Page 40 of Ink & Ambition

“What’s up, shithead?” My brother says, the sound of a clicking keyboard and some kind of virtual combat in the background.

“Hey, Drew. Listen, has dad left for campus yet?”

“Fuck if I know. Fuck. Fuck. Shit. You killed me, Alex. Thanks a lot,” Drew sighs into the phone, the clicking sound disappearing momentarily.

I roll my eyes, putting the phone on speaker and dropping it on the bed so I can button up my white collared shirt. “Can you just stop the game for a second to talk to your only brother?”

“I can,” he starts. “But I won’t.” The disdain in his voice is apparent. While my brother and I get along fine, the age gap is difficult especially these last few years where he’s been in high school and I’ve been away at college. In the beginning, he would come visit me now and again, but it’s been a while since he’s been to campus or the frat house. And when I come home for holidays, he hardly ever leaves his room. I know it’s hard for him to see me and not think about our mom, hell it’s hard for me, but I try to be as patient with him as I can.

“Fine, just can you check outside to see if Dad’s car is there. I want to make sure I get to this stupid gala before he does.” I hear Drew huff and the clicking stops again.

“Car’s gone,” Drew says quickly, no doubt returning to whatever game he’s playing.At least he’s still on the line with me.For the past four years I’ve felt guilty about leaving him behind, but I had to get out of that house before I was well and truly suffocated. My next step is to get Drew into a college as far away as possible so he can escape too.

Tying my tie, I look out the window toward the DE house to see if I can get a glimpse of Margot.

“Thanks for checking. He’s probably on his–” I stop. “Fucking christ.”

And there he is. Oliver Andrew Prescott. Pulling up in front of my house on fraternity row. He parks his black Mercedes in front of the driveway and ambles out of the car, walking up the house like it’s his own. I hear the door slam underneath me.

“Alex?” My father yells from the entryway. Yells louds enough that not only can I hear it through my closed door, but so can my brother.

I hear Drew chuckle from the phone. “Guess you found him. Have fun at the ball, princess.” I tell Drew to shut up before hanging up and pocketing my phone.

If I don’t get down the stairs and intercept him now, he’s just going to come up and the last thing I want is Oliver’s assessment of my bedroom. Grabbing my dress shoes from the side of my bed, I hoist them on and then practically run down the stairs.

“Alex, good you’re dressed. Let’s go. I’m not going to be late.” He demands. Of course he demands.

“Hi, Dad. Good to see you, too. Yes, I am doing well. And you?”

Oliver waves me off. “Cut the bullshit. Get in the car.”

“I’m driving with the boys. I don’t need your ride. You go ahead and I’ll see you there,” I say, walking past him into the living room. I feel a firm grip on my upper arm that stops me. I’ve got a foot on my father but he’s got four decades of anger on me.

“This is an important night for us, Alexander. Don’t fuck around.”

I take a deep breath before ripping my arm out of his grasp. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” I reply. Looking in the living room, I see Keith, Kai and Devon, all ready to go across the street and finish the job. I need to be with them. I promised Margot I would be there, to protect, to help her. Not that I don’t trust the guys, I just…I need to do it myself.

“Dad, we’re actually about to do some prank business so it would be a lot better if I just went with the guys.”

My dad’s eyes softened a bit. The idea of me fulfilling the senior prank is something he’s been proud of since last semester. But he also tried to control it and wouldn’t stop giving me dumb ideas until I just eventually stopped taking his calls and answering his texts.

He looked into the living room at my brothers who were now just standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.We should be over there by now.

“Did you fellas take any of my ideas?”

No one says a word. Devon fakes a cough and Keith’s shoes suddenly become very interesting to him.

I sigh. “No, dad. We decided to do our own thing. And we have to go do it right now or else it’ll all be for nothing.”

Oliver takes a step closer to me. “This alumni event is the one night of the year that I get to show everyone I graduated with how proud I am of my son.” Then, through his teeth. “And if you chose that one night to complete your senior prank then that’s pretty fucking stupid of you.”

I close my eyes.

“I take it you boys can handle whatever needs to be handled for this prank without my son, yes?”

“Yes, sir,” all three mutter.

“Excellent,” Oliver grabs my arm again, pulling me toward the door. “Alexander, let’s go.” My heart is racing. I want to text Margot and tell her the change in plan, but I don’t want to startle her and blow her cover. Hell, I want to run across the street and hide out until my dad leaves, but I know that’s definitely not an option.

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