Series: Peach State Stepbros Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
This is so Atlas—my messy, incoherent map. One minute we’re at McDonald’s, bonding over our shit parents, and it’s like I’m on a clear path to Phoenix. Next thing I know, I’m lost in fucking Siberia.
*
“You’re gonna be fine,” my buddy Colin assures me.
After returning home from the metal yard, I took a shower to decompress before inviting him into my room to vent about my Thermo test.
In gym shorts and a crop top, I lie on my bed, tossing a football back and forth with Colin, who stands by my desk, sporting pajama bottoms and a mesh cap. As I spin the ball back to him, the tension in my chest eases. Throwing a ball around is my version of meditation.
“Yeah? What tests have you failed so far?”
“All right, none, but how many more tests do you have in that class?”
“Five. And there’s a project that counts for twenty-five percent of my grade.”
“Okay, well, I know you don’t suck at math, so you know that’s more than enough to get your grade up. You don’t have to withdraw over that.”
“Colin, I was already struggling on the quizzes and homework. Thermo is a different way of thinking than I’m used to. It’s abstract, and some of this shit is damn right counterintuitive. I thought if I was good at Calc, everything else would be easy, but…”
“Yeah, you’re right. You probably just found something you suck at.”
As I catch the football, I notice the grin stretch across his face. He knows me well enough to know that’s just the sort of thing that will kick my ass into gear.
“I’m gonna think on it,” I tell him, sending the ball back to him.
There’s a knock at my door, and I call out, “Come in!”
The door opens, and a head pokes inside—Colin’s stepbrother, Ash. It’s not random chance that Colin and I became so close in high school. He knows what it’s like to have some messy family shit to deal with, and it’s what bonded us. Although, he and Ash have a totally different relationship than Atlas and me.
“Ash Ketchum!” I call out as he steps into my room. I’ve called him that since he was a freshman in high school, after he attended more than a few costume parties dressed as the renowned Pokémon-catching hottie.
Ash’s eyes widen behind his thick-rimmed glasses before he says, “Did you convert your Alpha Theta Mu shirt into a crop top?”
“We got a bad batch of spirit-wear last week, with the letters too high. I made ’em work.”
“You certainly did,” Ash says, his eyes drinking me in. Ash is bi and recently single from the girl he was seeing through freshman year, so I’ve noticed him doing a lot more looking around lately.
“Did you just come in here to compliment his shirt?” Colin asks.
“Ooh, so jealous.” Ash winks. “I actually need you for one of my TaskFrat challenges,” he tells Colin.
TaskFrat is a series of task games orchestrated by the Peach State frats, largely inspired by the British television series Taskmaster. Ash is a real whiz and participates in all the major events, but I usually stick to the big TaskFrat Xtreme Games in the spring.
Speaking of whiz…
“Hey, Ash, know any brainiacs who passed Thermo?”
A cocky smirk sweeps across his face. “You’re looking at a brainiac who passed Thermo.”
“Huh, really?” I glare at Colin. “Your stepbro didn’t mention this.”
“I can’t keep track of all the stuff he does,” Colin says.
Ash approaches Colin. “So cute when you pretend not to know everything about me.”
“Hey, baby bro, you think you could help my dumb jock buddy with Thermo? Apparently, he sucks at it.” He grins, just eating this moment up.
“Well, that’s funny because I need you for TaskFrat, and I guess if you aren’t going to help me…” Ash starts for the door.
I’m about to suggest I step in when Colin says, “Fine. You make a mockery of me tonight, but then you help my friend with Thermo. Deal?”
Ash’s brow creases. “You help me with them for the rest of the year, and I’ll do it.”
Colin chuckles. “Fine.”
“Sucker. I would’ve done it for free.” Ash spins Colin’s cap around and lowers the bill over Colin’s eyes. “Now come on.”
“What’s the challenge?” Colin asks as he fixes his cap. “Last time I helped you, I wound up naked, crawling through a kiddie pool of Jell-O.”
“You can’t blame anyone but yourself for going commando. And we won’t know the challenge until we get there, so throw on some briefs, and let’s get going.”
“Can I have ten?” Colin asks.
“I can give you twenty. You’re welcome to come watch, Troy,” Ash says, with a not-so-subtle wink and a smile.
“Thanks, but I have something to tend to.”
He and Colin agree on where they’ll meet up before Ash heads back out.
“Dude, I think your adorable stepbrother might have a crush on me,” I say as I toss him the ball.