Page 77 of Crew Princess
I moved my head away, scowling. “Pretty sure you hocked a loogie in my ear using that word. Don’t.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Thought you were chipper as long as you got your coffee. What’s with the attitude?”
I was ready to kill him. My hand formed a fist as I ignored my still-ringing phone. I started to turn around. “Really?”
Cross grabbed my wrist at the same time Jordan took my phone out of my other hand. “Bren.”
Jordan answered the phone. “Yo, Godfather. What’s up?”
I snarled at Zellman. “This ‘attitude’ came from being woken up by your farts every five fucking minutes. Do you realize how loud you are when you’re sleeping? ‘Let’s all stay on the beach, guys.’” I imitated him. “‘We have sleeping bags, guys. It’ll be fun, guys. Bonding crew moment, guys.’” I shot forward, almost hitting him with my face. “Back off of me right now. I love you, Z, but I want to kill you.”
He huffed, easing backward. “I just fart when I drink too much and have too many hot dogs. It’s not all the time.”
“That’s what you got out of that? Really?”
Cross chuckled, easing me back around. “Simmer. We’ll get more coffee after this.”
“...yep. She’s here.” Pause. “Nope. She’s about to kill Zellman. I don’t know. I think he breathed on her.” He held the phone out, a smirk on his face. “Your brother wants to talk to you. He ain’t too happy.”
I took the phone, raising my eyebrows. “Really? You don’t say.”
He laughed, settling in his seat. “He’s the godfather. He calls; we answer. That’s how it works.” He shrugged. “Besides, I endeared him to us since you didn’t ignore his call. You’re welcome.”
My fist was working again, itching to go in Jordan’s direction now.
Cross sighed, taking the phone from me. “Hey, Channing.” A beat. “Yeah. It was a crew campout last night. We’re good, just scoping someone out right now, then heading to school.” Pause. A longer pause. “Yeah. She’s, uh…she’s in a fighting mood today. Maybe later?” He nodded. “Okay. Yeah. Dinner sounds good. Bye.” He hung up, handing the phone over, and without looking at me, he said, “You’re welcome. We’re having dinner with your brother.” He slid a cocky smirk to me. “Payback for next Sunday night.”
I pocketed the phone. “If you don’t want to go, don’t. I said I’d go as Taz’s friend.”
He shook his head, focusing on the school across the road. “My sister has you whipped.”
I was friend-whipped.
I considered it, and shrugged. I think I was.
“Is that him?” Zellman shoved his head through the window, again narrowly missing mine.
“Z!” I growled.
“Wait.” Cross grabbed my wrist automatically, but leaned forward. “I think it might be.”
All the fight left me, and I looked, seeing a guy with an athletic build getting out of a—
“Jesus!” came from the window.
“Zellman!” I yelled.
“That’s a Mercedes G Wagon. Dude.” He slapped my shoulder in excitement, his eyes wide. “That’s new this year. Holy fuck.”
Jordan whistled. “Your half-brother’s a rich prick.”
Cross grunted, folding his arms over his chest. “What do you expect? He goes to the Academy, and you heard that lady—his mom’s worth fifteen mil. Not surprised.”
The truck’s body was white with a black rim and a black top, and while it did look pretty, my eyes were on Cross. For once, he wasn’t aware of my attention. He was always aware of me, but this time, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from his brother. He’d gone silent and still, his jaw clenching a tiny bit, and I felt the tension in his body.
“You don’t know if your dad knew about him all this time?” Jordan was watching Cross as well.
“I don’t know. Only reason I know about him is because I heard my parents arguing one night. Taz was at Race’s. I slipped in to grab some things before heading to Bren’s, and I heard ’em. They were so loud. I could’ve rang the doorbell, and they wouldn’t have heard me. I was going to ignore it. They’d been fighting all year, but after I grabbed my shit and was heading out, he dropped the bomb. ‘I have another kid.’ His exact words. My mom gasped, then started sobbing, and he stormed out. I left after that—didn’t feel like staying to comfort her. Either of them.”
