Page 21 of Daddy Issues

“Jesus. Fuck.” He stood, wrapped me in a hug, and continued to mumble cuss words under his breath. “Shit happens. But that ain’t you.” He glowered over my shoulder and across the room. I didn’t need to look to know he’d seen Ghost. “It’s on him, and some of it on me. Look at me…”

I looked up into his gaze, which was serious. There’d been a reason I’d turned to Cam before everything went down with Ghost, the reason I told him shit I didn’t tell anyone. It was thatlook, the loyalty and the promise to kick the ass of anyone who tried to hurt those he loved.

“No one deserves to be taken advantage of like that. Ever. Hear me?” He meant the college punks who’d drugged me, tried to rape me, and who’d hurt Riley.

And paid the ultimate price for it.

I couldn’t love him more if he’d been born my brother. “Thanks.”

He mussed my hair and pushed me back at Riley. “Go do girl shit, while I pretend I didn’t see you crying. Jesus.”

I wasn’t crying now but snorted a laugh and mock kicked him in the shin. Puck was right, everything was as it should be. Then I turned back to Riley, snatching up my bag and sliding my arm through the crook of hers. “Let’s go fix my makeup, and I can show you my new jewelry.”

Her eyes widened. “Where is it?”

I giggled and waggled my eyebrows.

“Oh, lord.” She sighed but laughed.

Upstairs, she veered off to the right to the larger of the bedrooms. This one, at different periods of time, had been Cam and Merc’s.

“Remember when my brother lived up here?” Dylan walked in behind us. Unlike Riley, I didn’t figure she’d go for the hug, but she surprised me with a quick squeeze that told me everything was going to be okay “I always had to put a hand over my eyes before I came in. That was after he got back and during his wild time.”

“You mean he’s not still wild?” Riley chuckled.

“Girl…” Dylan plopped on a bed with a deep exhale. “He was a full-on whore for months. I thought I’d have like ten nieces and nephews before it was over.”

She pulled me beside her and intertwined her fingers with mine. Unlike Riley, Dylan wasn’t a touchy person. I tried not to preen as she held my hand. “Where have you been?”

“Working, mostly.” Not a lie.

“Where? I stopped in the nail salon when we got back, but they said you’d quit.” Riley asked, leaning against the dresser as the muffled music from downstairs pumped through the floorboards.

“The Black Cat.” I wasn’t ashamed, not here. But the shocked look on Riley’s face had me doubting myself.

“You’re dancing?” Riley blinked. “That’s hot.”

“No, just a cocktail waitress, but the tips are amazing, and I’m saving up for a place of my own.”

“You can always stay with me.” Dylan lifted our joined hands and shook them. “I have an extra room.”

“And I’d drive you crazy within a week. But thanks.” As private a person as Dylan was, the offer hit me square in the heart. I should never have stayed away.

“I missed you both. How’s school?” I asked Riley.

“Fine, Cam’s been a lot of help, actually. He’s smarter than he lets on.”

“For sure.” Dylan agreed.

Riley’s russet hair was down, her face makeup free, save for a dusting of blush and lip-gloss. But she fidgeted in the mirror, then blushed. “Cam and I had sex on the bed.” Then giggled. “And this dresser.”

“Remember Andrew from Oklahoma?” Dylan nudged my hand.

I did. He was a King from the charter out there. He was super cute, charming, and only here for a few weeks.

“I had sex with him in this bed. More than once.” She pursed her lips, hiding a smile.

“No way!” I stood, dropping her hand, and laughed. “Dylan! How’d I not know that?”

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