BRADEN

My body aches as I shove open the door to our house. It's the quiet before the storm tonight. Taking their pregame naps before the bars. I decided to go to the gym. Release some tension from my body.

I roll out my shoulder as I head past Robbie and Jeremy passed out on the couch. I almost laugh when I see they are watching Grey's Anatomy. Typical. Rae and Tori got them into it and haven't stopped watching it since. I jog up the stairs to head to my room. I have to take a shower and finish up an assignment before the pregame. I think it's just us and the girls tonight. I am relieved if I am being honest. I'm dreading having to see anyone but the boys and them.

"Hey Mom."

"Honey, hi. How are you?" she says over the phone. I shut the door to the girls apartment. She doesn't sound upset or in a panic which is good.

"Good, worried. Are you okay?" I ask her walking down the hallway. She laughs making me pause in front of the elevator doors.

"Yes. Braden not all phone calls from me are bad," she laughs over the phone. I release a breath I didn't know I was holding in. "But I did want to talk to you about Tyler."

"Okay," I say pushing the button on the elevator. My mom and I talking about Tyler never leads to anything good. We usually both end up frustrated but I don't hear the stress in her voice anymore. It's there but it's not as bad.

"I want him to come visit with you for a few weeks."

That's where we left things off. I do want to see Tyler but bringing him to a college town where drugs are fucking endless. This is a crazy idea even for my mother. I know she needs a break but my aunt, her sister, would be more than happy to take Tyler for a week. Why the fuck does she think I can control him?

I have debated multiple times on whether or not I should tell Asher and Carter. They are like the mom and dad of the group at this point. Plus, the two of them, when they work together, are unbeatable.

I step up the last stair just as Asher's bedroom door opens. Asher steps out of his room shirtless with messy hair with Carter joining behind him. She looks grumpy.

"Did you just get back from lifting?" Asher asks as he clears his throat. Carter's face scrunches as she pushes Asher's back grumbling something. "Will you cool it, grumpy."

"It's my feeding time, jerk," Carter bites back annoyed. I can't help but let out a loud laugh.

"Feeding time? What are you an animal?" I ask still laughing. I shut up when Carter's dark eyes shoot me daggers.

"Yes, when she's tired and hungry," Asher says earning another shove. He sighs, "Okay, okay, c'mon grumpy."

Carter hugs Asher's waist peeking out from under his arm. He rolls his eyes at her but a hint of a smile plays on his face. I have to tell them.

"I'll join you guys in a second I just have to put my shit down," I tell them quickly. That makes both of them pause and Carter's eyes to soften.

"Are you okay?" Carter asks not letting Asher go. I shrug my shoulders because let's be honest, I haven't been. She opens her mouth to say something but doesn't continue. She pulls a tired smile onto her face, "See you downstairs. Is pizza okay?"

"Oh you ask him but I just have to say yes?" Asher asks looking down at her. I shake my head at the two of them.

"Pizza's fine, I'll be down in a sec," I say walking past the couple. I head into my room and shut the door behind me. I toss my gym bag into the corner of my room. I sit on the edge of my bed and grab my phone from my pocket. Christine's name is up at the top of my notifications. Her texts asks me what we are doing tonight. I release a breath tossing my phone onto my bed. Later issue. My right now issue to telling Asher and Carter everything. I have to tell someone especially if Tyler is coming here. I know them and everyone else in the group would want to keep him as safe as possible.

I get off of my bed and head back out my door. I go down the stairs and hear Carter on the phone with the pizza place. Sixer is running around Carter with a ball in her mouth. Sixer looks at me and sprints in my direction. Asher is laying on the couch flipping through channels. Robbie and Jeremy must have moved to their beds because they are nowhere to be seen.

"Where are Rob and Jeremy?" I ask as I grab the ball from Sixer's mouth and throw it. She darts to it as Carter hangs up the phone.

"Upstairs," Asher responds settling on a rerun of Friends.

"They said thirty minutes," Carter says handing Asher his phone. He grabs it from her as she sits down next to him. I sit down on the end of our L shaped couch as Sixer runs back to me.

"What did you need to talk to us about, Braden?" Asher speaks up as Sixer jumps onto the couch. She lays down next to me as I turn to look at the couple. Their full attention on me.

"You guys remember me talking about my brother Tyler and how he is a fucking idiot?" I start off. They nod their heads in unison. I sigh looking down at Sixer petting her head. "He's an addict, drugs. Hard drugs."

I don't want to look at their faces because they probably are shocked or disgusted. And that would fucking blow seeing that from them.

"He overdosed this summer. That's why I left the summer program for basketball early. I had to," I explain as Sixer lays her head on my lap. I explain everything to them. The plan my mom has, what my brother went through in rehab. The whole story. They listen and don't speak until I'm done. I finally look up and the only thing I see is understanding.

No judgement.

I release a breath as Sixer drops her ball into my palm.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Carter asks her brown eyes sincere. I toss the ball and watch Sixer slide across our floor to get it.

"I can handle it," I tell her glancing back in her direction.

"I never said you couldn't but we can help lift some of that weight, you know that right?" she offers up again. I nod my head watching Sixer come back to me.

"I do know but fuck," I say leaning my elbows against my thighs. Sixer comes back up to me but Carter snaps her fingers and she trots over to her instead.

"Braden, this isn't something any of us would take lightly. I know we fuck around a lot but the boys would have understood," Asher says as I run my hands over my face. Coach just told them that I had to run back home for a family emergency and I just brushed it off when they asked.

"It's not like I meant to downplay it, I just didn't want you guys to worry," I sigh glancing back at the two of them. They nod their heads in understanding exchanging a look.

"Well if you think him coming here is best, you have my permission to have him here," Asher says nodding his head at me.

"He's also more than welcome to be in our apartment," Carter adds. "We can remove all alcohol from our places."

"You, Carter Miller, would do that?" I ask a smile playing on my face. She purses her lips glancing at Asher and then back at me.

"If it means helping your brother than yes but like I'm allowed to go to the bars still, right?" she asks making Asher roll his eyes. I laugh nodding my head. "And you also don't need to tell everyone today."

"Have him up here when season starts. We can barely party anyways, we'll just really bench ourselves. Gives you time to tell everyone else How long does your mom want him to stay?" Asher asks as the doorbell rings. Carter grabs her phone and heads towards the door.

"Two weeks max is what she said. I think she just needs a break," I tell him honestly. He nods his head in understanding. Carter thanks the pizza delivery man and I hear the screen door shut.

"Talk to the other boys and I am sure they will be just as understanding. The girls too," he says standing up from the couch. I follow in suite feeling a bit lighter now that I got everything off of my chest. To two people. Now I just have to explain to the rest. Carter's right, I don't need to do it today.

I head into the kitchen grabbing a plate and putting a slice onto the plate. We eat talking about our plans for the night as Robbie and Jeremy join us. We decide on Darby's and Carter heads upstairs to get ready. The girls are suppose to get here at 8:30. Lacey is coming and I hope things are weird between us. I also can't help the feeling I have knowing she'll be here. I haven't stopped thing about that almost kiss.

I shower quick before changing in jeans and a white graphic tee. I grab my phone and wallet from my night table before heading out the door. I close my bedroom door behind me hearing already the music and sound of voices. Specifically Tori's.

I jog down the stairs and see her motioning vigorously at Trey.

"God Tori the whole neighborhood can hear you," I tease her as I go down the rest of the stairs. She whips around as Rae lets out a loud laugh. Rae hasn't been out with us much because she has cheerleading almost every weekend. The days she comes out with us are Thursdays, today, and Saturday nights if it's not an away game.

"Shut the fuck up Braden."

I let out a laugh as I head towards the kitchen. She resumes her yelling as I push open the kitchen door. Sanders and Carter are making shots with Asher and Robbie reading the shot on their phones.

"Can you pick a liquor you wanna put in this?" Carter asks with narrow eyes. Robbie shoots her a glare as he goes back to his phone.

"Why don't we put all of them in there?" Sanders suggests as I head towards the fridge. I open it up and grab a Topo Chico hard seltzer.

"No!" We all simultaneously respond. He jumps as I crack open my drink. Carter turns to me and cheers' me.

"Where's the rest of you?" I ask her. Julie and Lacey are both missing. Carter looks away from my chugging her own seltzer. She pours the shot into a line of shot glasses.

"We are all here," she says still not looking at me. I furrow my eyebrows at her confused. Why is she being weird?

"Lacey's on a date," Sanders says grabbing a shot. Carter stands up straight and smacks his shoulder harshly.

"Why would you say that?" she snaps.

"First of all ow and second all he was going to find out eventually."

Date? What the fuck? With who? Carter sighs shoving a shot into my hand. She's dating. I don't know why the fuck I'm surprised. I toss down the pink shot.

"Good for her," I say handing Carter the shot glass back. Everyone's face looks confused besides Sanders who has a smug ass smirk on his face. Carter grabs my shot glass again and fills it up before handing it back to me again.

This is going to be a long ass night if I keep throwing shots back.

The kitchen door opens and more of the team walks in with a few girls attached to their hips. Carter takes her shot, kisses Asher's cheek before heading out of the kitchen. One of the boys brings out a bottle of Jack Daniels and pours up a shots for all of us.

"Trey and Jeremy get your ass in here!" Sanders calls out the door. Most of the girls and our guy friends have exited the kitchen to allow us to have our team shot. Some girls stand back and watch us. I notice a tall brunette looking my way and I shoot her a smirk. She returns it with one back. I snap my head away from her. What the hell am I doing?

Trey comes running into the kitchen with Sixer attached to a leash. He's holding a beer bottle out of breath.

"Fuck sorry guys I took Sixer out," he says taking a deep breath.

"Did she pee?" Asher asks as the whole team including myself turns to look at me. He glances around at all of us, "Get a dog and a girlfriend and you'll sound like me too fuckers."

"Yes one and two," Trey says handing Sixer off to Asher. Sanders bends down and pets her head as she barks happily.

"Okay okay, people shot!" Jeremy claps his hands walking in the door. We huddle back together and cheers. I throw down the Jack Daniels shot. It feels good to be drinking Jack Daniels again. I've missed the taste. A good Jack Daniels and coke at that bar sounds great right now.

"Roommate cheers!" Trey calls huddling Jeremy, Robbie, Asher, him, and I together. "To all the fuckery we may endure on our last college adventure we have all together."

Trey holds his bottle to the middle of our group. Everyone else puts their bottle in and I follow in suite looking around at the boys. We really won't have each other a door over next year. Which fucking blows. But at least I have them now and probably for the rest of my life.

"Cheers!"