Page 80 of Break Points and Face Offs

I have all the information these idiots are going to give me so I nod and turn to leave.

“Is that it?” Nathan calls after me. “You don’t want to stay a while and catch up?”

“I’m very busy,” I call over my shoulder. “Some of us have work to do …” A smile touches my lips as I add, “And rivals to beat.”

I try not to think about Will in my bed. Wondering if he stayed in my apartment long after I left. If he may even be there when I get back.

I should text him and tell him he better not be. On second thoughts, he’d probably enjoy that.

I head straight over to the library, finding Jamie there with the guy I’m assuming to be ‘Texas Travis.’

Travis is a lanky blond with a dopey smile and big blue eyes. Jamie’s staring at him while he talks. Love hearts in his eyes.

That warm smile that had been on Jamie’s face drops the second he sees me walk in.

“Priestley, what are you doing here?”

“I still go here,” I remind him.

“I know, it’s just …” he stammers.

“Who’s your friend?”

He blushes.

Before he can say anything, his friend gets up and holds his hand out for me to shake. “My name is Travis. Pleasure to meet you.”

The southern accent is charming. As are the manners. I take his hand and give it a warm shake. Still, I hope my eyes convey the message, Hurt my baby brother and I’ll destroy you.

“Is something wrong?” Jamie asks. “Did Dad call?”

I don’t miss how Jamie calls Father ‘Dad.’ It does not mean they’re closer, just that Jamie was raised differently, in different schools, and with different nannies.

“No, nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to check in on you, see how you were doing.”

He gives me a confused frown. “I was just about to meet my friends at the coffee shop.”

“I can go ahead and tell Joelle you’ll catch up with us when you’re done,” Travis offers.

Jamie looks at me with big eyes. I’m not sure what he wants.

“If you’d rather meet your friends, it’s fine.”

“No, no, of course not. I can meet up with them later.”

I heave a sigh of relief. At least he has friends here, which is more than can be said for some of the schools he attended before.

“Shall we go somewhere we can talk? Are you hungry?”

He shrugs. “I could eat.”

The diner is blessedly quiet. It’s hard enough to hear Jamie with how quietly he speaks when there isn’t outside noise.

“How’s school?” I ask.

“Fine.”

“How’s pledging going?”