Page 78 of Boys Who Taint

“Your mom asked me to remind you both to stick to your studies.”

Both Sunny and I grumble.

“I know, I know,” Dad says.

“What do you think I’ve been doing?” Sunny replies, taking a sip of her coffee. “Having actual fun? Laughable.”

“I meant, lying low, don’t engage with the Carusos … or Felix,” Dad says.

I sigh out loud. “This about me again?”

“No, this is about all of us. Our family is a unit, remember?” He throws me a stern look.

“Then why aren’t Max and Elliot here?” Sunny squawks.

Dad puts down his cup. “Theyaren’t out there plotting to kill anyone or get killed.”

“We can’t help they’re boring,” Sunny retorts.

“Who am I going to kill?” I say, sarcasm lacing my voice. “Please, enlighten me of my own plans, because I don’t have the slightest fucking clue.”

Dad looks at me now, and I can see why people say I have that same penetrating gaze because damn. Even if he’s blind in one eye, the other green one is menacing as hell. “Don’t pretend you haven’t been in fights at school. Specifically with a goddamn Rivera.”

“That wasn’t recent, and—”

“And we will talk about it since you’ve been trying to avoid it.”

“Did Mom put you up to this?” I retort.

“Doesn’t matter. Felix called and told me to get you off his son’s back or there would be repercussions.”

“What?” I slam down my cup. “Silas jumpedme! Not the other way around!”

“I get that, but you have to be the big guy and walk away. Even when he hits you. I know it’s hard, but be the bigger person.”

“He was trying to kill me!” I yell.

“I …” Dad sighs and rubs the back of his neck. “Know that, but you know Felix has all the power on that school board, and I swore to him you would not get into a single ounce of trouble so you could keep your place in that school. I know it’s unfair, but you have to keep your head down to survive this until they finally let go of their hatred. Stay out of trouble. Stay out of sight.”

“Dad, the whole school pretty much hates him right now,” Sunny mutters.

“It’s gonna get better.”

“When?” I rasp.

Everyone’s quiet.

Sunny sighs. “Doesn’t really help that there’s now aGhoststalking girls on campus.”

“What?” Dad mutters.

“It’s the talk of the town. People spotted a masked guy haunting a sorority in the middle of the night and during the bonfire. No one knows who he’s after, except …” Sunny narrows her eyes at me. “Aspen.”

Fuck me. Why would she bring this up in front of Dad?

I’ve had enough of this.

I scoot my chair back, hands flat on the table, and my dad immediately homes in on me.

---