It made more sense for me to be at Hailstorm with all my cousins, aunts, and sweet little baby second cousins.
And there were so many things to do there.
No one in their right mind would choose the dreary, dark basement barracks over a trip up to the compound.
I had a feeling my aunts—especially nosy ones like Aunt Lo—would have some questions for me the next time they saw me. Not to mention my cousins.
And since they all knew that the Wi-Fi was actually incredible at Hailstormbecauseof the hackers, they would call BS real quick if I tried to feed them the same lie I had my male cousins and uncles.
I would have to come up with a better lie by then, that’s all.
“Want one more before I hit the road?” Uncle Pagan asked, taking my empty glass before waiting for an answer.
“Always a great influence on the kids,” my dad said, shaking his head at my uncle.
“I don’t see any kids here. I know,” Uncle Pagan said when my dad winced. “That’s a hard one, ain’t it? Our kids are grown and shit.”
“Do your old man a favor and have something to eat along with that drink, okay?” my father asked. “Your uncle has a heavy pour.”
“Promise,” I agreed.
“Speaking of food,” Dezi said, making Sully snort at my other side as he approached. “Gracie, what comfort food can I get you? Cupcakes? Donuts? Brownies?”
“Oh, um…”
It was the briefest of hesitations.
But Dezi latched onto it.
“You’re right. It’s probably safest to get all of them.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be going to see Junior?” Sully asked.
“Yeah, but I can place a sweets order first and pick it up on the way back.”
A little smile tugged at my lips as I looked between them, reminded suddenly how much I missed hanging around the clubhouse. I’d been so busy building a business and work—
“Uh-oh,” I said, wincing.
“What?” my father asked, tensing.
“I don’t think my boss is going to be okay with me taking more time off.”
“It’s time you quit that job anyway,” my father said, shrugging.
“I need the income.” For my own sanity, mostly. The party planningwasbringing in enough to pay my bills. I was just too scared to dive in with both feet.
“If you need an infusion of cash, you know we got you,” Dad assured me.
I did.
I knew that.
And I wasn’t sure why it was so damn important to me that I not take him up on that offer.
“Don’t worry about work, okay?” he said, rubbing between my shoulders twice. “Not with everything else going on.”
He was right.
