Chapter 22

Andrew

I check my phone again, seeing another text from Drew apologizing for putting his foot in his mouth and one from PJ saying they are going to Katy’s after practice.

I skipped again. My mom was called in to cover another shift, and dad was already at work, so I had to collect my sisters from their after-school club.

I got them home, fed them both, and plonked them in front of some shitty Disney film. Now lying on the sofa, I grab for my phone as it buzzes again in my front pocket.

Mom

Hey baby boy, i’ll be home in an hour

Andrew

K

I feel like a bit of a dick with a one-word answer for my mom, but I am pissed off. The letter from Yale is still in my front pocket and scrunched every time I shift on the couch.

I yank it out and shove it down the side of the sofa cushion. Lottie pulls herself up next to me and snuggles into my arms.

I bury my face into her soft blonde curls, breathing in the baby smell she still retains. She giggles and squirms, alerting Sammy to the fact that we are having cuddles without her, and she jumps on top of us.

I manage to settle them both down, my arms wrapping around each of them, and soon they are back to being engrossed in the film.

I look back at my phone, clicking on the website for San Fran State. They are having an open day on the campus this weekend.

The courses on offer there are as good as anywhere else. Even if they don’t come with the prestige of an “Ivy League education,” it looks pretty cool.

I submitted my application to them when I sent out all my others. At least if I go there, I can be close enough to home if my folks need help with the girls.

Jake mentioned that he applied there for the same reason, to stay close to his dad.

I kill some time scrolling through Instagram. More specifically, Gina’s Instagram page.

The guilt of being such a dick when she moved here grips me as I swipe through the countless duck-faced poses of her and the blonde bimbos who pretend to be her friends.

She has always been beautiful. Her different-colored eyes and red hair make her stand out from the crowd, but seeing her be herself is so much sexier.

Even in photos, I can see the difference in her smile from when she was pretending to now.

I zoom in on a photo of her and Jake after they crashed on their skateboards, her shirt rucked up, exposing her stomach and a little bit of her bra, wide smile on her face.

I feel my dick start to harden, and I try to adjust it subtly without disturbing my little sisters. That is so not a conversation I wanted to have. Ever.

My mom eventually arrives home, full of thanks for my babysitting. She goes to the kitchen to start cooking dinner for us, and the phone rings. A couple of minutes later, she emerges with an apologetic look on her face.

“Andy, I’m so sorry, but they’ve asked me to go back in.”

I sigh deeply, ruffling Sammy’s hair. “It’s ok. Can I just run to my friend’s for a second? I need to apologize to Drew.”

“What did you do to Drew?” She frowns, sitting next to me, immediately ending up with Lottie crawling onto her lap.

“I kinda blew up at him. It was nothing, really. I was just being sensitive.” I run my hand through my hair and down my face. “But I really need to tell him face to face that I’m sorry.”

She fixes her gaze on me for a second before nodding.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, my love.”

I smile thinly and press a quick kiss to her forehead.

“I have an hour before they need me back, so I’ll finish cooking for when you get home.”

I quickly drive to Katy’s, and one of her brothers lets me in, pointing with a grunt up the stairs.

I can hear Katy’s voice coming from behind one of the doors, directing Gina in taking photos, probably for her Insta page as usual.

I push open the door and quietly walk over to where Drew is sitting. I lean down to talk to him.

“I know you didn’t mean anything earlier. I was being a sensitive pussy.”

“Nah, man, honestly, it was my fault. I blame the college girls, dude.” Drew quirks up the side of his mouth.

I shake my head. “No. I’m sorry I went off on you. I know you don’t think like that.”

Drew stands up and pulls me in for a hug, slapping me good-naturedly on the back. “You gonna hang for a bit?”

“Nah. Can’t.” I bump fists with PJ and Jake and shoot a quick smile to the girls before slipping back downstairs and making my way home.

I call out that I’m back, and my mom appears from the kitchen, a weird expression on her face. She reaches into the pocket of her apron and pulls out my crumpled Yale letter.

“What exactly is this, young man? And why did I find it shoved down the side of the sofa!” She can’t keep the grin off her lips.

“I take it you read it, then.” I toe off my sneakers and drop onto the sofa, picking up the remote and starting to flick through the channels. She humphs and snatches the remote out of my hand.

“Andy! This is brilliant news. You got early acceptance to Yale! Your dad is going to be so proud.”

“I’m not going,” I say lowly.

“I’m sorry, what?” My mom’s grin is swiftly replaced with a frown.

“I’m not going. We can’t afford it right now, and I’m not leaving you and dad to look after the girls on your own.” I shrug, pulling at a piece of thread hanging from the sleeve of my hoodie.

“Honey…yes, it would be tight, and we’d have to apply for a student loan…but if you want to go there we will find a way.

“And as for leaving us to look after the girls, that’s not your job to worry about. You’re still one of our children, too, remember.” At that moment, her beeper goes off, and she curses.

“Yeah. Right. You guys can cope fine with looking after the girls.” I smirk. My mom flicks the end of my nose.

“We’re not done talking about this, young man. But, yes. I have to go.” She springs off the sofa and grabs her bag.

“And much as we appreciate your help every single time you stay home for us, we would figure that out too if you went to Yale.”

“Go to work.” I shake my head. “Love you.”

“Love you more, baby boy.”