Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“Is everything okay with him?” I ask, mainly because any trouble Austin causes can have an effect on the rest of the family, and that’s the last thing anyone wants.
“He has a parole hearing coming up in a few months and I guess he wants to see Dad beforehand. I don’t know. I’ve gone past the stage of asking questions or caring.”
Unlike Adam, Austin is far from the golden boy of the family. Currently serving time behind bars for getting mixed up in some kind of messy drug-dealing business, he’s hardly ever mentioned or talked about in the Nelson household. It’s as if he no longer exists. Adam’s mother, for sure, feels the consequences of her oldest son’s felonies the most. I feel for him a little, but then I guess if you get mixed up in things and break the law, you have to deal with the repercussions.
“I’m sorry, Adam,” I tell him. “I know you hate your brother for what he put your family through.”
Adam shrugs as he stands up, pulling me up with him. “It is what it is, Thea, and it’s not gonna ruin our night. Let’s go mingle with the others.” He gives me a quick kiss on the lips and leads me out of my room, effectively closing the subject.
We make our way downstairs where the house is quickly filling up with members of the hockey team and some of our other classmates. I quickly introduce Adam to Devon and leave them chatting while I go into the kitchen to get us a couple of drinks. In the corner, I spot Millie talking to Nolan and it confirms my thoughts that they’d make a great couple; they look so good together. I give them a quick wave before grabbing two Solo cups and fill one up with beer for Adam and the other with the fruit punch Millie made earlier for myself.
“So, you don’t drink hot chocolate, but sweet and sickly fruit punch is okay?” a deep voice says behind me.
I turn around to see Kyler standing in the kitchen looking at me with a hint of amusement on his face. I’m momentarily shocked, because this is Kyler, the same roommate who doesn’t socialize, like ever, is scarce at breakfast and is never around during dinner. Yet here he is, on a Friday night, attending a party at the house.
“Hey, I may eat healthy, but I’m not a saint!” I reply once I’ve regained my composure. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
Kyler raises one shoulder in a lazy shrug. “I may be a loner, but I don’t lack all social skills,” he says, mimicking the style of my response. “Besides, Jude said this party was your housewarming, so here I am, welcoming you to the house.”
“Well, I appreciate it. Maybe you could even push the boat out and join us for dinner one day this week?”
“Don’t push your luck.” He smiles and reaches around me to grab one of the bottles of water on the counter behind me.
“Hey babe, what’s taking you so long?” Adam says behind me as he loops his arms around my waist and pulls me toward him. I look at Kyler and immediately see his guard is back up as tension rolls off his body. His shoulders are hunched tautly, and one hand is fisted by his side, while the other holds the bottle of water tightly.
“Oh hey,” Adam continues. “I’m Adam, and you are . . .?”
Kyler doesn’t offer an introduction, so I step in, trying to dispel the awkward tension steadily arising. “This is Kyler, my fourth roommate. Kyler’s also on the team with Jude and the others. Kyler, this is Adam, my boyfriend from back home.”
As soon as I mention the word boyfriend, Kyler’s jaw starts ticking and I immediately know I’ve lost the glimpse of the playful, social Kyler who was just starting to appear from his cocoon. He nods once in Adam’s direction before replying.
“Good to meet you. Excuse me, I’ve gotta go make a call.” He turns around abruptly and almost marches out of the kitchen toward the stairs, running up them two at a time.
“Nice guy,” Adam says sarcastically, and I don’t blame him. Kyler’s given him nothing but standoffish vibes, even though I know there’s a different, more caring side to him under the layer of attitude he’s suddenly developed.
“He’s got a lot going on,” I say, already making excuses for his behavior.
“Not an excuse to be rude. He looks familiar; have I met him before?”
“I don’t think so. I mean, he’s on the team, so you’ve likely seen him when we watched one of Jude’s matches last year?” I reply. I know for certain, until I moved here, I’d never been introduced to Kyler before. I would have remembered a brooding, scowling face, and an unpredictable, monosyllabic personality like his for sure.