After getting out of the pool, I snatched up a towel from one of the loungers and wrapped it around my hips. When you were around a man like August, you wanted to be naked as much as possible, and we had no reason to wear trunks in the water. But Camden blushed and stammered as soon as he saw our “things,” so it was best to cover up. Sometimes, anyway.

I grabbed my phone from under my tee and called my brother, fairly certain he didn’t have classes right now. Then I walked over to the barbecue area and lit up a smoke.

“Howdy, stranger!” Nicky answered. “Am I sayin’ that right? I wanna make sure my brother understands me now that he’s abandoned the north, I do declare.”

I snorted and sat down in a chair. “That’s gotta be the worst Southern accent I’ve ever heard.”

“Col cazzo! I nailed it.” He sucked his teeth. “How are you?”

“I’m good—I’m really good.” I exhaled some smoke through my nose. “How’s everything at home?”

“Same, same. Good. Pop’s nervous about us leaving. Both sweet as fuck and annoying as shit.”

I grinned to myself and imagined Pop calling Nicky at all hours of the day, asking what time they were leaving New York. “I guess you’ll start packing soon, eh?”

“Soon? Son, we packed two days ago. I ain’t doin’ nuthin’ last minute, and I live with a worrier. Gideon says hi, by the way.”

I opened my mouth to respond, then closed it and glanced at the screen. Holy shit, it was already Thursday?

I coulda sworn it was Wednesday.

“Say hey back,” I replied. “I’m surprised he didn’t try to convince you to fly down instead.”

Nicky laughed. “Trust, he did. Tempted me with first-class tickets and blow jobs.”

I smirked.

“I got the blow job anyway,” he said cockily. “But I don’t know, I’d feel like a dick if Gid and I flew to Nashville and all the others had to take the bus.”

True.

“You callin’ him Gid now?”

“Not to his face,” he guffawed. “He hates nicknames. Except mine, of course. I’m his only exception.”

If he was gonna start with his lovey-dovey shit, I’d hang up.

“I get it,” I responded wryly. “You’re each other’s exception, god, and altar of worship.”

I was fucking with him. Since getting out of New York, I was in a much better place. I didn’t feel any bitterness about my own situation. And, no wonder.

“Why you gotta be like that?” Nicky bitched. “Don’t tell me you’re not balls deep in your own bliss. You can’t fool me, big brother. You’ve hooked up with the hot chef and his sidekick—admit it.”