Page 23 of Lucky's Trouble

I blush, embarrassed at her appraisal. “That’s what I’ve been told.”

Before I realize what’s happening, she’s coming at me with open arms and wrapping me in a tight hug. “It’s good to finally meet you.”

I startle. “Oh. Okay. Thanks.”

Gripping me by the shoulders, she holds me at arm’s length. “I’m Connie, and those two are Carrie and Callie.” She sighs as if she knows what I’m thinking. “My husband and I made a deal when we got pregnant with Wilder. I got to name any boys we had, and he could name the girls.”

A tall man appears in the doorway and pulls Connie away from me by the waist. “Since my wife has the most beautiful name in the world, I decided to give my daughters names as close to hers as I could.”

Connie full-on blushes, leaning back into his chest and craning her neck to look up at him. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Dad, this is Tinleigh, Myla’s twin,” Lucky introduces me.

I jut out my hand as fast as I can to avoid any more awkward hugs. “Nice to meet you.”

Two dimples appear when he smiles down at me and takes my hand, making me wonder if Lucky has those same dimples underneath all that chaotic beard. “You too. I’m Steve.”

“Well, let’s go inside. Lunch is ready.” Connie claps her hands, and everyone files inside.

Everyone except me.

CHAPTER SEVEN

LUCKY

It only takes me a second to realize Tinleigh doesn’t follow us into the house. When I turn to find out why, the woman standing on the porch doesn’t even slightly resemble the hellcat who climbed off my bike a few seconds ago.

“You comin’ in?” I ask, wondering if I made the wrong choice. I’d texted Mom earlier to tell her I might not make it today, but when I saw how happy Tinleigh was to be with her sister, it made me miss my family. I thought maybe bringing her here would give her the same warm and fuzzies she feels with her sister but judging by the twisted-up look on her face and the arms she’s wrapped protectively around herself, I was wrong.

“I don’t want to be here,” she whispers. “Parents don’t like me.”

“Mine will.”

“No. They won’t. And I get treated like dirt enough at the club; I don’t need to be treated that way on my only day off.”

My face heats at her accusation. Closing the door to stop my family from hearing the bullshit she’s spewing, I turn and square my shoulders as I face her. “My family ain’t nothin’ like that, and I don’t appreciate you putting that on them.”

“Aren’t they?” She laughs humorlessly. “Let me guess. Earlier today, they were at church, singing hymns and praising God for their perfect life.”

A conversation I had with Myla about religion comes back to me. She said she was raised in a conservative community she never quite fit into. If she didn’t belong, then Tinleigh was most definitely a black sheep. It would make sense why she’s freaking out.

“They’re not like that,” I say before relenting a bit. “Yes, you’re right that they were probably at church, but not how you’re implying.”

“So they don’t care that you sell sex for a living, have probably killed people, and are in a gang?”

“Club,” I correct before continuing. “And of course, they care, but they know who I am, and they love me.”

“Maybe to your face.”

“Fuck you, Tinleigh,” I bite out. “You’re being just as judgmental as you’re accusing them of being.”

She flinches at my angry words, but damn it, this conversation is fucked up on so many levels.

“Maybe I am, but at least I’m honest about it.”

“This isn’t honesty. You’ve known them for five seconds and think you know their truth?” I take a breath, running my hands through my hair, forgetting it’s in a bun. Yanking the elastic free, I shake my hair loose, using the few seconds to calm the hell down. “Listen. Myla told me your parents fucked you both up pretty good, and I realize that gave you some scars, but all I’m asking is that you give them a chance.”

“Why did you bring me here?” She repeats the question I thought I knew the answer to, but maybe I was wrong. Why did I do it? I have no reason to want to make this girl smile, and clearly, I don’t know what it takes to accomplish that anyway. It was stupid.

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