Free Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot Page A

their own unmaking. Or, makeover. Look at them.” He flicked a glance at Vere. “They don’t seem capable of helping me.”
    Vere shot her mom a what-does-that-mean look, but her mom wasn’t paying Vere any attention. Instead, she was signaling Nan with some type of strange sign language, and they both looked beyond nervous.
    Something’s up. Major.
    Charlie wandered over to the kid using his man-to-man challenge swagger. Vere figured her brother hadn’t liked the kid’s last comment or the tone of his voice, either.
    “I guess it’s nice to meet you too,” Charlie said, layering on his own sarcastic tone.
    The kid stood and shook Charlie’s offered hand. He’d moved with smooth, athletic grace and looked to be about two inches taller than Charlie’s six feet.
    “We have a few things to tell you,” Vere’s mom jumped in.
    “You mean they don’t know ? They have no clue? I was told they were fully ramped in,” Dustin said. He’d backed away from Charlie. She thought she’d seen a fleeting glimpse of panic cross his features before he’d shuttered his eyes.
    Charlie followed him, not giving the guy an inch.
    Dustin went on, “This is ridiculous. Aunt Nan, Mrs. Roth, no offense, but I don’t want to do this. Not with— them . Not at all.”
    “You have no choice,” Nan said gently.
    “In on what?” Vere scowled. “Do what?”
    Dustin might be tall and gorgeous—and the nephew of a woman the whole family loved—but this kid was now acting like a definite weirdo. She was about to address the fact that he might also be an ass, but her brother didn’t give her a chance.
    He let out a low whistle followed with: “OH. MY. GOD! YOU’RE—YOU’RE—YOU’RE—OH-NO-SHIT!! DUDE! HOLY CRAP! DUUUUDE.”
    Charlie then launched into a stream of screeching, unintelligible babbling and random cursing.
    Vere could only stare as she watched Charlie jump up and down like a squawking chicken.
    He ended with: “Holy crap. Holy crap! Dude. Dude. DUDE! OHMYGOD DUUDE. I’M DYING HERE. WHAT-THE- FAAK-IS GOING ON? ”
    Vere’s chin hit the floor.
    She rocketed Charlie a questioning glance, before looking at Dustin to gauge his reaction to her brother’s freak-out. But Dustin seemed to have no reaction at all.
    None! Zero.
    He simply stood there straight faced. Looking at Charlie as if he were some annoying, screeching insect.
    “I’m just wow . WOW. This is so damn cool. HOLY SHIT.”
    “Charlie. Watch your mouth!” Their mom yelled finally.
    “Let us explain,” Nan added.
    Vere turned back to stare at Dustin.
    His ultra-bright, blue gaze had burned toward her as though he waited for her to do something off the wall as well.
    It was then she saw the expression cross his face again.
    Yep. Absolute panic!
    What is wrong with this kid?
    “Oh. My. God.” Charlie started up again. “OH. My. GOD!”
    What is wrong with my idiot brother?
    “This is the absolute coolest thing ever! No. Shit! No Shiiiiit! Dude! So amazing!”
    Dustin took off his cap and ran his hand through his hair. Nice, thick, wavy hair. His mask dropped again and she caught his shoulders slumping a little. He looked almost deflated—and somewhat sad?
    Vere darted a glance at Nan. She looked sad too.
    And her Mom looked as if she might faint!
    Poor Dustin McHugh.
    Poor Mom and Nan.
    They must think the worst.
    She and Charlie had been so rude: arguing, yelling, wrestling and now Charlie’s lost it?
    Vere had to fix it before they both got busted.
    She was not going to lose car privileges the first week of school. Even if this Dustin McHugh might be some sort of a sad, strange— jerk .
    Time to re-start the politeness.
    Vere checked her bun and forced herself to walk over to Dustin. A major flush put heat on her face.
    So what? It’s not as if I can change the color of my cheeks. I’ll just get this over with.
    Her ear tips burned as she went for it. “It’s—nice to meet you, Dustin. I’ll be happy to show you around our school.