Page 6 of Perfect Boy

“But that’s what it is,” Cade tosses back. “I don’t know why y’all are complaining. Hot girls in tight leotards. And there’s a dinner after. So, free food. The fuck is wrong with that?”

We all shake our heads and ignore him.

Cade’s…a lot by anyone’s standards. He’s hot and cold. Parties way too much. Has a don’t give a fuck about anything attitude. And he’s that flaky friend who says he’s going to show up at things; sometimes, he does, and other times, he doesn’t. That’s just Cade Huff for you.

Hunter is the opposite. He’s loyal to a fault. He’s reliable, and he tends to put everyone else before himself.

They might be opposite of each other, but they are both my best friends. Link too. But Link doesn’t live with us. He lives with his girlfriend, Tate.

As we pull into the parking lot, I think we’re all wondering what the hell is in store for us. I don’t dance. I’ve never danced. But I also know from overhearing them talk that…Ryann and her friends are dancers.

If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get paired up with her. Then, she’ll have to give me the time of day.

“There’s my favorite son,” my mom says, smiling at me on the screen.

I laugh, shaking my head. “You say that to all of us.”

It’s true. She’s always told each of the four of us we are her favorite. It just depends on the day. My sister, Nora, is probably her favorite. She’s an angel and given Mom two grandkids.

“Oh, hush. I do not.” She moves the phone around, bringing it closer. “You look tired, baby. You’ve been working too hard again.”

“You say that every time we talk,” I deadpan. “You’re starting to give me a complex that I look like shit.” I change the subject. “How are Nora and the kids?”

Her entire face lights up when I mention my older sister.

“So good. So, so good.” She smiles. “I can’t believe Emmett is going to be four. And Phoebe, three.” She sighs. “Just goes by too fast, I tell you. They are both so smart.”

“I know.” I nod. “I gotta get back home to see them sometime. They’ve probably forgotten who I am.”

“Well, you could FaceTime them more, you know.” She flashes me her signature look. The one she gives us kids when she’s politely trying to deliver a message. “They love it when you do.”

The only people I ever FaceTime are my sister and the kids and my mom. My mother would FaceTime me every damn day if I let her. But I limit it to a few times a week because life as a Wolf is so fucking insane sometimes that even eating dinner and getting my homework done are challenges.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” I tell her. “I will sometime this week.”

“You’d better,” she warns me. “Phoebe started some toddler ballet class last week.” She beams. “Cutest thing I ever did see.”

“I’ll bet it is.” I chuckle. “Well, she’d love this then.” I cringe. “The hockey team has paired up with ballerinas for a fundraiser.” I recoil. “I have to dance in front of everyone on a dang stage.”

She covers her mouth, but I know she’s laughing. Her smile goes right to her eyes, just like it always does. After my dad died, I wondered if I’d ever see her smile that big again. But eventually, she did. It just took time.

“Oh my Lord! You know I want all the pictures and videos of that.”

Rolling my eyes, I nod. “No way. You’d post them all over Facebook. Or send them to your book club.”

“Absolutely.” She nods. “Anyway, I know you’re busy, so I’ll let you get going. Love you, baby.”

“Love you too. Night.”

“Night, honey.”

Hitting the End button, I collapse back on my bed. I certainly didn’t rock my audition earlier today by any means. I stepped on the dance teacher’s toes at least five times. And I’m pretty sure I heard her whisper under her breath that I sucked. Then, there was Cade. Whose audition looked like he belonged on Dancing with the Stars or some shit, making the rest of us look terrible.

He loved that, of course.

I’ll probably embarrass myself in front of the entire crowd and look like a moron, but oh well. It’s for a good cause. So, being laughed at will be worth it, I suppose.

4

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