Page 76 of Busted Dreams

Instinctively, I raised my hand to take it, but why give me one? I wasn’t family. “Thank you?”

I opened it up to see the Devil’s Hands emblem stitched on the back. Otherwise, it was a plain leather jacket. The material was so buttery smooth, I really wanted to rub it against my cheek, but somehow, I refrained.

“I can tell, you’re a keeper. Level-headed and keep to yourself. Quietly supportive. Even if Beck was ever stupid enough to let you go, it wouldn’t surprise me if Jonah snatched you up.” Graves smiled.

This time, Rhys coughed and Beck pounded him on the back.

Both Angel and Graves were looking at us like we were a bit strange in the head.

“I’m not even going to ask.” Angel reached over to the cooler for a few cold beers. He opened them one by one, handing one to his date, whose name I still didn’t know, me, then kept one himself.

“Get your fucking hands off him, slut!”

Oh, shit.

I twisted in my seat to see a girl about my age screaming into Trinity’s face. She just took it, staring up at the girl with a flat expression. The guy next to her must have been thehimthe girl was referring to. Trinity didn’t look like she was touching him. At least not right now.

“I don’t know what your problem is,” Trinity said calmly.

“You’re my fucking problem. That’s my boyfriend, and you propositioned him. Who even invited you here?” The girl propped her hands on her hips as she leaned over Trinity.

Beck shifted uncomfortably beside me. On the other side of Jonah, Thatcher stood up.

“I’m sorry. That’s my sister, and clearly bringing her today was a mistake.”

Graves lifted a hand, palm out. “Now wait a minute. Let’s see how this plays out. I get you’re her parent now, but I’ve been doing this for too many years. The best lesson she could get now is to handle her own shit. She won’t learn anything if you constantly try to swoop in and save her.”

“That’s pretty sage advice, Dad. Why didn’t you ever let me get out of my own shit in high school?” Angel teased.

“Because you were a hellion. If I’d left you to your devices too long, you’d have been arrested with a record as long as my forearm. You’re welcome.”

Even though I was nervous about what was going to happen with Trinity, I loved seeing the banter between Graves and Angel. My family had never had this type of easygoing relationship. Not even between my parents when their marriage seemed so strong. From the contemplative look on Jonah’s face, he had never experienced it either.

Thatcher slowly sat back down as he watched the scene play out.

“Do you hear me?” the girl yelled.

Trinity opened her phone and typed something out before standing and trying to force the girl back. Instead, Trinity had to bend around her and headed our way with thunder on her face and lightning in her eyes. I doubted this was the fun club party Trinity thought she was coming too.

The girl followed behind her. Not aggressively like she was going to tackle Trinity while her back was turned, but still with enough anger that I tracked her. Not that I wanted to defend Trinity, but I couldn’t not do what was within my limits to help.

“Scoot over, Thatch.” Trinity shoved him none too gently. I bristled at the action as did everyone else in the corner.

“What happened over there?” Thatcher said, refusing to move over. There was plenty of room already.

“Nothing. Are you ready to go? I thought this was going to be a party. Not a Cleaver cookout.”

“Dad, do you know what this bitch did?” The girl that had followed her stopped at the firepit and pointed at Trinity.

“No, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.” Graves started making a hotdog while he listened to his daughter.

Daughter. This tough as nails girl was his daughter. Thatcher must have told Trinity who Beck and Jonah were related to, because she gulped when the girl announced her family connection.

“This…” She looked down her nose at Trinity with such disgust, I felt sorry for her. “Girl, hit on my boyfriend.”

“Now, Lanie, if he’s a good boyfriend, he wouldn’t take her up on her offer. And if he did, he’d get the shit beat out of him. So what’s the problem?” Angel was the rational voice of the corner.

“Oh, he called me over after she made her play. But seriously, why is she even here?”

---