some reckless asshole who jumps off roofs.” Darian’s voice is low and dark.
Shit, he looks pissed.
I cross my arms and stare right back at him. “What the fuck is your problem with that? I’ve done it before.”
Charli closes her eyes and grits out, “Our dad fell off a roof in college, and he’s been in a wheelchair ever since.” When her eyes pop back open, she levels me with a glare that almost makes me feel guilty.
I look between them, working my jaw to the side before nodding once. “I didn’t know. It won’t happen again.”
They keep staring at me, and now I’m feeling uncomfortable, so I spin for the door.
Grabbing the handle, I pause and murmur, “Pick who you want, but I’m telling you Jimmy’s good people.
You won’t regret that decision. And I don’t care what you think of me.
I want in, or I’m blowing the lid on this thing. ”
Flinging the door back, I stalk into the living area feeling kind of stormy.
Why?
I don’t even fucking know.
Pausing, I rest my shoulder against the wall and stare into the living area, unnoticed.
Jimmy and Ben are now in the kitchen, cleaning up after everybody.
I imagine what it’d be like to live with them and understand why Charli’s liking Ben.
Although he’s kind of boring, he is a nice guy, and he’s responsible.
He doesn’t need this as bad as Jimmy does… I’m guessing.
But maybe having a guy like him in the house would be good for Jimmy too.
I know Charli and Darian don’t want me after the roof incident, but they’ll have to get over it.
Shit, I had no idea about their dad. People need to tell me these things.
I kind of hate that I had to threaten to expose them if they didn’t invite me, but sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.
I want to move in with these people.
I don’t even know why.
I’ve got a sweet gig right now, but… the idea of living with some of these guys… I don’t know, it just sits right.
I’ve always been a bit of a lone wolf, not wanting to attach myself to anybody, but it’s Jimmy’s sophomore year, and he’s still got a long way to go in finding himself.
Living with the guy would be fun, and I could crack that shell around him even more.
And Sawyer’s and Charli’s pranks crack me up.
Darian can be a douche, but he’s also a good guy.
I can see myself in a house with these people, and it feels like the injection I need to get me fired up for another year at Nolan.