Good Boy by Megan Lowe
Chapter 20
“So what’s this talk of you taking Cav on at the Skids?” Jase asks when we get home that night.
“Where the hell’d you hear that?” I ask.
He rolls his eyes. “It’s only, like, all over school,” he tells me. “I mean, I was probably the last to know, so it pretty much guarantees everyone else knows about it.”
“Why would you be the last to know?” I question.
“Er, because I have, like, no friends.”
“I thought you said you were making some?”
“Making and keeping are two different things,” he tells me. “It’s okay though; I don’t mind being alone.”
“I mind.”
“What are you going to do, Con?” he asks. “Go up to all my teachers, demand that they make people be my friend? I don’t think so.”
“Why don’t they like you? You’re great.”
“You have to say that; you’re my brother.”
“I’d say it even if I weren’t because it’s true.”
“Whatever.”
“So why don’t people like you?”
He shrugs. “I dunno. I’m not like them. I don’t care about computer games or seeing how much weed or booze I can steal off my older siblings or parents, and that’s all they care about.”
“What about the girls?” I ask.
“They only care about makeup palettes and push-up bras. Not exactly my areas of expertise.”
I sigh and hug him. “I’m sorry. High school sucks. What can I say?”
He laughs. “At least you’ve only got this year left.”
“Do you think a new school would be different?”
He shrugs. “Probably not. It’s just…. When you’ve watched both of your parents struggle to breathe, what people my age are into, it all seems a bit… insignificant.”
I nod. “I guess it would.”
“But it’s cool. I just keep my head down and do my work. I’m sitting on mostly A’s, so that’s good.”
“That’s awesome, Jase.”
“I figure if I can get into a good college and make the right connections, in twenty or so years I’ll be all the douchebags’ boss and be able to treat them like shit.”
I laugh. “That’s some plan.”
He shrugs. “It’s all I’ve got right now.”
“You know, if things get too bad, you can always come to me. Chloe would have no problem with you hanging out with us. Might even be able to show everyone up because you’re hanging with seniors.”
“Thanks, but I don’t need my big brother fighting my battles for me.”
“Who’s fighting them for you? I’ll fight them with you.”
He nods. “So are you going to tell me what’s up with you and Cav now?”
I blow out a breath. “I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.”
“Not likely. You’re really going to race him?”
“I don’t know. Thomas told me about some races, and I thought I’d go and check them out. I hadn’t decided on whether I was going to race, and I especially hadn’t decided if I was going to race Cav.”
“That would be awesome, though.”
The look on Cav’s face when Thomas first mentioned the Skids comes into my head. Anger, frustration, and maybe a bit of concern marred his features, but also gets my blood pumping.
“Yeah, it would be,” I agree.
“So who’s this Thomas guy?” Jase asks. “Is he nice? Someone I should know about?”
“You telling me you don’t already know about Thomas Rose?”
He chuckles. “Only what I’ve heard at school, that he’s Cav’s best friend and does his bidding. Sounds like a stand-up guy.” He rolls his eyes, and I give him a playful shove.
“He’s nice,” I say.
“Nice like nice or nice?”
“Just nice. Things aren’t like that.”
“Because you don’t like him like that?”
“Not every guy is boyfriend material.”
“Boyfriend material?” His voice gets dangerously high.
“You know what I mean.”
“So you like Thomas, but just as friends.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “That’s not to say he’s not nice to look at, because he is.”
We both chuckle.
“Is the reason you don’t like him because you’re stuck on Cav?”
I blow out a breath. “I don’t know. I mean, I don’t think Thomas is gay, so that may have something to do with it.”
“Are you still stuck on Cav?” he asks.
“I’m trying not to be, but….”
“But you do really like him.”
“Is that stupid?”
“Yes.”
“Geez, don’t hold back now, bud.”
He shrugs. “You asked.” He puts his hand on my shoulder. “Look, I get you like a dark, mysterious, brooding bad boy, but from what I hear, Cavanaugh McLaughlin is a nasty piece of work. You don’t want to be caught in his web. I don’t want you caught in his web.”
I run a hand through my hair. “You’re right.”
“But there is something about him,” he continues.
I chuckle. “Yeah, there is.”
“Look, I know I’m only fifteen and don’t know shit, really, but I think if Cav is on your mind, then maybe there’s a reason for that?”
“Like fate or something?”
He shrugs. “Yeah, maybe.”
“You think that’s a thing?”
“I think it is if you want it to be. Look, Con, I’m not going to turn around and tell you not to pursue this thing with Cav. One, you have no reason to listen to me, and two, even if you did, I know you wouldn’t.”
I nod.
“But if you think there’s something worth pursuing with Cav, then go for it.”
“Do you think he’ll let me?”
“Let you?”
“You know, be open to being with me.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. I think he has one heck of a reputation at Windswept, and being with you would be a massive shock to that.”
I nod.
“I think what you have to do is convince him that you’re worth it.”
“Do you think it will be?”
“Only you can answer that. As your brother, I’m always going to back your decision and choices. Do I think Cav is the right guy for you? Not particularly, but I’m open to seeing what you see.”
“You think I’m an idiot.”
“I think the Cav you know and the Cav I know are very different people.”
I sigh and nod. “I don’t know what to do,” I tell him.
He pats my shoulder. “Maybe you’re not supposed to. Maybe you’re supposed to follow your gut and go with it.”
“Go with it, right.” I can totally do that.