Chapter 15

“Let me go!” Jamie’s face begins to turn red as blood rushes to his head. “Seth! Stop it! Thad!”

The bathroom door opens and Thad leans out, toothbrush in his mouth and white foam toothpaste flecked on his lips. He looks at Seth’s hands around Jamie’s ankle and ducks back into the bathroom. Seth hears him spit into the sink, then he comes to the doorway again and leans against the doorjamb, toothbrush in hand. Seth grins at the audience and yanks Jamie higher just for show.

After a moment, Thad says softly, “Leave him alone.”

Seth doesn’t listen immediately. He wants to make a point. But he feels the weight of Thad’s gaze on his shoulders and releases Jamie’s foot. His leg falls back to the bed with a thud. The moment he’s free, Jamie crab-walks to the edge of the bed, legs flailing to kick Seth. “Asshole!” he cries.

“Hey hey hey!” Seth sidesteps out of reach. “I’m done picking on you, so be good, you hear?”