Page 49 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

“JesusChrist,” someone says.

I shut my eyes immediately when I see the rest of my housemates standing in the hallway with concern etched onto their sleepy faces.

“Wrenny.”

Stone pauses at the sound of Evan’s voice, but I shake my head along his chest. I don’t want to talk, and there is no amount of milk and cookies that can get me to. Instead, I listen to the thundering beat of Stone’s heart against my ear and hold on tighter as he takes me upstairs.

CHAPTER18

STONE

Step-monster

Please call me! Getting things ready for your father’s bday!!

I letmy head fall back against the wall and try to formulate a response. If I ignore her texts, in two days I’ll get a call from Dad. Down to the minute, actually. I could time it if I wanted to run another experiment…

Dad’s birthday isn’t for two months. He’d want me to come home, of course. The perfect family picture—you know, father, son, and holy Stepford wife—for everyone to witness.

The step-monster will throw some huge bash, like she does every year. She treats his birthday like the most holiest of holidays.

Gag.

I’m actually surprised that she waited until now to reach out.

So it’s with satisfaction that I shut off my phone and drop it to the kitchen table. Some of the guys have filtered through, but no one questioned why I decided to tackle my Personal Finance homework out here.

There are a thousand reasons loaded and ready to go for if they do ask. Reasons that have nothing to do with Wren Davis.

Archer plops into the chair across from me.

I glance up at him, then turn back to my laptop.

“Foster.”

I sigh. “Yes?”

“You look like shit.”

“Thank you so much, Arch.” I roll my eyes. “Is that all?”

“You’ve got circles under your eyes. When’s the last time you slept?” He leans forward, his brows furrowing. “When’s the last time you ate an actual meal?”

“I sleep.” It’s not quite the convincing argument I hoped it would be.

He chuckles. “Okay, man. It’s late. Normal people would be sleeping…now.”

“Well, I’ve got homework. Stuff to do. Grades to keep up, you know?” I shrug and try not to glance past him to Wren’s closet door.

“Hockey to play,” Archer adds.

I wave him off. “I’ll be ready for our game tomorrow.”

We’re playing the Bexley University Wolves at home to kick off our season. I’m not nervous. I feel like I’ve studied their tapes for hours. I know Theo, their team captain, is a force on the ice. And their goalie, Emery, has anger issues.

I look forward to pissing him off.

“It’s just—”