Page 176 of Falling in Reverse

However, this year’s party is a ploy.

Sheriff Muncy has been all up South Shore’s ass with drug possession and that’s been the main hobby/sort of income for the residents here.

Once upon a time—when Penn Northcott headed the Titans with the fifth seat and The Landings and South Shore were the South Landings—many families grew weed. And, in turn, it was sold and distributed with each cut given to said family with a portion received for the Titans for taking the risk.

Now, the same rules apply, but The Nameless runs the distribution and the risks.

And, tonight, a major run is going to be made while Muncy attempts to make people like him by hangin’ out and making sure he converses.

Since he’s up for re-election in a year or two, Muncy has some major ass-kissing to do.

I can’t say that he has a big fan base here. Especially since he’s under Emilio’s payroll and always treating South Shore like the redheaded stepchild of the family.

And, while he’s occupied tonight, Levi and The Nameless are going to get the weed out of here to sell.

With the full day of festivities going on, Ellie and Mae got Dad to come outside and sit on the front porch to be involved and get some sun. Now everyone and their mom wants to play Connect Four with him because many haven’t seen his face since his stroke and they miss him.

“Do you think Dad’s getting tired?” Ellie asks me, picking at her hot dog bun as Mae faithfully sits on the armrest of his chair.

We stand off on the front lawn, keeping a distance but staying close enough in case he needs us so he doesn’t think we’re hovering over him.

“He glared at me the last time I asked,” I tell her. “When was the last time you asked?”

“Ten minutes ago.” We both laugh and I pick at her white top with nine different butterflies on it. It’s super cute and super my size.

“Let me wear this.”

Ellie scoffs and twists her body to get possession back of her shirt and my grubby hands off. “Noooo. You have your own clothes.”

“Says the brat who wants to borrow my leather jacket for her big date with Peter.”

“You said I could,” she complains with a whine. “There were no terms to it.”

She’s good.

Like too good, she’s been listening to me with Levi too long good.

I can’t help but run my hands through her thick hair. The straight strands are soft as my heart does this little skippy thing at how this isn’t real for me.

This isn’t where I was supposed to end up.

I didn’t realize how lucky I was before until Emilio took a wrecking ball and aimed it through the glass globe of what my life was. Now the water and glitter have fallen out and I feel as though I’m on borrowed time.

I can’t get the boys to fuck off me, and I’m afraid that the people I love the most are going to keep becoming collateral damage.

While I have one side of the coin—Emilio—wanting me around, the other—his annoying, hot fucking pretty boy son—is waiting for the perfect opportunity to do something else.

He’s already taken Levi, so what’s next?

“What’s wrong?” Ellie implores softly, leaning into me in silent comfort. “You’ve been kinda quiet the last couple of days.”

“Stressed,” I answer honestly. She’s not a little girl anymore, and I don’t want to sugar-coat everything because she’s not blind.

Ellie is smart, and she can’t not see that we’re struggling, that we’ve always labored to make everything work. I’m not sure how Dad did it. Mom was so scatter-brained with everything, so whatever about jobs he picked up most of the slack. I took that for granted, too.

“Can I help?” she asks me. “I can get a job?—”

“Just graduate for me. I’d really like that.” I give her a reassuring smile. “Dad would, too. We need to set a really good example for Mae. And then we’ll talk about it, okay? Levi and I have it handled.”

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