Page 88 of Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High 4)

Maddoc scoffs, coming around the corner with his gym bag over his shoulder. “Keep pouring all that white into your mouth, baby, and I’ll—”

“Yo!” Royce shouts, throwing a couch pillow at Maddoc, but it falls in the middle of the floor. “Sweet little baby girl ears.”

Raven laughs and nods her chin at Zoey who follows her lead, leaning her head back so Raven can spray some right into her mouth.

Zoey laughs, but then her eyes widen. “Oh no! I have to tell Papa something!”

Raven quickly spins, flicking her still cream covered tongue along Maddoc’s lips and hurries after her. “Tell Captain we’re out back.”

Maddoc tries to frown at the shit on his mouth, but he can’t completely hide the smirk as he licks his lips. “You sure you don’t wanna shoot some hoops. Mac and a couple other assholes are gonna be out there.”

Royce shakes his head, pulling his eyes from his phone to Maddoc’s. “I’m good.”

“You mean you feel like shit?” he tosses out.

Royce nods. “Yup.”

“That’s what you get, dick,” he snaps. “Watch Raven.”

“I know the drill, brother.”

Maddoc nods, tipping his chin toward me in acknowledgment as he walks out.

I grab an apple, biting into it as I lean across the counter.

Royce stares right at me, and I can tell he has something on his mind, but before anything can be said, the front door opens and Captain walks in.

He glances around, his eyes landing on me.

I cover my mouth to speak with my mouth full of apple. “Zoey’s outside with your dad and Raven.”

It takes him a moment, but then he nods, and off he goes.

I wait until his footsteps can no longer be heard and push up on my palm. My eyes lock with Royce’s. “Will you take me to Maria’s?”

His glare is instant. “Why you askin’ me?”

“Because anyone else will want to know why and ask questions along the way. You won’t.”

He pushes to his feet, coming to stand across from me. I’m sure he’ll say no, tell me to fuck off, but he doesn’t.

He steps back, pulls his keys from his pocket and presses a button on the little black box. “Get in. I’ll meet you out there.”

I toss the apple in the garbage, doing as he asks.

Five minutes later he’s sliding in his seat right as Raven starts walking down the porch steps, headed right for us.

I sigh, looking to Royce.

“I’m on babysitting duty.” He grins.

I can’t help it, a small laugh leaves me.

I go to open my door, but Raven catches it, slamming it shut, and climbs in the back seat.

“If you guys don’t stop acting like I’m fragile, I will show you real fuckin’ loud that I’m not. I can sit in the back seat of a giant, luxury ass car.” She chuckles, closing her door and getting comfortable. “There’re even ass warmers back here, I’m good.”

We laugh and Royce pulls out of the driveway onto the dirt road.

“So.” Raven sits forward. “Where we going?”

My head snaps toward Royce who smirks at the road.

“Go on, VicVee, share with the class.”

Damn it.

I sigh, spinning in my seat to face her. “We’re going to Maria’s.”

Raven’s mouth opens only to clamp shut as she meets Royce’s gaze in the mirror, quickly moving it to mine.

“What are you doing, Vee?” she asks, shaking her head. “You don’t ask one to do something the others wouldn’t like. Trust me, I’ve done it. It pisses everyone off, but that’s not the part I’m trippin’ on.” Her eyes narrow. “You asked him to take you somewhere, and he said yes. Something happened and he knows about it.”

I don’t say anything, but whatever she sees staring back has her dropping against the seat with a small, almost unnoticeable nod. “Turn the music up, Royce, and stop for ice cream on the way.”

He chuckles. “You got it, RaeRae.”

A few minutes into the drive, Raven asks, “You think Captain would be mad at you for wanting to see your mom?”

“She’s not my mom.”

“Even if you don’t claim her, she’s still your mom, just answer the question.”

I glare out the side window. “Should I care if he was?”

“I wouldn’t if it were me,” she admits. “I hated my mom, yeah, that was common knowledge, but she was mine to decide what to do with, no one else’s. No matter what she did or didn’t do.”

I hesitate before sharing, “Maybe it makes me fucked up, but I don’t want a relationship with her, that’s not why I’m doing this.”

“I’m sure you do, you just haven’t realized it yet,” Raven says. “But either way, if that’s not the reason we’re temporarily hiding our little trip from Cap, then why?”

“Zoey lived with her almost since birth, she cared for her day and night, and as far as I know she hasn’t reached out to anyone once since Zoey came home. That’s… I’d expect more from her. I’ve called her a few times and nothing.”