Page 7 of Lost Boy

My parents have always pushed for both of us to become doctors. For our oldest brother, Holden, who passed away from cancer years ago, it wasn’t a question of if, but when. He was going to be everything my mom and dad wanted him to be. He had the brains. The drive. And was basically a mini version of my father. For Hunter, all he’s ever wanted to do is play hockey. Despite the pressure from my parents to become a doctor, it’s clear that isn’t the career he wants.

Me? I’m at Brooks with the intent of going to med school. But to be honest, that’s not really what I want to do either. But the problem is, I don’t have a clue what I actually want to do with my future. And until I do, I figure I should probably go with the flow. And the flow is pretending I really do want to be a doctor to appease my parents.

I watch Hunter blow a kiss to Sutton, knowing damn well it’s all for show because they came up with thesuper-intelligentidea to fake date each other. Who even does that? Well, besides in romance books that I read, that is.

My brother—that’s who.

I will say, the books with that trope in them are some of my favorites. And I suppose they usually do end with a happily ever after. But Sutton and Hunter aren’t a damn novel. And I don’t want to see my brother get hurt.

I move my gaze to Cade Huff. His smile is so bright as he throws his arm around my brother’s neck, dragging him closer. He’s truly a ray of sunshine. Someone I find so intriguing because of the way he seamlessly floats through life, brightening everyone’s day.

“You’re really ogling that number four with the name Huff on his back,” Remi says, nudging me. “As in …Cadefreaking Huff. As in … your new roommate. As in … Hunter’s best freaking friend!”

I elbow her, looking around to make sure no one heard her. “Remi! Shut up!” I hiss. “I was not!”

“Oh, you were.” She tucks a strand of brown hair behind her ear. “I don’t blame you; I’d probably be looking too. Okay, I’ll admit, I was looking.” She pouts. “I’m a horny bitch who can’t help but sit here and salivate over the man meat.”

“Except you have a boyfriend, you little whore!” I tease her, poking my finger into her arm. “One all the way in California.”

“Please, we all know my boyfriend is checking out the bitches of SoCal.” She squints her eyes and scrunches her nose up, making one of her many animated expressions. “Probably in their crop tops and booty shorts with their big hair and pouty, over-glossed lips. So, yeah, I can take a little look-see too, right?”

Deacon and Remi have been dating since our sophomore year in high school. He plays baseball and was devastated that she wouldn’t come to college with him in Cali. But Brooks has an incredible swimming program, and I’m pretty sure that girl is part mermaid.

“If you say so.” I roll my eyes, letting them drift back to Cade.

As the huddle breaks apart and he’s left alone, I watch as his smile fades. What replaces it is something I actually recognize.

Emptiness.

His body language changes, and his shoulders slump. Gone is the picture I painted in my head of this sunshine boy who was full of nothing but goofiness. And what’s left is someone who appears lost and, honestly, kind of broken.

I can’t help but wonder …Why haven’t I noticed that look on him before?

With my fake ID, I order a drink. Since it’s fall, Club 83 has some caramel apple martini goodness, and I’m pumped. Taking a sip, I nod at Remi as she downs most of her White Claw.

“Dang, that’s good.” I inhale, setting it down on the bar just as the waitress puts our cheese curds and fried pickles in front of us. “Not as good asthatis going to be.”

“You’re going to burn your mouth, Hales. Would you just let them cool off?” Remi scolds me like I’m five years old as I reach for a piping hot curd, damn near burning the fingerprints off my digits.

Dunking it in ranch to cool it off, I blow a few times before popping it in my mouth. “Dear Lord, I love these things,” I utter, trying to chew through the pain of the burn. “Hot.”

“No shit they’re hot,” she deadpans before grabbing a pickle and waving it around so that it actually cools.

Remi’s household eats only the healthiest of foods, and she always says I corrupted her with my love for junk food. She’s not wrong, I guess.

My parents always tried to keep everything in our household extremely healthy. But our nanny wasn’t nearly as much of a stickler. And when I asked for something, she’d usually deliver. Not to mention, when I got my license and had the ability to drive to any fast-food joint, that was exactly what I did. Far too often too.

Grabbing another curd, I pop it between my lips and start chewing when someone leans over me, snatching a fried pickle and dunking it in the ranch dressing. Looking up, I see Cade grinning at me.

“Sharing is caring, Haley baby.” He nods, narrowing his eyes in an almost-seductive way. “Your bacon is still better. I’d eat the shit out of that all day, every day.” He winks before taking another. “But … not bad.”

“Cade,” I say, smiling a cheesy, embarrassing smile that literally hurts my cheeks. “Good game.”

“Thanks. I saw you there, snacking on some Sour Patch Kids with your big ol’ soda.” His grin grows. “Next time, you probably should wear my jersey when you come watch me play.”

“Oh, yeah? And why would I do that?” I raise a brow at him.

“To let everyone in the arena know who you’re there watching. Duh.” His eyes shimmer with amusement, laced with flirtation. “Plus, you know, angel, you’d look damn good in my number.”

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