Page 8 of I Don't Need Your Love

Blake blinks, giving me that fake innocent face I know too well. “Hey, sis. What are you talking about?”

“Oh don’t give me that BS. You knew he was coming and you purposely didn’t tell me. You guys wanted to see my reaction, right? You knew I’d lose my crap. Was that his plan or yours?”

He sighs in this really irritated way, like a parent who’s trying his darndest to be patient with his annoying kid. “Carly, do you honestly think Ryder would attend Harrington Bay Academy just to mess with you?”

“Ah, so you admit you knew he was coming!” I accuse.

My brother’s lips snap shut and he frowns, eyebrows furrowed like he’s not sure how he just admitted that. Because I never mentioned Ryder’s name once.

“Gotchya, didn’t I? You’re not as clever as you think, Blakey.”

He groans as he pushes his red hair out of his green eyes. “Don’t call me that. And I didn’t purposely not tell you that Ryder was going to Harrington Bay. I just forgot.”

I give him a look. “You forgot to inform your sister that your best friend was attending her school? What a load of bull.”

“Despite what you think, Carly, my world doesn’t revolve around you. And neither does Ryder’s. But your world clearly revolves around him.”

“Excuse me? My world doesnotrevolve around him! He’s wallpaper to me.”

“I’m sure he is, little sis.”

I narrow my eyes. “Admit you purposely withheld that information just to annoy me.”

He sighs. “I think Mom and Dad brought the wrong baby home from the hospital. I should win an award for putting up with you.”

“You wish. Our hair is super unique, so we’re obviously blood-related. And the only award you’ll win is The Most Annoying Brother in the World award.”

“Did you call me just to bite my head off?” he demands.

“I certainly did.”

“Okay. Cool. Can I go now? I have homework.”

“No, you maynotgo. What you may do is tell me why on earth Ryder Bennett goes to Harrington Bay Academy now.”

“Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“Dude, it’s silly to talk to wallpaper when the wallpaper can’t answer back.”

He rolls his eyes and mutters something under his breath.

“Did he get a scholarship or something?”

“I think so.”

“And he left his old school, just like that? Wasn’t he sad to leave his friends?”

Blake puffs out his cheeks, causing some of his hair to fly off his face. “It was hard. We all miss him. But this is a great opportunity for him, just like it is for you. It would be selfish for us to ask him to stay.”

Despite how much of a cretin my brother can be, he really is a good guy. And sometimes, though I won’t admit it, I’m proud of him.

“So he joined you and Mom and Dad on Parents’ Day to see the school before he attended?”

Blake shrugs. “I don’t know the details, Carly. If you really want to know, just ask him yourself.”

“Dude, it would be silly to talk to wallpaper when the wallpaper—”

“Can’t talk back. You really are ridiculous.”