“We’ll be at the campus grill before Friday’s football game, but yeah. Saturday is all about soccer. Couple of my roommates know some of the players. They’re chill guys.” He headed for the door, his bag over his shoulder. “See you all later. Peace, Jordan.”

“See you tomorrow in sociology.”

The door shut behind him.

Red lights flashed us from their car, and a second later, it faded.

As one, Jordan, Cross, and Zellman all turned my way.

Cross sighed, taking the lead. “You going to fill us in on whatever was up your ass at the grocery store?”

See. Knew he’d be bringing that up again.

Chapter Four

BREN

Cross said, holding my gaze, “Crew meeting.”

I was the one who didn’t move right away.

Both Jordan and Zellman broke into action. Zellman grabbed a chair, flipping it around and setting it right in front of me. Both he and Jordan moved to take the couch. Cross moved so he was standing on the other side of the living room, his arms folded over each other. When I didn’t move from the kitchen, he nodded to the chair. “It’s all yours.”

I sighed. “Empty chair, huh?”

Jordan leaned forward. “Fuck that.” His elbows rested on his knees. “What’s going on with you?”

Zellman threw an arm up on the back of the couch, lounging back, but his gaze was focused solely on me. “Yeah. Enough time has passed. You ain’t saying shit to Cross, and I’m tired of waiting. What’s going on with your dad?”

Cross frowned at him.

Jordan shot him a look. “Dude.”

Zellman ignored both, staring at me pointedly. “Spill, Bren. That shit’s big. You need to talk.”

I was trying not to bristle, but I couldn’t contain it. “Really?”

“Really.” He lifted his chin, not blinking once.

I ignored the chair, stepping farther into the living room. “My dad being released from prison isn’t that big of a deal. And I’ve been dealing with my shit. I went to juvie, had parole, and I did counseling. I did the whole nine yards, and now I’ve been rehabilitated as much as I can be. What’s your excuse?”

“Me?” His eyebrows shot up. I nodded at him, then to Jordan. “Both of you have shit going on that neither of you has talked about. Your ex is having a kid, Z. And Jordan, what the fuck happened with Tabatha? Said you were in love with her, and then she’s gone a week into coming to school.” I skimmed a look at Cross. He also had stuff he was still holding in, but I’d picked my targets. In the crew world, there were no favorites.

That didn’t extend to our bedroom, where both he and I very much had favorites.

“Aw, hell.” Zellman slumped down in the couch.

Jordan’s jaw clenched. “That’s–”