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“Good.” Rico smiles in appreciation. “I know you aren’t thrilled with not having her here for Christmas morning, but she doesn’t get to see her dad a lot. It’s nice they’re able to spend the holiday together. It’s gotta be cold as balls on the Cape this time of year though.”
“So freaking cold.” I shudder at the memory of the Christmas we all spent together at her dad’s place a couple years ago. Her parents get along pretty well for a divorced couple. I actually admire them for that. They recognized their marriage was shit and acted accordingly to rectify the situation. No hard feelings or spiteful shit when it came to J. We’ve all been up there a few times over the years for various holidays, and she and I even spend two weeks there in the summer. However, this is the first Christmas since J came into my life that she won’t be with me, and Rico’s right… I low-key hate it. “She’ll be back in a few days,” I say more as a reminder to myself. “There’s only so much to do up there in winter before you go stir crazy. Plus, she can’t go more than a week away from Daph. They both start to go through withdrawal.”
The boys laugh at the mention of the hip attachment that is my sister’s best friend, though they all love Daph just as much as they do J. Hell, by the time JP came around, Daph was already a staple in our household. He’s never known our little crew without her.
“Bro,” JP slaps my chest with the back of his palm, “just think, this time next year, Daph’s gonna be driving. Then they’re really gonna keep us on our toes. She’s gonna be carting their asses all over this freaking town.”
“The fuck she is!” I choke on my beer, slightly panicking at the thought of the trouble the two of them could get into. “I will lay down the law with that one.”
This only makes the guys laugh harder, and I narrow my eyes in annoyance.
“Yeah.” Rico snorts into his cup. “Keep telling yourself that, Nick. Those girls are a force of nature. And Jones has you wrapped around her little finger. You ain’t stoppin’ shit. Not to mention, you’re going pro full time after we graduate this year. You’re not gonna be here to lay down the law.”
“In case you forgot, I went pro this year—and won, I might add—”
“Cheers to that!” JP raises his cup, slapping it against mine.
“—and I still was home plenty to keep tabs on the girls.”
“It was your rookie motocross season on the pro circuit, and you demolished that shit. You’re about to do for motocross what Ronaldo did for fútbol. How many sponsorship offers did you get?”
“Thirty-four.”
“And they’re still coming in. Even if you only sign with a third of them, those alone are going to keep you busy. Not to mention, after next Christmas you’ll be doing the Supercross season as well. You’re about to be slammed from January to August, my guy. We’ll be lucky to see you more than twice a month outside of the off season.” Rico drains the last of his drink before turning to head toward the back patio. “I’m gonna grab another beer.”
“What’s up with him?” I ask, my eyes still tracking Rico as he moves through the crowd.
“Nick.” JP sighs, pulling my attention to him. “Don’t think we aren’t happy for you because we are. We’re so fucking psyched. It’s just… not all of us have these big futures awaiting us.”
My brow furrows in confusion. “JP, your trust fund is worth just north of ten million. If you’re smart with your investments, you’re gonna be just fine.”
“It’s not about the money, Nick. Sure, financially Rico and I are set, but life’s not just about financial security. After we graduate, you get to spend your days doing something you genuinely enjoy. Rico and I? We’ve got a long life of ahead of us being slaves to whatever roles our fathers designate us in their businesses.”
“You could go to college,” I offer as an alternative. “Pave your own way.”
JP huffs a laugh, thumbing at his nose. “College? Bro, Rico isn’t trying to spend a single second longer in a classroom than he has to. You may have helped him with his dyslexia, but that shit’s still a struggle for him every single day. And me?” He shakes his head. “With how I’ve dicked around all through high school, my father would have to donate a fucking library to get me in somewhere.” He heads off in the direction of the kitchen, with me hot on his heels.
“So, you what? Just roll over and accept a future you despise?”
JP steps up to the large island in the center of the room, its marble countertop littered with liquor bottles. “Isn’t that part of growing up and being an adult? Dad will give me some corner office where I’ll put in sixty hours a week, and pray I’ll never have the misfortune of walking in on him while he’s bending his secretary over his desk like we all know he does. I’ll fuck my way through half the office until one of those girls traps my ass with some unplanned pregnancy. I’ll marry her, because unlike what everyone thinks, I’m not a total piece of shit, and we’ll play house for a few years. Eventually, we’ll grow tired of each other, she’ll start fucking our pool boy while I’ll let some over-eager secretary fuck me stupid in my office while I’m ‘working late’ and, oh, would you look at that? I’ve become my father. The circle of life has been fulfilled.” He selects the bottle of Johnny Walker, pouring a generous amount in the cup that previously held his beer.
“Or how about you skip out on this cautionary tale of upper-class entitlement and self-fulfilling mediocracy and instead do something you’d enjoy?”
“Like what?” He tosses back the amber-colored liquor, his lips curling back on a hiss.
“Like work for me.” The words are out before I’m able to give them any actual thought, though I don’t hate the idea.
“Doing what?” JP cocks a brow skeptically.
“As Rico pointed out, I’m about to be some pro hotshot racer. What do you wanna do?”
“Not mooch off you.”
“If you think I’d pay you to mooch, you’re out of your mind. Whatever we decide on, you’ll be earning your keep.”
JP goes quiet as he considers my offer. Before he has the opportunity to respond, two guys from our class trip over one another as they spill into the kitchen.
“Nicky!” One of them shouts. “Rico. Outside.”
