Page 78 of Bad Boy
“Remember, Remi. In our families’ world, it’s all about rubbin’ elbows with the right people. My parents don’t believe in doin’ big business over the phone or email. Or even video calls. They’re old school. So any dinner, any social interaction, is an opportunity to weave their way into someone’s good graces. They’re sharks in the water, circlin’ their prey, and they won’t hesitate to bite.”
His enchanting gaze bores into me, so fucking alluring, and he smiles crookedly.
“Ready to meet your other neighbors?”
“Let’s do it, Preppy.”
We leave our families chatting and walk side-by-side over to Grady, Sierra, and their parents.
“Mr. and Mrs. Walker, this is Remi Michaels,” he says with a proud smile that makes my abs tighten.
I step forward and shake Mr. Walker’s hand first.
“Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour. It’s great to meet you, Remi. And please. Call me Sean.” He shakes my hand with a strong grip, but I squeeze harder. Ialwayssqueeze harder.
Sean seems genuine, as does his wife when she introduces herself, insisting I call her Kendra.
Linc and I pile onto the couch with Grady and Sierra while Sean and Kendra take armchairs across from it. They ask me the usual questions—how am I settling in, and how’s school? I give them pretty generic answers.
“So, Remi. Has Richard shown you the ropes at all? Keller Industries is a massive enterprise. Unfortunately, with many leaking tributaries. There’s a lot for you to learn.”
My hackles rise at that, even though Lincoln warned me how this dinner will most likely go. His parents are strategic as fuck. That’s all there is to it. And I’m sure their best friends and business partners, the Walkers, are no different.
“Honey, leave the poor boy alone. He’s hardly settled in and has clearly been through an ordeal.” She turns her caring eyes toward me. “Sweet pea. I’m sorry, but I have to ask. Are you alright? What happened?”
It’s been days since the fight with Connor, but I still have a black eye. My knuckles are barely noticeable. So, I don’t hesitate to feed her the bullshit story about how I saved a fellow classmate from nearly falling to his death last weekend.
She eats it up, too, as does Sean. I feel a little bad when I glance over and catch the frown on Grady’s face before he schools his features, giving me a nervous smile instead.
Shortly after that, Sean and Kendra excuse themselves to say hello to my mom and Gramps. As soon as her parents walk away, Sierra calls me out on my bullshit in that soft-spoken way of hers. “Everyone knows that story isn’t true. Even the teachers.”
I chuckle because it started as a joke and spiraled into a lie I’ve had to repeatedly tell, knowing it’s not at all believable. I feel like fucking Pinocio or some shit. “Hey. It may be a shitty lie, but it worked, and that’s all that matters.”
“I heard some crazy stuff went down in Pisgah,” Grady says, leaning forward eagerly. “Is it true you did that to Connor’s face?”
My grin is cruel, but one of the rules of Gus’s fight league isdeny, deny, deny.
“Nope. Wasn’t me.”
Grady’s golden eyes flash to Linc, but he doesn’t question me. I can tell he’s definitely still intimidated. He’ll warm up to me over time. I’m sure of it.
Still looking at Linc, Grady says, “I want to go next time.”
“Me, too,” Sierra echoes her brother. “I’d like to see the neanderthals in their natural habitat. Just once. For curiosity’s sake.”
“Oh. I see how it is, Sierra. Neanderthals, huh?”
She covers her mouth with a hand, giggling as the rest of us chuckle. She’s not really wrong.
“The gang’s all here,” Gramps says, smiling wide as he takes a seat in one of the oversized armchairs across from the big couch. “Looks like the four of you are fast friends already. Just how it should be. Our future leaders.”
“Um. Yeah. Sure.” I sit up straighter as Mom and the rest of the parents wander over. The Andersons and Walkers have strange, hopeful expressions as they take in the four of us lounging comfortably and laughing together.
And then it hits me.
“Is this neighborhood some kind of cult or something? Is that what actually happened, Mom? Did you escape a cult with your unborn child?” I gasp and clutch my chest, acting like a complete smartass in front of everyone.
Oops.
