Southside shakes her head. “Nah, kid’s had enough to worry about for a lifetime. No sense in having her lose sleep over this, too.” She thinks for a moment, then presses a hand to her forehead. “But, of course, she’ll read Pandora’s post. She’ll worry. I should’ve—"
There it is again. That fierce protection.
“She’ll be okay,” I cut in, encouraging her to relax. “Just shoot her a text, letting her know everything’s cool.”
Southside’s at war with herself for a moment, and I guess she wants to call, but eventually settles for taking my advice and types out a quick message instead.
Seeing how tightly wound she is, I nearly ask a question about her childhood but hold it. I’m not allowed to be interested in things like that.
“Ever stayed over in a hospital?” she pipes, smiling a little when she meets my gaze.
“Once,” I share. “Had my tonsils removed when I was seven. You?”
She nods. “More times than I can count. Mostly allergy related. In case it’s still a secret, my parents aren’t the most responsible people in the world. So, until I learned how to monitor what I can and can’t eat for myself, a lot of mistakes were made.”
She laughs after speaking, but nothing’s funny.
“That’s pretty fucked up.”
She nods, agreeing with me, but doesn’t speak right away.
The picture is becoming even clearer. She not only raised herself, she raised Scarlett, too. Because her parents didn’t care enough to do it.
“But you know what they say. What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, right?” The joke is meant to remind me of my own words from a few weeks ago.
“Yeah. Guess so.”
I’m quiet again, but not because I’m thinking about her childhood, but because I’m thinking about my own. The shimmer faded for me early, too, but not because I’d been abandoned like it seems Southside was. For me, it was learning that my father isn’t the god he pretends to be, discovering he’s a mere mortal with a weakness for blondes with big tits and nice asses.
Like Southside.
Usually, being reminded of her connection to my father would piss me off, but I don’t feel that now. All I feel when I think about it is pity, imagining what he must have promised her—money, admission into CPA, and who knows what else.
Of course, she’d take that deal. Hell, my own mother fell victim to Vin’s game. For her, it was never about money, but rather a means of getting out of the small town where she grew up and everyone knew her as Boone Landry’s oldest daughter. She hadn’t seen much of the world and fell for every slick lie that fell from the bastard’s lips. My grandfather—being a man who doesn’t hold back—told me the whole story. How my dad came in, played nice just long enough to swoop Mom off her feet, then brought her north, to a city where she knew no one, to the city he runs and she has no allies.
Like I said, he’s a predator. He separates his prey from the herd, then conquers.
When I glance up, Southside’s dozing. She looks so damn innocent, like the scared girl I believe she keeps hidden on the inside. I think back on what she said, about being creeped out by hospitals, and I stay in my seat despite having made up my mind to go. If I’m going to leave her, this is the time to do it. But instead, I settle in, sliding off my shoes and propping them on the edge of her bed. She stirs a little when I disturb the mattress, but doesn’t wake.
Seems she’s faced most things in life by herself. Guess I just don’t see why spending the night here should be one of them.
‘She okay?’
I smile when Dane texts out the blue, proving that despite my best efforts to bring my brothers to the dark side, they’re better than that.
‘She’s fine. Sleeping,’ I shoot back.
‘Cool. Need anything?’
My eyes go to Southside again and I take a breath, realizing that my feelings are changing.
‘T-shirt and sweats,’ I answer. ‘Looks like I’ll be here all night.’
@QweenPandora: Word on the street is NewGirl was rushed to the hospital tonight, amidst the craziness of the Monster Bash. No updates from any of TheGoldenBoys, but we’re all praying our girl is okay. With KingMidas missing in action, my best guess is he’s staying at his girl’s side. When I know more, you’ll know more.
Later, Peeps.
—P
Chapter 33
BLUE
“I know you said you’re not mad, but I’m seriously sorry. Like, eternally,” Lexi grovels, bringing a laugh out of me as I adjust the straps of my swimsuit.
“Dude, if I was mad, believe me, you’d know,” I assure her.
She secures the towel around her waist and slumps on the bench facing our gym lockers.
“Yeah, but if I hadn’t been sloshed, I would’ve been able to keep a better eye on you, and—”
Her sentence cuts off when the girls from the dance squad pass by, casting their dirty glances our way as usual.
Once they’re out of earshot, Lexi sighs before continuing. “If I’d been sober, I could’ve told someone your purse was in my car, and they could’ve gotten your Epi. I just—”
“Seriously. Stop,” I say with a laugh. “I’m alive. No harm, no foul.”
She nods in agreement, but it’s clear she still holds a ton of guilt. I get it, but it isn’t warranted.
“Fine,” I sigh. “If you want to make it up to me, meet me here after tryouts today. I need a little more swim practice before Mrs. C. evaluates us for the quarter.”
Lexi’s expression doesn’t change, but she nods. “Deal.”
“Come on. Let’s get to the pool.”
She follows when I yank her off the bench. Then, the smell of chlorine gets stronger the second we exit the locker room and pass through the double doors. We’re two of the last to make it out, so, of course, every eye shifts toward us.
Mine, however, go straight across the pool, meeting West’s emerald stare. My
