Page 33 of Reckless Rebel

Marcus is watching her like there is nothing or no one more important than her, stealing food from her plate, and showing off pictures he took of Cassie earlier today as they spent the afternoon in the pool together. A family day of his own in a way, and he too is owning this life of cards he has been dealt and is happy. He lost his dad and almost lost his girl, but does he let it get to him? No.

Lastly, I flick my gaze back to Lincoln, who isn’t trying to hide the fact he isn’t paying attention to the movie Elle put on, no instead his eyes flick between the phone in his hand and me. Watching me carefully like he thinks I might snap, while simultaneously sending flirty texts to Royton that he thinks I can’t see. Lincoln never talks about his past, ever. Yet I know darkness burns through his veins more than anyone else, maybe that's why he seeks the easy light that radiates from Logan. I’m not sure what is going on between them, but if he’s happy then I’m happy for him.

Maybe I have been going about this all wrong. I’ve been forcing myself to be alone, to not suffer under the weight of their expectations, but I’ve been drowning. What if they are my safety net, what if they are the only things stopping me from really sinking to the bottom. Maybe if I just stick to my family things really can be okay again.

Lincoln's laptop pings on the table and he sits up to retrieve it and when he opens it, he navigates to facebook and I see a post from Ava. What the hell?

“You’re monitoring the Deckers?” I question, as my eyes zero in on the photos I am seeing in front of me. They are photos from the BBQ earlier, some I took for them, some I am in myself, Ava has obviously uploaded them to social media.

Lincoln rolls his eye at me like I’m stupid. “Of course I am.”

“We have covered all bases with them since we found out about Sofia,” Elle adds, pausing the movie.

“Why? They’re good people.” My voice gets louder as I defend them and Elle’s face softens.

“I know, Jace, we aren’t doing it to go against them, we are doing it for them. For you. They’re your family, we want to make sure they are protected.” Her eyes don’t stray from mine as she talks and I blow out a breath.

“I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t think about it like that.”

“You know the family rules, we protect our own, always.”

“Yeah, don’t fuck with the Rebels, we bite,” I tease, throwing her once thrown down words in her face and she chucks a spring roll at me.

I bat it away before it can hit my face and she rolls her eyes. “I really don’t know how I put up with you all,” she huffs.

I'm still laughing when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out and smile when I see Rileys name lighting it up.

Riles - You know how we called a truce?

I smile wider at the thought of her actually calling it a truce when there was nothing to amend in the first place, at least not on my side.

Jace - I'm a lover not a fighter, Red! It was only you with all the hate *shrugging emoji*

Riles - *eye roll emoji* Whatever! Can I ask a weird potentially embarrassing favor?

I sit up a little straighter at her strange request. I don't know her well enough to know where this is going to go, but I do know that if she is desperate enough to be coming to me then it must be serious.

Jace - You have my full attention Riles. What's up? Is Fifi OK?

Riles - Fia is fine....

Riles - I want to send a "sexy" picture to Rick and I need advice...

A laugh erupts from my throat before I can stop it and all three members of my family look at me.

"Who's blowing up your phone?" Marcus asks with interest, "Booty call?"

"No!" I snap far too quickly. "It's just Riley."

"Just Riley," Elle repeats with a smile looking over at me.

"You just spent all day with her, what could she possibly be texting you about?" Lincoln asks with a frown, and I feel myself getting defensive.

"I don't know, brother, what are you texting Logan about? Show me yours and I'll show you mine."

He doesn't say anything in response and I know I've gotten to him by calling him out. I can't be bothered with any more questions so I stand and stretch.

"I'm heading upstairs.” Is all I announce before I make my way out of the room with a quick shout from Elle, "Sweet dreams, Pretty Boy."

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