Page 73 of My Return to the Walter Boys
My mouth fell open. “Hold on—youdid Academic Decathlon?”
“This might come as a shock to you,” he said matter-of-factly, “but I have the highest GPA out of all my cousins.”
“How is that even possible?” I asked, my voice pitching higher than usual. “You skip class all the time!”
He shrugged. “I don’t have to try. School’s always been easy for me. Besides, why should I waste my time when, no matter how well I do, my dad doesn’t give a shit?”
“So this summer when he told you he wasn’t coming home, you what? Decided to flip an asshole switch?” I said, ignoring the tinge of jealousy curling in my gut. My report cards were always flawless, but I worked hard for my grades, and it was annoying when others didn’t have to put in the same effort. “What were you trying to do? Get his attention some other way?”
Isaac flushed. “I wanted him to feel as pissed and disappointed as I did,” he admitted. “You don’t have to tell me. I already know it was stupid. Katherine contacted him after I was arrested, and guess what? He couldn’t even bother to be annoyed with me. Just promised to send me away to a military academy for my final semester if I get in trouble again.”
“He didn’t care at all?” I asked quietly. I couldn’t imagine how that felt.
“Nope,” Isaac said. “You’re lucky. Your parents might be gone, but at least they loved you.”
I sucked my cheeks in and counted to five. Nothing about my parents being gone was lucky, but I also understood that Isaac was too wrapped up in his own issues to realize how insensitive his words sounded. Reaching across the table, I whacked him over the head. “I’ve listened to a lot of stupid stuff come out of your mouth before,” I replied as calmly as I could, “but that was the most privileged, ignorant bullshit I’ve ever heard. My parents aredead. Don’t tell me I’m lucky.”
“Oh shit.” His face drained of color. “Jackie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“I know you didn’t, Isaac,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose, “but you’re so bitter about your dad that you’re forgetting the most important thing—Katherine and George love you. They’re your parents in all the ways that matter. You have this amazing, wonderful family that some people would kill to have, but if you keep hurting them, they won’t be there for you when you need them the most.”
He pressed his lips into a tight line. “You sound like my brother.”
Huh. That was interesting…
“Oh my God,” I gasped after a second. “Ishethe one who gave you that black eye?”
“Maybe,” he mumbled in a disgruntled tone that made me giggle. “It was a cheap shot.”
“I’m honestly shocked,” I told him. “Lee’s done nothing but defend you, so whatever you did must’ve been spectacularly crappy. He even went so far as to sabotage a prank Jordan and Parker targeted you with.”
“Well, you’re not wrong.” Isaac dipped his chin, unable to meet my gaze. “He, um, didn’t like that…that I…”
“You don’t have to tell me if you’re not ready to. I think you’ve been open enough for one night. Just remember I’m willing to trade a truth for a truth next time you’re pissed off or want to get something off your chest, okay?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I can handle that.”
“Good.” I took one last sip of my soda, then set it aside. “Let’s pay and get you home before Katherine notices you’re missing.”
Fifteen
Operation Sneak Isaac Back into the house went smoother than I expected.
After paying for our food and walking back to Chase’s, I found Alex and Kim making out on the patio. Interrupting them was uncomfortable—nothing says awkward like witnessing your friend shoving her tongue so far down your ex’s throat that you wonder about potential choking hazards—but ultimately worked out in our favor. Alex didn’t bat an eye at the sight of Isaac standing next to me. In fact, he enthusiastically handed over the truck keys when we mentioned wanting to leave. None of the other Walters had been invited to the party, so Alex could stay over at Kim’s if he didn’t have to drive me home.
When we got back to the ranch, I made no effort to soften the sounds of my arrival. While Isaac was busy scaling the tree outsidehis bedroom window, I walked straight through the front door, letting the screen door slam shut behind me, and kicked off my heels by the shoe cubby. Trick-or-treating must have been successful, because when I stepped into the kitchen, my attention was immediately drawn to the den where the youngest Walters were gathered, costumes still on, candy hauls dumped on the floor in front of them, andHocus Pocusplaying softly in the background. A fierce negotiation was taking place between Parker and Jack, but eventually she pushed five Almond Joys over to him and he handed her a Tootsie Pop in return. It was almost ten o’clock, so I was more than a little shocked to find them still up but recognized an excessive amount of sugar was probably the culprit when Benny let out a high-pitched scream and tackled his twin to the floor.
I heard a heavy sigh, then what sounded like the page of a book turning. “Back so soon?”
How I’d missed Katherine when I first entered the kitchen was anyone’s guess, but she was sitting at the table, a paperback in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. A few pieces of fun-size chocolate bars were arranged in front of her.
“Wasn’t really up for a party,” I told her.
Katherine frowned slightly but let my comment go. “Is Alex with you?”
“No, he wanted to stay. One of my friends gave me a ride.” Isaac had parked the truck behind the shed where it wouldn’t be visible from the house, left the keys on the front seat, and texted Alex to move it back toits usual spot once Kim dropped him off in the morning. I hated lying to Katherine, but it was a necessary evil to make sure Isaac wasn’t sent away to a military academy, so I appeased my guilt by offering my help. “I’m not tired, so if you want, I can stay up with the kids and get them to bed once the movie is over.”
The speed at which Katherine downed the rest of her wine and jumped up made me grin. “You,” she said, grasping my head with both hands and pressing a kiss to my forehead, “are an angel.”
