The Revenge by Tijan

“I had no idea.”

I shrugged. “I don’t just hack, you know.”

“Huh.” He grunted. “Raccoons.”

“I’m also a big fan of octopuses. Do you know that if you save them, they will come and hug your leg as a thank you?”

I was just getting started.

Kash needed to know about all things wondrous and adorable.

I had a photographic memory, so I had a lot to tell him.





THIRTY-FOUR

Bailey

Group text:

Melissa: Sorry, sorry, sorry, but I don’t think we should invite Liam tonight.

Tamara: Which one is Liam again?

Torie: The athlete one right? Or the one that looks like he could be an athlete.

Matt: Why am I included in this?

Matt: I’m down with No-Liam.

Matt: Is this supposed to be a chicks’ group chat? I don’t see any other guys included.

Melissa: I would’ve included Liam, but since this is about him, I thought that’d be not good. Anyone heard from Bailey?

Matt: Good luck. She’s with the Kashsters right now.

Matt:;) if you know what I mean.

Torie: He’s my boss, Matt. The wink wasn’t needed.

Matt: But it got my point across.

Bailey: I’m here! Hoda’s not invited as well.

Matt: WE ARE NOT DOWN WITH THE HODASTERS!

Melissa: I’m assuming. No one talks to her in class.

Tamara: Why isn’t Liam invited? And what’s going on with Hodasters? Matt, can I get a nickname?

Matt: You are now The Tam Tam.

The Tam Tam: ** thumbs up ** ** hands in the air **

Torie: I’m fine with no Liam, though if I remember right, he’s a cool guy.

Melissa: He’s roommates with Hoda now. Hoda is, like, somewhat of an enemy, isn’t she?

Matt: Hell yes she is! WE ARE NOT DOWN WITH THE HODASTERS!

Melissa: That’s what I thought! Okay. Bailey, are you okay with that? This is your night to hang out with everyone. Hoda’s gotten weird at school, and I know you’re not talking to her. But Liam is living with her and yeah …

Tamara: That’s weird.

Torie: Agreed.

Matt: Why have I not been added to this group text earlier? Can this be a regular thing? I’m loving it.

Melissa: Bailey?

Matt: Told you. She’s with the Kashsters. They’re probably groping in the shower.

Bailey: Shut up, Matt! I know where you live and I will piss off Marie and Theresa and sic them both on you.

Matt: I mean, this is actually Cyclone. He hacked my phone.

Matt: This is Matt now. I got control over my phone again. Wtf is Kashsters? That’s disrespectful and I have a respectable amount of fear of both my sister and Kash and I would never make a joke like that, now.

Torie: **handing you a wipe for your drool there**

Matt: Thanks. I’m handing it to Cyclone. Love you, B. A lot. Don’t sic anyone on me please.

Matt: I’m still grateful for my ass.

Torie: Moving on before Matt remembers he’s had too much to drink for this group chat. B, you okay with the no-Liam vote?

Bailey: I am. Thanks you guys for even thinking of that.

Melissa: Care about you! Also, I’m super excited for a Naveah night. Seems like forever since we had one.

Torie: Whoop for some drinking.

Matt: Whoop!

Torie: Not you, Matt. You’ve already been over served.

Tamara: ** snickering ** you just got served

Matt: I’m thinking I was added by mistake.

Melissa: Lol! You’re fine. Everyone’s fine. I just wanted to make sure about the no-Liam invite because tonight seems like a night where he might’ve been invited, but this semester’s been different.

Bailey: I’m good and thank you! See you guys at Naveah. Matt, we’re waiting for you downstairs.

Matt: See you in two snaps.





THIRTY-FIVE

Kash


“You two seem cozy.”

That was Matt’s greeting as he slid into the booth beside me. He’d just gone to the bar for another drink, though it was more to flirt with the new bartender, and now he was studying where Bailey was standing with Torie and Tamara. Her friend Melissa was there, too, and there was an uneasy edge to the whole group. It’d been worse when we first arrived. I’d kept an eye on it and it was getting better. A couple more drinks and they’d be laughing like times before Bailey had lost her mother.

“Bailey and me, or are you talking about someone else?” I nodded in their direction, turning to eye Matt as he continued to eye them.

He took a drag from his drink before putting it on the table. He slumped a little in the booth, but that was his way. He threw people off with that body language, but he was never not watchful and alert. Or he wasn’t unless he had too many drinks or something else in his system, and so far, I was counting only two drinks.

We’d been here two hours by now, so that was a tortoise rate for Matt Francis.

“You and the B Master.” He tipped his head her way. “She’s happier now that you’re back.”

Well, shit. Here we were.

I grinned at him, cocking my head back a little. “We doing this?”

His eyes met mine, and he had his own answering grin. He sat up and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “I guess. I mean, why not? We didn’t get to it before.” He shrugged, his head falling down a little. “I am her brother, you know.”