Flip (Next Level Book 2)

Monday’s come way too fast. I’m running around this the morning like a chicken with her head cut off. I was able to talk to the dentist right when they opened, and they agreed to squeeze us in at nine-thirty. I know what “squeeze in” means. Beetle could be seen right away, or we’ll be sitting and waiting for a while. Either way, I’m stuck and at their mercy.

Normally I wouldn’t mind so much, but today’s different. I have two job interviews and one’s at ten-thirty, the other is at one. I’ll have to take Brendan with me to at least the first one, because there’s no way I can drive him to camp after getting his tooth fixed and still make my interview in time.

“Where’s my damn deodorant?” I can’t find it anywhere! I know I left it… Oh. Here it is. Right where I left it.

“What are you so dressed up for?” Beetles asks at my door, rubbing his eyes. His hair is sticking out at all ends, and he’s gone sheet crinkles on his face.

“Hurry up and get dressed. We’ve got to leave in fifteen minutes!” I woke him up three times already, and he fell back asleep every time! Grrrrrr. “Come on, dude. Mommy’s got interviews, and you’ve got the dentist and camp!”

His chin scrapes and nose don’t look nearly as bad today as they did yesterday, but it still hurts to look at. I hate it when he gets hurt. I wish I could take all his injuries onto myself and spare him.

Just as I’m scooting Brendan out of my bedroom, I hear my front door open, and slam shut. “Hey!”

It’s Glitch. “We’re up here!” I have no clue why my brother is here, but I don’t have time to hang out. Grabbing a hair tie and shoes, I dash down the steps to make something for breakfast.

“Whoa, you look nice.”

“Thanks. Got two interviews today and—”

“Uncle Glitch!” Beetle comes down the steps half-dressed and hair’s still a mess. “Check this out!” He proudly points at his face.

“Dang.” Glitch leans down to inspect the damage. “How’d you do that?”

I know Glitch is probably remembering doing the same thing to his face when he was twelve. Our mom nearly fainted when she saw him come inside from skateboarding at the park. Not only had he split his chin open, but his braces had gone through his top lip, and he chipped the same front tooth as Brendan.

“We went swimming at Trey’s hotel yesterday and I slipped when I was running to do a three-sixty cannonball trick with the basketball.”

Glitch’s brows rise to his hairline. He looks over at me. “Swimming at Trey’s hotel room?”

“We went swimming, watched a movie, and went out to dinner.” I don’t need that look from him. I don’t need to explain myself to him either. So why is my belly twisting with unease?

Because you’ve been sneaking around with his best friend for two years and now he knows and hasn’t mentioned it to you yet…

“About that,” he says, sitting at the table. His gaze goes to Brendan for a second. “Hey, Beetle. How about you go upstairs and do something with that hair? You look like you licked an electric socket.”

“I’ll just put on a hat.”

“Nope. A hat won’t cut it, man. Do as I say and go wet your head and fix it.”

Sometimes I don’t know how I feel about Glitch telling Brendan what to do. He’s not the dad, he’s the uncle. But there are moments like this, when I’m scatter-brained and stressed out, that it’s nice to have support and backup. I’ll be the first to admit, I cave a lot with Brendan because I’m too tired to argue over things like messy hair and bad manners. Glitch usually balances the scales and helps maintain respect here.

When Beetle runs back up the steps, I grab a bunch of random leftovers out of the fridge for breakfast. I don’t have time to cook. “We’re in a hurry. I have to have him at the dentist at nine-thirty.”

“Then I’ll make this quick.” Glitch leans forward and nails me with a death stare when I set a tray of random appetizers on the table. “Don’t hurt him.”

I feel my defenses kick in. The sheer willpower it takes to not frisbee throw this platter of crab rangoons and eggrolls at his head is unreal. “Shouldn’t you be saying that to him, not me?”

“Oh, I have. But now I’m saying it to you, Erin. You’re both important to me and I’m not about to lose one because of the other.”

It hurts that he’d ever think he’d lose me. “Glitch…”

“I’m just going to say this once.” He taps his finger on the table. “If you’re playing with him just to have some fun, stop right now. Find another boy toy. If you’re playing for keeps, then stay out of your own head and let him into your life.”

“He’s in my life! Christ, he’s been in it since you brought him home from college, freshman year!”

Glitch shakes his head. “You know what I mean.”

No. I don’t. “This isn’t your business. Stay out of it.”

“Not on your life.” He stands up and walks over to me, lowering his voice. “Trey loves you. If you can’t see that, or if you aren’t ready to commit to something of that level, then fine. That’s your call. But don’t string him along for another two motherfucking years because you’re still floundering to understand why you should have nice things like Trey in your life. He deserves to be more than your dirty fucking secret, Erin.”

Ouch.

“What the fuck, Glitch. He wasn’t a sec—” I cut myself off because it would be a lie. I did keep Trey a secret. “I was afraid you’d be mad.”

“You’re a grown ass woman. It shouldn’t matter what I think or how I feel. It’s your life and your decision.”

I’m too angry to even look at Glitch right now. How dare he come to my house and say this shit to me. I haven’t strung Trey along. Have I? I mean, we had a mutual understanding. An arrangement.

I want everyone to know we’re together now.

Shame hits me like a sledgehammer. He’s right. I’ve been acting like Trey is my secret boy toy, and I hate myself for it.

“I get it, Er. You’ve been judged your whole life. I just never thought you’d put me in that group of assholes.”

“I’m ready!” Beetle yells, coming down the steps with his hair soaking wet.

“Grab something from the table to eat and let’s get going.” I can’t bring myself to look at Glitch right now. I can barely hold my tears at bay, and the last thing I need is to cry in front of my son and have him ask questions.

“Listen, I didn’t come here to upset you. I came to put the yard back to normal.” Glitch heads toward the living room to go out the back door. The caterers cleaned up everything, but I still have to put back all my patio furniture, the trampoline, and bike ramp. “If you need to drop Beetle off after the dentist, I can take him to camp so you won’t be late to your interview. It won’t take me long here and I have the afternoon off.”

I close my eyes and the first tear falls. What would I do without my brother?

“That would be great. Thanks, Glitch.” I step outside and head to my car. My hands are shaking as I pull out my key fob and unlock the doors, ignoring my cell phone when it dings in my purse.

“Hey!” Glitch calls out from the front door. “Good luck!”

I don’t think he’s talking about my interviews.