“One of herfriends?” Raven bumps her shoulder into mine and makes big eyes atme.
“I know.” Marlin pinches his eyes shut. “She’s good friends with Teagan Collins. I’ve seen your sister before with her hanging out at The Sloppy Pelican.” He sniffs the air and nods my way. “I’m staying out of it. Pay your fines and get herhome.”
Raven yelps, “Not before you tell us what shedid.”
Marlin looks to me as if asking for permission, and I nod. He rambled it all out in one long sentence over the phone so I’d sort of like to hear it all againmyself.
“She was caught using a fake ID down at the Black Bear. Apparently, they let it fly for almost a week. The owner’s wife took ahold of it, and the party was over. Baya can spot a fake with the best of them.” He tips his hat my way. “If you don’t mind, I’ll go get your prize while you ante up. My shift is just aboutover.”
He takes off, and Raven shakes the shit out of me. “Your sister is turning into a derelict! How could you let this happen? We’re going to have to put a leash on her. She can sleep in my room, and I’ll make sure there’s no sneaking out with boys in the middle of the night either,” she screeches, and I can’t help butchuckle.
“What’s sofunny?”
“For one, she’s just five minutes younger than you. And secondly, I find it incredibly adorable that you care about her this way.” I head to the officer at the window, and she helps process my derelict of a sister as I sign my life away for her. My parents are going to bepissed.
“I do love her.” Raven butts her shoulder into mine. “She’s like my sister, too, youknow.”
I pause from the paperwork and look over at her. “Thank you. It means a lot to me. Colby can use a good influence in her life. A good bigsister.”
Her lips quiver a moment. “Sort of the way you’ve been a good big brother to me. I know I don’t say it often, but I appreciate everything you’ve done forme.”
Before I can properly soak in the moment, Colby comes stumbling out, cussing up a storm, her blonde hair frazzled every which way. Marlin assures us she was alone in a cell, and we take off with Colby still three sheets to the wind. It looks as if she snuck a few in before Baya got ahold of that fake ID. I drive her all the way to Hollow Brook Hills and help her into the home I grew upin.
Mom and Dad amble into the living room sleepy-eyed, both in the matching plaid robes I bought for them last Christmas. I never thought I’d pay off that credit card debt I crawled into. I thought I’d be paying for those robes for the rest of my life, but Low and Lex saved the restaurant. I give a sheepish grin over at Raven. It feels as if she’s savingme.
“What’s going on?” Mom sounds like she’s singing. “Raven!” She pulls her into a hug before pulling back and pinching her nose. “Colby Wolf! Is that you reeking of booze? Oh my word, let’s get you some coffee.” She helps my sister into the kitchen, and Ravenfollows.
Dad winces, and I see myself in his features—same full head of hair, same marbled eyes. It’s the laugh lines I look forward to gaining the most. I know for a fact my father has had a good time on this spinning blue rock, and that mostly has to do with the fact he’s had the love of his life by his side. I quickly tell him about our adventure tonight, or misadventure as itwere.
“I’m sorry, son.” He shakes his head, his features filled with agony. “Let me know what I oweyou.”
“I gotit.”
“Oh, Mr. Hotshot.” He offers my shoulder a congratulatory slap. “I’m glad things are going so well for you at the bar. It’s always nice to have more than two nickels to rubtogether.”
“Yes, well, that’s all I’ve got.” I spot an old family picture on the wall nestled among hundreds of similar gilded frames. But it’s my grandfather’s face I’m most interested in at the moment. I nod over to it. “Can I ask whatever happened between you andGrandpa?”
The smile glides right off my father’s face. “Funny you should ask. I was just thinking about the old guy today.” He shakes his head at the picture wistfully. “It was silly, really. I needed some money and didn’t ask. I had always been on his bank account as an account holder. It was something my mother did. Anyway, I helped myself and asked later. It was a foolish thing, and he never forgave me. It was a long time ago when your mom and I were trying to buy this house. After my mother died, he assumed everyone was waiting for him to kick the bucket, too. He didn’t think I was interested in a real relationship with him. He sort of dropped off the radar. Moved and didn’t say a word. I must have apologized a thousand times. I paid him back with interest, too. But anI’m sorrywas never enough for him. He didn’t need my interest. When my brother died, we couldn’t find a way to contact him for the services. Missed his own son’s funeral. What do you think ofthat?”
“Sounds pretty harsh.” My heart stills hearing the sorrow in my father’s voice. Why the hell can’t my grandfather accept an apology from his own kid? A part of me begs to tell him everything, and just as I open my mouth, Raven comes backin.
“She’s good. I think she’s headed to bed. Already asleep on her feet.” She strides next to me and wraps an arm around my waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and it feels thatway.
We say goodnight to my parents and head back on the road, arriving at my place no more than ten minutes later. Raven and I walk up the porch as the autumn leaves crunch beneath our feet, the night blooming jasmine perfumes the air with its honeyedscent.
“I’ve got a lesson for you,” I say, unlocking the door as my heart beats so fast my entire body shakes inrhythm.
“Oh?” She steps in close with the buttery sweater I’ve been looking to nestle in all night long—those sweet, sugary lips parting just for me. “What’s that?” Her hips graze mine as she presses in close as if to crowd thedoorway.
“The goodnight kiss.” I swallow hard, taking in the way her skin glows under the supervision of a baby-facedmoon.
She sucks in a soft breath. Her eyes round out like ovals. “Really?” I’d swear on my life that those are genuine tears glittering in her pretty blueeyes.
“Yes, really. But if the thought of kissing me makes you want to cry, I promise I can walk you through it without the actual act.”Dammit.
“Not on your life,” she snips before giving a few wide-eyed blinks. “I mean, I need the full training. Mojo is no idiot. He can spot a fake a mile away. Now getkissing.”
A dull laugh rattles from me. “Okay.” I force the smile to glide right off my face. “But if you’re kissing Mojo, I’d suggest a quick peck like this.” I drop a quick one over her cheek and pull back. “Say I hate you. Then run likehell.”
