She stares and slowly a smile stretches across her freckled face.
She looks over my shoulder. “Perfect timing, boy.”
Maddoc squeezes past me, kisses Maybell on the head then picks up my two lowly bags, leaving my backpack to me, spins on his heels and walks out, not once looking my way.
I look to Maybell who laughs lightly.
“Go on now.”
“Thanks for uh...” I look around the room. “For having a safe place like this for girls to be. Even the ones who don’t act like it, appreciate this.”
Her eyes grow glossy, so I quickly try for an exit, but she stops me with a gentle hand to my arm.
“You, Raven Carver, are more than you let on too, you know. Believe that and share it with them.”
“With who?”
“Go child,” she whispers and pushes me out of the room, but I slip into the bathroom, waiting for her to pass and then dart back in.
I quickly pull the binder I stole from its hiding space and stuff it in my backpack then rush back out.
Out front, I find Royce standing with the passenger door open, Maddoc in the driver’s seat and Captain hanging out the passenger window.
“Shouldn’t you be at practice or something?”
“No practice today, and we had to make sure you were taken care of first. Kind of our fault you went all Ronda Rousey on the blonde.”
“It was my own fault.”
“Okay, fine,” he laughs lightly. “It was your fault. Just get in, RaeRae.”
“I’m supposed to be waiting for my social worker.”
“We’ll drop you.”
I glance back at Maybell leaning against the frame.
She nods.
I look back to the three.
Fine.
I make my way over and slide in, Royce moving to sit beside me.
And then Maddoc puts the car in drive when it should be in reverse.
“What ... where are you going?”
They ignore me, the SUV slowly rolling down the little dirt road between the trees.
I don’t say anything else, because they won’t answer me anyway, so I sit there like an obedient child and wait.
The truck curves around another set of trees then stops ... in front of a house big enough to rival the President’s.
Literally.
It’s ginormous. Stark white and sitting in the center of a bed of trees, it’s a two-tier home that stretches as wide a solid dozen of these SUVs.
“What are we doing?” I finally ask, but I get no response. My words seem to kick the boys into gear, and they climb out, expecting me to follow.
I step out as well because what the hell else would I do?
But when the boys hit the top step of the wrap-around porch, they all seem to hesitate, unease taking over each one in a different way.
Captain frowns at his feet, Royce rubs at the back of his head as he stares down the path we came, and Maddoc’s pinched gaze is locked on me, his lips pressed firmly together.
“What?”
“We live here.”
“Yeah...” I look between the three, thoroughly confused on this whole situation. “I know.”
“You’ve been back here?” Royce accuses more than asks.
“I said I know, as in I knew you lived back here. One of the girls filled me in, but it’s not like it’s not obvious once you pay attention.”
I look between them again. “What are we doing?”
“Come inside,” Maddoc orders, but not one of them moves.
A laugh bubbles out of me. “Is someone gonna unlock it?”
Captain slowly drags his keys from his pocket and moves forward, but I stop him with a hand to his chest.
“Look, if you don’t want me to go in, I get it. Just take me back to the house or to the county office already. I really don’t care, but stop acting all ... weak and weird. It doesn’t suit you guys at all.”
“Open the door,” comes from Maddoc.
Finally, Captain turns the lock, but I don’t go in. I wait for Captain to go first, then Royce slides past.
I step inside and glance around.
The place is wide open, a huge entryway with some shoes lined up in front of a floor to ceiling mirror that spans along the entire wall. To the left looks like a den and maybe a room or something down the short hallway, pool table and dart board and to the right is the living room. It’s a giant square that opens into a kitchen I can’t quite see other than a couple of bar stools.
There are a couple black leather couches and a coffee table with nothing on it, a giant TV on the wall and a bookshelf with what looks like school books and binders on it.
Tucked in the far back corner of the living room, opposite of the couches is a set of stairs against the wall. They curve around, disappearing about halfway up to where I’m assuming the bedrooms are.
It’s nice, clean for three young guys.
I turn back to the boys, all of whom are staring my way, frowns marring their pretty little faces.
“What?”
Royce looks around then back to me. “Seriously?”
Now I frown.
“Just a nod. Nothing to say about the house?”
“It’s ... big.” I glance up. “Kinda dark for having so many of those.” I point to all the ugly ass, stupid expensive light fixtures that seem out of pace for the sleek look the guys have going on here.
“Big and dark,” Royce repeats.
“You don’t like it,” Captain states.
“What’s not to like?” I shrug, sticking my hands in my sweat’s pockets. “It’s huge, expensive. But it’s, I don’t know ... kinda boring on the inside compared to the out.”
I look to the three and they stare a minute before all three start laughing. A deep, good, hearty laugh that has me taking a deep breath.
Royce’s smile is huge. “I was waiting for a real girly squeal and a ‘this place is amazing, you must be so rich. I always dreamed of such a castle to call home’ or something.”
I laugh lightly. “I don’t squeal and—” I cut myself off. “Wait. What’d you just say?”
“Home sweet home, RaeRae.” Royce crosses his arms over his chest.
“Ha! No.” I back up a step, glancing between the three. “Hell no.”
Maddoc steps closer. “Yes.”
“I’m not—”
“Yeah, you are.”
“I can’t—”
“You can and will.”
“They won’t just let—”
“It’s done.”
I growl and step toward Maddoc. “Interrupt me one more time, big man, and you’ll be sleeping with an ice pack on your jock.”
He gets in my face. “And you’ll be right down the hall in case I need you to massage it for me.”
“You are out of your ever-loving mind if—”
“Just save it, RaeRae, and come on.” Royce grabs my hand and pulls. “So much more to show ya.”
My shoes skid across the hardwood, but he yanks, making me fly forward.
With a growl, I let him drag me along like a dog on a leash.
This shit’s not happening.
I drop onto the bed, covering my face with my hands.
This is not okay.
“Why not?”
I sigh and look up. “Spying?”
“No. You’re thinking out loud.” Maddoc drops in the desk chair across from me.
Yes, there’s a desk and a chair and a fucking brand-new computer in here.
Mine, they say.
“I can’t live here.”
“Why?”
“For one, and it’s a big one, I hardly know you guys.”
“You’ve got your knife.”
When I scowl his lip twitches.
“Two, I owe no one in my life and I like it that way. Moving me into a big house with new shit and a ridiculously comfortable bed” —he chuckles lightly— “is like a lifetime of payback that I don’t have, can’t and don’t w
ant to give.”
“We’re not asking you for anything.”
“Come on, nobody rides for free.” I lift a brow. “Unless they ride for free. Feel me?”
He frowns. “Are you serious?”
“It’s normal where I come from.”
When his jaw clenches, I chuckle.
“I didn’t say I’m guilty of it. I’m just saying ... people don’t do shit to be nice in my world.”
“You’re in our world now.”
The way he says it ... so strong, indefinite. It worries me even more, because deep down I like the way it sounds, and because he’s wrong.
“I may not fall into the category you tried to force me into, but I’m still the outsider. And to be honest, I have to question your guys’ reason. A few weeks ago, you wanted everyone to think I was a dirty bird only to put some protective shield around me the next. Now I’m like the shared rag doll.”
“Thought you didn’t care what they thought?” he snaps.
“I don’t,” I sass back. “I care what I become. We already had a little freaky Friday fun. I’m not looking for another situation where I turn three shades of Jenna Jameson.”
“That won’t happen again.” He glares.
Right. Not like they wanted it to happen, they just had to shut me up.
Annd now I sound like I wanted it to happen. Multiples aren’t my style.
I shake my head.
“For real, Maddoc, I’m not comfortable with this.”
A small grin tips his lips.
“What?”
“Maddoc, huh?” He pushes to a stand and heads for the door. “Sounds like you’re getting more comfortable by the second.” With that, he walks out.
I throw myself back on the bed, and when I hit the comforter-covered mattress, I wiggle.
So soft.
With a sigh, I turn my head, my eyes landing on the window. Curiosity gets the best of me and I move toward it. I finger the fancy fabric hanging in front of it, it’s not a material I’ve felt before. Almost silky but still has texture.
I push them aside and glance out, groaning as I do.
The window is wide and looks out over a fresh and green orchard. Nothing but trees and a blue-sky line to follow for miles.
It’s freeing.
“The back of the property goes on for about three miles.”
I turn to find Royce now walking in.
“There’s a heated pool, hot tub and basketball court out there you can use at any time.” He throws himself on the bed and does the same wiggle move I did.
“Damn, this thing is nice.” He looks to me with a grin that quickly morphs into a frown. “What’s the problem?”
“I can’t stay here.”
“Don’t start. Look at all this.” He waves his hands around the room without bothering to sit up. “It’s more than you had at the Bray house.”
“It’s more than I’ve had ever.” I flick at the curtains. “Never even had these, we had old sheets tacked to our windows to keep the sun out.”
“I tried to hang my Spiderman sheets to my window when I was a kid, Maybell ‘bout whooped my ass.”
I laugh lightly and move to drop on the mattress beside him.
“I don’t understand any of this, Royce. Don’t get why you guys go out of your way to have me around. Don’t know if I should go with it or fight it. Don’t know a damn thing.”
There’s a nagging in the back of my head telling me I’m missing something.
Royce’s hand comes down to grab mine and he lifts it.
I look to him.
“Don’t fight us. Stay.”
“Come downstairs.”
We both look to the doorway to see Maddoc standing there. His face is blank as it shifts from Royce to me and then he turns and walks away.
Royce stands. “I think I’ll place a bet.”
“What kind of bet?” I step in line with him and head down the stairs.
“On how long it’ll take before he jumps your bones.”
I scoff, whispering, “Not exactly convincing me to stay, Royce.”
“Who you kiddin’, RaeRae?” He puts his arm around my shoulder. “We both know you’re staying. No reason to not and you got shit to go back for.”
“How do you know? Maybe I have a secret love child I’m hiding away.”
Royce tenses lightly and a tight chuckle leaves him. “Funny, but a lie.”
The other two are sitting on the couch so we make our way over. I go to drop on the coffee table but stop halfway down and straighten again, making them laugh. “My bad.”
“You can sit on it, doubt your ninety-pound self could break it,” Captain says.
I go ahead and sit. “Far from ninety pounds, but thanks?”
Nobody says anything for a few seconds, and it gets awkward.
“Okay so...” I roll my wrist to get them talking so we can get this over with.
“That was your mom.”
“Wow, jumping right into it, huh?”
“Raven.”
I square my shoulders and look between the three. “Obviously, yes. That woman who doesn’t reflect a day over twenty-five and looks like she stepped straight off the set of Whores-R-Us, is my mother. Every dirty and used, cocaine infused inch of her.”
“Don’t get defensive. We only want to understand better. With your staying here, we need to know.”
“So you set me up to stay in your house in exchange for my life fucking story. Hard pass.”
“Look, this is a free fucking place for you to be. Nothing will be expected of you here as far as earning your keep and all that. But there will be a few things you need to agree to.”
“I don’t need a place to lay my head at night, big man. I lay where I land. Always have. Don’t sit there acting like you’re doing me a huge favor by sticking me in your tower.”
He completely ignores me. “Your mom. Why is she here? Maybell talked to social services, she wasn’t given the go-ahead to get you. She wasn’t even given your location. How did she find you?”
“I don’t know how she found me, and cleared to get me back or not, she wouldn’t try to. She never wanted me to begin with. I was a means to a monthly check.”
“And that check’s gone.”
“She’s inventive when it comes to money.”
“And when she can’t?”
“She’s a whore, Maddoc. She’s always up for a trade.”
He eyes me. “What’d she want, Raven?”
“Don’t. You want me to stay here? Fine, big man, I’ll stay, but only if you stop acting like you make the calls. We’re not on the court, I’m not your teammate and you’re not my captain. I’ll come and go as I please, do what I want and when, and if not, I leave. And if you’re thinking ‘bullshit’ remember ... you guys can’t be stuck to my hip at all times. You have practice, you have games, and you have your Brayshaw shit to handle, whatever that includes. If I decide to take off, it’ll be easy.” I shift to stand, but Maddoc does first.
He glares down at me. This guy has perfected the art of intimidation. Not unlike my mother, he uses his body to get what he wants – fear, fight ... frisky.
It’s all written in the way he moves, carved in those cavernous eyes of his.
He’s angry, but he doesn’t understand the source, so frustration is what lines his forehead in wrinkles, and irritation holds his lips firmly together.
Big man’s not used to whatever it is that’s going on inside him.
“You won’t fight. You won’t leave, and you won’t go near that woman again if one of us isn’t with you, mother or fucking not.” He snatches his keys off the side table and slams the front door on his exit.
“Well.” Royce smacks a hand down on the couch arm. “That went better than I expected.”
“Really?”
“Yeah ... see, he only tipped the iceberg ‘cause you got him all hot and heated – yes there’s a difference – but there are some more things you’ll need to agree
to.”
“Like?” I snap.
“No drugs in the house – liquor is fine. No breaking shit if you get mad. You can’t be bringing people here, dude or chick. You need to fuck, do it at their place or somewhere not here, you could even get it in at the party pad – though, maybe talk to Maddoc on that one, he’s prolly got a different rule for yah.”
“Fuck off.”
He winks. “For real, though. We have another spot for all that, it’s our chill pad. We invite people there or to the places we book out for parties, you’ll have a room there like us. But we don’t like people in our house. This place is ours.” His eyes narrow, and just as I’m about to pop up and walk off, his chin lowers in respect, taking me by surprise. “And now yours. Outsiders don’t belong.”
“We also eat dinner together every night.” I look to Captain. “No exceptions.”
I force my face to stay blank. “Anything else?”
Neither say anything, both searching for my reaction based decision.
They don’t get one.
I stand, bow to be an asshole, and head up the stairs to what is now apparently my new room.
I lock the door and dig my MP3 player and knife from my bag. After kicking off my shoes, I toss my sweater to the floor and climb onto the bed. I put my earbuds in, turning up the volume as loud as it will go.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath.
These boys, they think I’ll follow their rules.
They’re wrong.
I drop my fork and lean back in the chair. “I have a rule of my own.”
Royce’s drink stops halfway to his mouth, Captain stops chewing, and Maddoc slams his silverware down.
“Let’s hear it, RaeRae,” Royce carefully states.
“Nobody finds out I’m staying here. They can guess and assume all they want, can’t stop that, but no confirmations. They ask, you deny, I do the same.”
There’s a beat of silence to follow, but it’s quickly filled with the scrape of Maddoc’s chair and the shake of the table as he storms off like a child for the second time today. I glance back to his boys, finding both wearing the same goofy expression.
“What?” I snap.
“Should have expected that, but this is all still new for us too,” Royce says.
“I’m not following.”
“Can’t name a single person, who in your position, would ask for something like that. In fact, pretty sure everyone we know would have hit tonight’s party already just to spread the word.”
Boys of Brayshaw High Page 22