“That’s because we could drive just fine,” Cecily says. “Besides, you left me on Read the last text I sent you.”
“Moi?” He releases me, retrieves his phone, and stops in his tracks. “No way in fuck… Creigh, you little shit. What did you do now? Did you crack my code?”
My cousin, who’s on the other side of me, shrugs but says nothing.
I crane my head and find Remi’s phone filled with pornographic pictures.
“Pig,” I say under my breath.
Cecily goes red, and if Ava were here, she’d call her a prude, because she is, in a way. Cecily just doesn’t do well with any talk that’s sexual in nature.
“You’re disgusting,” she tells Remi.
“No, Creigh is.” Remi grabs my cousin by the collar of his polo shirt. “He’s the one who hacked into my phone and put all of that in.”
Creigh’s expression remains poker-faced. “Proof?”
“I’ll beat the fuck out of your arse, you cheeky bastard.”
“You can try.”
“I can’t believe this!” Remi grumbles. “I adopt a weirdo under my lordship’s umbrella and he tries to sabotage not only my popularity status but also my noble name. I’m going to disown you, spawn! Don’t come running to me with your tail tucked between your legs when you can’t slip out of a crowd on your own.”
“I’ll survive.”
Creigh’s methodical, somewhat emotionless reply only riles Remi up more. “Don’t text my lordship when you’re bored.”
“You’re the one who does that.”
Remi narrows his eyes, then grins. “I won’t be covering up for you when your parents call. Try beating that one, spawn.”
Cecily interlinks her arm with Creigh. “Never mind him. We’ve got you.”
“Hey!! Don’t go stealing my adoptive son.” Remi pushes her away and inspects Creigh. “Did the female cougar do anything to you, spawn? Tell my lordship and I’ll take care of her.”
My cousin raises a brow. “I thought you were disowning me?”
“Nonsense. If I disown you, how will you survive?”
“Are you sure it’s not the other way around?” Cecily crosses her arms. “Your attention to Creigh is the method you use to feel that you’re doing good, so it’s self-service.”
“The nerd police called and they’re saying you’re too nerdy for anyone’s liking.”
“Sure it wasn’t the manwhore police saying you’re at top risk of STDs?”
“Says the prude.”
“If you think that’s an insult, try again. At least I’m not at risk of contracting STDs.”
“There’s a thing called a condom. Ever heard of it? Oh, sorry, forgot you’re a prude.”
“He did forget to use one once,” Creighton says and we all turn to him. “Condom.”
Remi headlocks him. “Don’t go telling my lordship’s secrets, you cheeky bastard.”
Cecily is like a dog who’s found a bone and goes after Remi with the viciousness of a warrior.
I laugh, or more accurately force it out, pretending to be happier than I actually am. Pretending that this scene can help reduce the chaos brewing inside me.