Page 39 of Her Brother's Billionaire Best Friend

“They say you’re a great guy because you donated all that money.”

“What do you think?”

Kyle turned and looked at him. He put the glass down and thrust his hands into his pocket. “I told them it doesn’t matter to you. You’re worth over ten billion dollars. That’s nothing to you. You can probably make that money back in, like, two days.”

“Kyle!” I hissed. I thought Lucien was going to freak, and for a moment, I wondered if he could control his temper in front of my son.

But then, I heard a strange noise. A deep, rumbling gasp.

It was Lucien.

He was laughing.

He chuckled, practically rumbling from inside, and then his hand was on his stomach.

“I make it in one,” he said, chuckling. “I like you, kid.”

“Oh yeah?” said Kyle, without looking at him. And suddenly, I started to feel relief. Kyle still had his tough-guy persona on, but he couldn’t fool me. Or Lucien.

“Yeah. Always make your own mind up. That’s what I say, Kyle. It’s good that you can think critically. That’s something they don’t always teach you in school.”

“Well, not at Caluga Falls High, anyway.”

“Believe me,” said Lucien. “School sucks.”

“Um, Lucien?” I said, folding my arms. I didn’t want him to make a bad impression.

“Well, it’s true,” he replied. “When was the last time you learned how to be creative in school? Or do your taxes? Or write the great American novel? School doesn’t teach you any of that. I was the same when I was your age, kid.”

“You’re right. Don’t look at him like that, Mom. It’s true.”

“Doesn’t mean you don’t try your best, of course,” said Lucien, partially to placate me.

“I’m trying. I’m still swimming.”

“You swim? So did I when I was your age. What’s your best stroke?”

“Backstroke. But coach says I run a mean butterfly. My old coach. Not my new one.”

“No kidding,” said Lucien. “Me too. What do you do for fun?”

“For fun?” said Kyle. “Mostly just…I don’t know.” He grinned at Lucien. “Think about stuff, I guess.”

“You ever go to the Old Bridge?” said Lucien. “You know, that’s where I used to go when I had something to think about.”

*

When David got home that night, I met him at the door.

“Shh,” I said, putting a finger to my lips.

“What is it?” he mouthed at me, but I beckoned him inside and pointed to the kitchen. There, Kyle and Lucien were sitting together.

“So what do I do about making friends?” said Kyle.

“I think you’ve got to be yourself,” said Lucien. “That’s the only way. After all, if you’re always trying to be something that you aren’t, well, you might make a lot of friends. But you’re not going to keep them.”

“Huh,” said Kyle before nodding. Then, he turned around. “Oh, hey, David,” he said.