Page 93 of Wayward

“Oi, it’s weird, right?” Zane elbows me.

“Weird?” I ask.

“Yeah, I feel like a little kid. Like I don’t mind you all, but sharing Haley with even the makeup gal has me itching, you know?”

“I suppose I do.” With some effort, I tug my fingers through my hair. It’s a bit different for me, though. I’m sure Rina is nice, but I don’t want her touching me.

I open the door and watch what’s going on in the living room. Lights and cables are being moved around. This is far from some guy holding a video camera. I close the door and peer out the window. We’re on the top floor, and far below, the crowd of protesters marches around with their homemade signs. Nolan’s long gone. Though we’ve got the key to his apartment. Honestly, I think I prefer that shithole to this place. At least there you know what you’re getting. Out in the other room, we have no idea what will happen. Will this Henry Goodstone make us out to be a bunch of lunatics or tragic victims?

“Rockwell, do you still have your dad’s phone?” I ask.

“Yeah, catch. You going to call your mom?”

My shoulders hitch, because I wish I was. “Not yet.” I dial his number—or what was his number the last time I called him. Before I blocked him. It rings once. There’s a large part of me that wants it to go straight to voicemail.

“Hello.”But of course the fucker picks up. The one time I don’t really want him to pick up.

“Jared, it’s Calvin?—”

“That’s not funny.”

I hold the phone away from my ear. Because only my damn brother would think I was lying. “It’s me, Jackass.”

“Oh, my god! Calvin?” There’s scrambling, then a bang as he drops the phone. Muffled, I can hear him talking to someone. Probably Trisha. “It’s Calvin. Give me the phone back.”

“Calvin?” Trisha says.

I have the very strong urge to hang up. But that’s not going to get what I need done. “Trisha, hand the phone back to the jackass.”

“You’re alive.” She breaks out into crocodile tears. There is no way that piece of trash was mourning me. Me being dead would make holidays a hell of a lot easier for her.

“Just hand the phone back to him.”

There’s more fumbling. “Calvin,” Jared says, “where are you?”

“London. Can you go over to the farm and?—”

“We live on the farm now.”

My heart squeezes in my chest.

“Mom and Dad are fine. Dad wanted to retire. They built an apartment in the old milking shed, but they spend most of their time in Florida. But they’re here for the kiddo's birthday.”

“Oh, right? Tell her happy birthday from her favorite uncle."

“Now I know it’s you. You’re her only uncle, but Trisha’s sister is dating someone.”

“I like competition.” I look up to see the four guys watching me.

“Yeah, you do. How did you get to London?”

“Listen, Jackass, I don’t have much time. Can you get Mom and Dad to watch the news tonight? I’m fine. And I’ll be home for a visit at some point soon.”

“I’ve missed you.”

“Of course you have.”

“Thank you for forgiving me.”