“Get your ass downstairs so Mom doesn’t get mad at me for you being slow as molasses.”
“Yeah, right. Like she’d ever get mad at her perfect baby boy.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood.
I glared at him, biting back the anger that flared through my system.
My perfect, straight A stepbrother, the golden child of our fucked-up blended family, thought thatIwas the favorite.
Yeah, right.
“Hurry the fuck up.”
I turned away from his door and stalked down the hallway to the stairs.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out as I grabbed on to the railing and started my descent.
Darren: party at mckennas tonight.
Ash: I’ll be there
I shoved my phone back into my pocket and headed toward the kitchen at the back of the house.
“Where’s Jules?” Ken, my stepfather, asked from his seat at the head of the table, as if he were king of the castle.
“Coming.” I slid into my place next to Riley and winked at her.
“He’s probably studying.” Ken gave me a pointed look. “Getting a jump on his fall classes.”
Mom smiled at him with hearts in her eyes.
Six years after ruining my life and she still looked at him like a lovesick teenager.
Riley poked me in the side, and I leaned closer so she could whisper something to me.
“Riley. We don’t whisper at the table,” Mom said. “It’s rude.”
“Sorry, Mommy.” She dropped her eyes.
I patted her leg and schooled my features. Glaring at my mom wouldn’t do me any good.
“Jules,” Ken said.
“Hey.”
He slid into his seat next to my mom, his eyes on his plate.
“We’re glad you’re both here,” Mom said.
“We need to talk about school next year.”
I stared at Ken.
We were a week away from the start of fall term. Jules and I both went to the same college, about two hours away.
“What about it?” I asked when Ken paused to look at my mom.
“It’s about your living arrangements.”
“I don’t understand.” Jules looked between them. “I’ve already got my dorm info.”