She’d sacrificed so much for me already. When my dad went to prison, Mom had paid the price. We were forced from the only home I’d ever known. After a year in public schools on the wrong side of town, Mom begged the Farrows to let me move in with them, so I could go to better schools. She didn’t like who I’d become to protect myself.
“I want you to be happy, too,” I said.
So quietly I almost didn’t hear her, she said, “I am happy.”
I wasn’t sure I believed her. We didn’t talk much longer, she had to go to her second job. After we hung up, I glanced around the sparse room and my meager belongings trying to imagine a different life.
It didn’t take long to unpack my stuff into the chest of drawers nestled between the two front windows.
We’d all decided to ship the bulk of our belongings, and they would arrive in the next few days. It didn’t matter. I didn’t have much either way. I plopped back on the bed and tried not to think about what Finley would wear to a cookout.
My eyes popped open when my phone buzzed. I guessed I dozed off. On the screen was a text from August saying let’s bounce.
I got up and swung open the door the same time as Finley and stopped dead.
Talk about smoke show. Her hair was pulled back exposing a lovely neck that led to shirt that left inches of skin on full view. Further down she wore shorts that should be illegal worldwide.
If I could, I would have shifted on my feet and adjusted myself. My dick was on red alert. Unconsciously, the nubs of my nails dug in my palm. It was going to be a long fucking night. The way she was looking, guys were going to notice. My knuckles would be split before the night was over.
3
finley
“Mom, I have to go,” I said into the phone, glancing one last time in the full-length mirror I’d just unpacked from the car.
“Have fun, but not too much fun,” she said.
“Pssh. I’m going with August. He’s the king of not letting me have fun.”
“Your brothers are just looking out for you.”
She’d included Cooper, but he’d never been the one trying to control my fun meter.
“No, August just doesn’t want me doing what he does to someone else’s sister.”
“You are being safe?”
Horror coursed through me. “Mom, oh my God. I’m so getting off this phone.”
“I put some condoms in your bag.”
I lost my breath. “Seriously.”
“I may not be eighteen, but I remember what it’s like. I’d rather you be safe and not pregnant.”
I took a few deep breaths. “Mom, there isn’t any need for me to be safe because I’m not doing anything.”
“Okay, but if you ever want to talk . . .”
I was so not having this conversation. How would it go? Mom, I’m still a virgin, but if Shepard wanted to do the deed, I would be so on board. I shook my head and tried to clear those thoughts from my mind.
“Time to go. I love you, Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I hung up before she could say anything else that would embarrass the both of us. I looked up and saw my reflection. Even with embarrassment still staining my cheeks, I thought I looked okay. I left my room and came to a complete halt. Shepard’s door had opened the same time as mine had, and his eyes swept over me from head to toe.
I’d spent an ungodly amount of time trying to pick something to wear that might possibly get Shep’s attention only for him to look angry. It took strength I didn’t know I possessed not to turn around and close myself back in my room. Instead, I lifted my chin and said nothing. I made the few feet to the stairs without my expression of nonchalance breaking.
Slowly, I descended. He wouldn’t break me. I couldn’t fix the things I didn’t have like curves. I was me, and if that wasn’t good enough for him, then too bad.
When August came into view, I dug up a smile from six feet under and hoped he wouldn’t call me out for faking a grin.
“Are we going?” I asked stubbornly, waiting for my brother to say something to annoy me.
August’s eyes dropped to my feet and back up again.
“And that’s what you’re going to wear?”
I folded my arms. “When did you become my father?”
“When Dad left me in charge. Shep, back me up.”
Pivoting on my heels, I stared at the guy in question.
My no bullshit glare had him lifting his hands in surrender.
“That’s what I thought,” I said and spun back around, aiming invisible daggers at my brother.
August shrugged. “I guess you want to attend the funeral of any guy who lays his hands on you.”
I pointed at him. “Don’t you dare. See, this is the reason I wanted to stay in the dorms.”
He gave me a serious look. “You need to trust me. I know what these assholes are thinking.”
When Cooper arrived, I dragged him into it. “Coop, you’re on my side, right?”
The youngest of us felt just as bullied as I did. But Coop just glanced between August and me and said nothing.
“Shepard,” I said before slowly facing him.
He shook his head. “I’m staying out of this.”
I growled in frustration and pushed past August, snagging the keys out of his hand and headed for the door.
“You are not driving,” he protested, staying on my heels.
“It’s our car, not yours.”
Our parents had the means to buy us each a car, but Dad felt it was necessary to teach us what it was like to live like he had. It was fine most of the time. I wasn’t into fancy things. But sharing a car had been too much at times like this.
I skipped my way over to the car. August might have been bigger than me in every way, but I was quicker and lighter
