“Okay,” I told him. “Let me start school, figure out my community service hours, and I’ll decide then.”

“Sounds very responsible of you.”

I could hear the smirk over the phone. “Har har.”

He chuckled. “Okay, seriously. Don’t stab anyone.”

“Will do, captain.”

“And don’t be a smartass.”

“You’re pushing it.” I was teasing, and smiling. I didn’t even recognize myself.

He barked out a laugh. “I gotta go. Do me one last big favor?”

“Yeah?”

“I want to know what you’re doing for community service by the end of next week. You have to get on that. I mean it. You time is running out. You have to get it in for court approval or you’re in violation. They’ll take you to juvie if you don’t.”

“Okay.” Off to find Taz. “I’ll start today.”

“And I want you home at a decent time tonight.”

“Decent?” That’d mean eleven or midnight in most families.

“Two in the morning,” he said. “I want to know where you’re going tonight. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“Okay. Love you.”

I repeated the phrase back to him, hung up, and considered my surroundings.

I could be lazy. I could read, watch a movie, go back to sleep. Or I could go to Jordan’s, knowing the guys would be there. But I must’ve really embraced the responsible side of me, because I found myself heading back to my room. I showered, dressed in ripped jeans and a black tank top, and grabbed the keys to one of Channing’s extra trucks. He had a few, but all of them were here. He must’ve taken a Harley to work today.

Before driving to Cross and Taz’s house, I stopped at the gas station for coffee and a couple energy drinks. It wasn’t long after the before I was pulling into their driveway.

Hearing laughter from the backyard, I walked in the front door without knocking. “Taz?”

It was cool inside. The patio doors were open and a breeze wafted in, mixing with the smell of tanning oil and chlorine from the pool. I heard a door slide open, then Taz called, “Yeah! I’ll get rum.”

The door shut again, and she grumbled, “You’d think the world was dying if they lost their buzz.”

I started for the kitchen until I heard the door open behind her.

“That was a little louder than you might’ve meant,” a male voice told her.

“What?” She sounded alarmed.

A low chuckle.

I recognized Race.

“I heard you,” he said. “No one else.”

Taz groaned. “Sunday would’ve chewed my head off.” She laughed. “I must be more buzzed than I realized.”

They couldn’t see me, but I heard hands sliding on clothes, a soft sigh…aaaaannd they were making out. She moaned.

I shifted back on my heel. This was awkward.

To move and deal with this now? Or not move and still deal with this now? Okay. There was my answer. I was going to deal.

I coughed, my first signal to them.

Race heard. “What the—”

I walked around the last doorframe. “Hey there.” I held up a hand and offered a stiff smile.

He seemed frozen, his hands on Taz’s waist. His dark hair had grown a little. It was wet and sticking up. He wore red swimming trunks and nothing else. Taz had on a white wrap that was translucent enough for me to see her red bikini underneath. Her sunglasses were pushed up over her forehead, and her hair was pulled back into a French braid.

If I hadn’t known them, I would’ve assumed they were a perfect couple like you see on Instagram. The matching bathing suits did the trick. Taz was always pretty, but her hair was longer now, or she had extensions in, and she seemed to have upped her sophistication level. She could compete against the likes of Sunday—or hell, even the bitches from Fallen Crest.

I stopped and took them in for a moment. “Wow, Taz. You look incredible.” I meant what I said. Her makeup was on point. Her nails looked manicured, the red matching her bikini. I checked her feet. Pedicured. Same red color.

I’d never felt drab before—no, I wasn’t going there. I still didn’t, but I felt like maybe I should have. She was dressed to be taken seriously.

“Bren.”

That’s all she could say. Her hands fell slowly from Race’s shoulders, but his remained cemented on her waist. He seemed more startled than she did.

I grinned at them, crossing to hoist myself up on the counter. “Close your mouth, Race.”

His mouth clamped shut, but his eyes were still wide.

Taz’s shoulders lifted as she drew in some air. She turned around and leaned against the kitchen counter, across from where I’d sat. She folded her arms over her chest, pulling her wrap closed with the motion.

“My brother told you about us?” she asked.

“Jordan. Cross didn’t know either.”

“That’s right.” Taz blinked a few times, like she was remembering something. “You guys were supposed to be gone all weekend, weren’t you? Or coming back tonight?”

I shrugged. “We came back today.” I nodded to them. “Congratulations are in order? I feel like you guys have joined Roussou’s Hall of Fame for Coupledom.” I glanced behind them to the pool, and it was what I had assumed. Sunday Barnes, Monica—all the popular Normals were out there.

“How’s your cousin feel about all this?” I asked Race.

“His feelings don’t factor into anything I do.” Clearing his throat, he asked Taz, “Where’s the alcohol? I’ll take it out back if you two want to talk.”

“Oh.” Her frown only deepened, but she grabbed the rum and handed him a few extra wine coolers. “Someone will want these.”

He gathered them to his chest, reaching for a few beers too. With a last nod to me, he went back outside, his eyes on Taz as he pulled the patio door closed behind him.

Once it was just the two of us, a whole different feeling settled between us.

It was awkward again, like things had been tipped off-balance.

“Listen, I—” She gestured toward the pool area.

I stopped her with a brisk shake of my head. “Race is a good guy. You’re a good girl. You two are perfect for each other.” I meant it. I let her hear how genuine I was, and I didn’t look away.

She did, her head folding down. Her neck grew red. I heard a sniffle, then she reached up to wipe her eyes.

I hadn’t expected that response.

Grasping the counter, I leaned forward. “Are you okay?”

She threw herself at me. Her head landed right in my boobs, and her arms wrapped tightly around me. Her voice came out muffled. “Thank you. I wanted to tell you about Race, but Sunday kept telling me he had a thing for you, and he told me that wasn’t the case, but I didn’t know and you were gone, but now you’re back, and I’m totally rambling and I can’t stop. I just can’t stop”

“Stop.” I put a hand on her forehead and pushed gently.

She leaned back, then laughed. “Thank you.” Her arms were still around me, and she snuggled in, pressing her head back to my boobs.

Good thing I didn’t have huge boobs, or this might’ve been more weird.

“I’m sorry for not being around.”

I expected her to pull back.

She didn’t. She tightened her hold, hugging me harder. “I’m just so glad you’re okay.” Deep breath. “Cross said you were, that you just needed time, but I didn’t know, and you know my brother. He never tells me the real truth when it comes to you. I’m so glad, though. And oh my God, I like Race soo much. You have no idea. All the girls are jealous. If they can’t get my brother, they want my boyfriend. I don’t know how to handle it, and they’re all out there, and I’m so glad you’re back.”

My hands went to her shoulders. I was ready to push her back so we could have a real conversation when she stepped away, wiping the tears from her face.

“The first semester kinda sucked because you weren’t there. But it kinda didn’t because there were no big crew brawls happening. Everyone was on good behavior, and then Race happened.” A soft smile appeared on her face. She beamed. “Tabatha is so jealous.”

“Tabatha?”

“Tabatha Sweets.”

The name rolled off her tongue like she said it often. I was a bit impressed.

“You’re really moving up in the Roussou world.”