Page 25 of Reckless Rebel

He shrugs it off. “Nope, wasn’t raised that way, I just know that’s how I want to be.” His words are a simple explanation, but they hit me in the gut. This playboy, tattooed Rebel, with a bad reputation, yet his manners rival my own. When he’s sober that is.

I swallow down any of my lingering pride and allow my own manners to come out. “Would you like to join us for dinner, Jace?”

He looks at me, probably to see how serious I am with my offer, then lets his eyes move to Sofia, who's bouncing excitedly waiting for his answer. “Sure, why not,” he finally says, looking back to me, “If that’s okay?”

“Wouldn’t have asked, if it wasn’t” I smile, and then drop to my knees at the coffee table and start opening up the pizza boxes.

He lingers for a moment before saying, “Erm, I’ll just wash this off.”

My hands shake a little as I open everything up and then plate some up for Sofia, before taking a seat on the Sofa with my own pizza. Jace returns a couple of minutes later, face mask gone, but braid still in place, and I have to hide my smile in a piece of pizza.

He grabs some food for himself and then sits on the other side of Sofia as I load up the movie. “What are we watching?”

“Cinderella,” I reply. “The new one, Fia’s obsessed.”

Sofia rolls her eyes, “Like I don’t see you drooling over Prince Charming every time we watch.”

Jace sniggers. “Of course that’s your type,” he scolds with a smile.

“That’s not my type,” I reply quickly, and they both laugh.

“Are you forgetting I’ve met little Dicky, doesn’t get more nauseatingly charming than him,” he scoffs, and I have to stomp down a mean comeback.

“What does nauseating mean?” Fia asks, as I fume and Jace laughs.

“It means when something makes you want to throw up,” he explains gently and her eyes bug out of head as she looks at me.

“Dicky makes you sick?” She asks innocently, making Jace choke on his pizza with a laugh.

“Of course not, butterfly and don’t call him that!” I huff, and then they both laugh together.

The rest of the movie goes like that, them sharing little jokes, mostly at mine or Rick’s expense, and then cracking up about them while I silently fume over the fact my girls night somehow turned into a brother-sister bonding session. I will for my anger and hatred to linger, but watching Sofia fall in love with her big brother is too heartwarming. They’re already like two peas in a pod and I can’t help but snap a picture of them as they both stare intensely at the screen during the ball scene of the movie, expressions perfectly matched.

As we get close to the end of the movie, the doorbell goes again and Jace cuts me a sharp look as I go to get up. “Expecting anyone?” He asks, and I shake my head.

He doesn’t even hesitate to get up and it’s clear he wants me to stay here, which is stupid, this is my house. But I’m not in the mood to argue, so I let him go to answer it, why Sofia and I stay put.

Not even thirty-seconds pass before I hear him. “You have got to be fucking kidding me?” Rick's voice cuts through the house, and I am moving before he’s even finished his sentence.

“Dicky, nice to see you,” Jace replies blandly, not even bothering to hide his dislike of my boyfriend.

I round the corner just as Rick tries to step past Jace to come inside the house. Jace’s arms stop him in his tracks. “I don’t recall inviting you in, Dick.” His tone still has that same playful lick it always does, but I can see the tension back in his shoulders.

Ricks nostrils flare in anger and then his gaze lands on me. “What the fuck is this, Riley?” His anger now turned on me, he’s never spoken to me with such hatred before.

“Calm down,” I start, but that just makes him worse.

“Calm down? Calm down. Are you fucking kidding me? You told me it was girls night, what the fuck is he doing here, Riley?” Jace doesn’t take his eyes on Rick as his tone starts to get angrier.

“Watch it,” Jace snaps at his seething tone.

“Jace it’s fine,” I start moving towards them.

“No, Riles, it isn’t fine, Sofia is right in the other room, and Dicky here needs to remember his manners.” It hits me how right he is, but Rick is never like this usually.

I talk as calmly as possible. “It is girls night, Jace came over unannounced to see his little sister.” I try to say it as plainly as possible to get Rick to understand, but it doesn’t change his mood.

“Okay, but why is he answering your door?”

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