Page 47 of The Bad Boyfriend Curse
Noah laughs. “Does that mean you aren’t going to take him to the LeClair party tomorrow instead of me?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m taking you. I mean, do you still want to come with me?”
He nods. “Yeah, absolutely.”
“Your dad’s worked at LeClair Industries a long time. It’s a staff family event. I assume you’ve been before?”
“Nope.”
I frown. “Really? Never?”
He shakes his head. “My dad goes to these employee events because they’re pretty much mandatory. But he’s never brought us along. I doubt many of the plant workers’ families will be there. I assume the execs will have better food. That’s why I’m going with you. Plus, scandalizing your family is so much fun.”
I chuckle. Scandalizing themisfun. And I don’t want to be forced to be here or go to Randell Academy in September, so I’ll keep being the delinquent stepdaughter so that Jason makes me leave before the election. “Well, I’m glad you’re coming. It sounds dull as heck, and it will be better with you.”
I regret saying that almost as soon as the words leave my mouth. I’ve made things weird. Just like I made things weird when I said he was my best friend here.
“Yeah, me too,” he says. “I honestly wouldn’t agree to go to this thing for anyone else.”
I don’t look at him, but I feel his eyes on me. He can probably see me blushing.
“How’s your brother?” I ask, changing the subject.
Noah shrugs. “Fine, I guess. Dad’s addiction sponsor found him an outpatient program in London. Dad’s going to have to drive him there every day for a little while. I feel like…” He shakes his head.
“What?” I ask.
He looks ahead of him, his jaw tightening. “I don’t know. I feel like it might be a little futile. Dad’s trying to get Aaron back on the drums, but everything gives Aaron a headache. He keeps snapping at us.”
“That must be rough at home.” I remember how loud the conversations were when I dropped by earlier.
Noah runs his hand through his hair. “This isn’t my brother’s first rock bottom. And I get it. I want him to be well too. Dad wants Aaron to make something of himself. But sometimes…”
“Sometimes what?”
He’s silent for a while. “Sometimes it feels like Dad would care more aboutmyfuture if I were an alcoholic too.” He exhales. “I can’t believe I admitted that out loud. I’m a terrible brother.”
I shake my head. “No. You’re anamazingbrother. But I get it. I know the pitfalls of beingthe good kid. People don’t let you be anything else.” I pause, remembering something I learned about Noah yesterday. “Hey, is what Kennedy said true? Did you really get a scholarship to college?”
He doesn’t say anything for a moment, then nods. “Yeah. To TMU.” He’s still focused in front of him and not looking at me.
My eyes widen. “TMU likeToronto Metropolitan University?”
“Yes. To earn a BA in musical performance.”
I whistle.Wow. I exhale. “That’s amazing, Noah. Why aren’t you going?”
He looks at me with his brow raised. “Um, I was arrested for trespassing, remember? My principal rescinded his letter of recommendation, and TMU took back the scholarship. They had a good-behavior clause or something.”
My eyes widen. “Seriously? That’ssowrong.” I wonder if this would have happened to me if I was arrested a year later, after getting university acceptances. “How did you get arrested, anyway?” He doesn’t say anything, so I smile awkwardly. “I mean, you don’t have to tell me, but I told you about Gabe and his viral social media ambitions.”
He takes a deep breath in and shrugs. “It was at LeClair Industries. I was hanging out at Gordon Park with some friends, and Dad called to say that I needed to get home because Aaron was freaking out. It takes fifteen minutes to walk home, but only five if I hop the fence and cut through LeClair grounds. I used to do it all the time, and no one cared. But apparently now they do care, and they wanted tomake an exampleout of me.”
Holy crap.I grab Noah’s hand for a second to make him stop walking. “Are you serious? Youlostyour scholarship because ofLeClair Industries? Does Jason know this? I can’tbelieve he let themarrestyou.” I mean, I’m no fan of Jason, but this seems too evil for him. No wonder Mike said he would never vote for Jason.
Noah shakes his head. “It wasn’tbecauseof Jason. I doubt he even knows. It was plant security. Executives don’t care what happens to the little guy.”
“What did your dad say when you lost the scholarships? He could have fought his company for you, couldn’t he?”
