He took a deep breath and looked to Folk for help. “What am I missing?”
Folk shut the notebook he’d been writing in—one of Decoy’s ledgers—and wrapped a hand around his tea mug. “Bear stares a lot. It makes the kids uncomfortable.” He glanced at me. “And some of the women. If Nash flew at him, I’d imagine that’s why.”
River’s eyes bugged out. Also at me. “For real? That’s why Nash jumped off the roof and grabbed that girl?”
“Nash jumped off the roof?”
Rubi’s question came from the kitchen doorway at the same moment Locke spoke up.
“What girl?”
“Some kid with a guitar.” River shrugged. “She looked lost. I figured Bear was gonna point her back to the bus stop, but Nash thumped him before he had the chance.”
Locke was already halfway to his feet, an urgency banding his muscles that didn’t make sense. Nash could handle Bear with one arm tied behind his back. Saint and Mateo had rushed outside to make sure he hadn’t killed him. No one else was worried, aside from Rubi who couldn’t make peace with the idea of Nash Scared of Heights McGovern jumping off the roof.
Hmm. MaybeIwas missing something.
I started after Locke, but the chapel door banged open again before I got too far and Mateo’s scarred face appeared, backed up by Saint’s unreadable one.
Logic dictated that Nash should’ve been next, but the blonde head that appeared was a foot lower than I expected it to be, popping up from behind Saint with a gleeful grin on her face. “Hi, Dad!”
Locke surged across the room, eating up the distance between him and the door in two long strides. “Willow? What the fuck are you doing here?”
“You said I could come and see you.”
“I said you coulddrivehere after I bought you a car.” Locke reached his daughter and caught her arm, tugging her out of Nash’s way as he finally made an appearance. “Why aren’t you at college?”
“College is boring.”
“Does your mum know you’re here?”
“Um... no, unless she tracks my iPhone.”
On cue, the phone that Locke had abandoned on the table rang, blasting out the Benny Hill theme tune.
Locke cringed. “Nice one, Wills. I didn’t want my balls anyway.”
“Can’t Folk talk to her? She likes him better than you.”
“At your service.” Folk rose and swiped the phone, squeezing Willow’s shoulder before he left the room.
Willow grinned. “See? It’ll be fine.”
“Folk isn’t a fuckin’ magician.” Locke gripped her slim shoulders and spun her around. “Okay, so you’ve already ruined Nash’s day, and you’ve seen Decoy before. This is everyone else. Say hello.”
Willow waved at the room. “Hello!”
“Now say goodbye. You’re going back to college.”
“Dad!”
“Willow.” Locke towed her to the door. “Let’s go.”
Cam chuckled as they left. “Someone’s in trouble.”
“Someoneistrouble,” Rubi countered. “Girl dads don’t stand a chance.”
Decoy’s expression was resigned.
