Page 228 of Lodestar

“He was gross,” she agreed. “I think you only kissed him to piss Gerry off.”

“Probably. He hated him. He’s in jail now, isn’t he?”

“Kissing sixteen-year-olds on their father’s tour buses? Yeah. He’s in jail, Star.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky I found you before anything could happen.”

“I didn’t particularly care if it did at that point.”

Her brow furrowed. “Don’t make me feel bad for you. Not yet. I’ve earned this anger, Star.”

“I’m not saying that you haven’t. Just telling you the truth. You know I wasn’t in a good place back then. Hence the running away.”

Dad had been at the end of his tether by then, which had led to me being indoctrinated into a boarding school in goddamn Switzerland.

I knew he’d meant well. I fully accepted I’d derailed. But shoving me on another continent, away from everyone I loved, had only made getting expelled ten times more satisfying.

Jesus, I’d been such a cunt. It was no wonder Lorelei, Savannah’s Mom, had issues with me.

She bit her lip. “Well? Which is it?”

“An apology on par with the Elmer’s glue incident.”

“You didn’t mean it that time.”

“I did,” I argued hotly. “I meant to get you in the face, but I didn’t mean for it to go in your eye.”

“Gee, thanks.” She growled under her breath. “You’re such a nightmare.”

“Like you can talk.” I scowled at the sleek pantsuit she wore. “What is it with you women anyway? It’s a family dinner and you’re dressed for the Oscars.”

“Some of us like to have more than jeans from Dickies in our closet.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “You’ll get used to dressing up again.”

“Carhartts, actually, and maybe I don’t want to get used to that crap. I hated it as a kid and I fucking loathe it now.”

“You won’t have a choice. The family is on the campaign trail.”

“What?” I sputtered. “They’re putting one of the sons up for election? They’ll never win?—”

“No. They’re building up to the time when Seamus can become a politician. That means we’re going legit. Or looking like we are.” She arched a brow at me. “From that display on the front stoop, I’d say Conor intends on keeping you around. God knows why.”

Shoving my hands in my pockets, I muttered, “Below the belt, Vana.”

“Isn’t that what we do? Isn’t that why you think you can just waltz out of my life and then waltz back in as if nothing happened?” She pinched her nose. “Aspen is dating a fucking Russian mobster. Paris is still trying to get me on her reality TV show because it’s sinking faster than theTitanic, and Camden is?—”

“—drinking again?”

“And gambling. Then Mom got it in her head to write her life story.

“I swear that Dad and I are the only normal ones in the bunch and I’m married to the head of the Five Points and got kidnapped last year. It’d be nice if my childhood friend, a woman who’s like a sister to me, would have answered my fucking texts. They’re your family too.”

The words sent an ache spearing through my chest.

“Are they? Is your mom even talking to me?”

“I made her…” She sighed. “I didn’t tell her what happened, but I let her know that she was wrong to judge you. I guess I opened her eyes some. And of course, they’re your family. Just like you’re ours.”

Tipping my chin up, I said, “I had things I needed to do and I couldn’t get distracted?—”

“So, that’s what I am? A distraction?”

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