Starlee's Turn (The Wayward Sons 2)

“Sure.”

I walk down the hallway toward the living room. I stop short when I see all the boys in there and Sierra.

“Uh, what’s going on?” I ask, eyeing the boys. George and Jake are still damp but scrubbed clean from their post-practice shower. I can smell the soap from here. They both look tired. Charlie waits in the armchair closest to the TV, phone flat on his leg but still in reach. Dexter’s leaning against the door, arms crossed. I see the slight tension in his jaw. Something’s up.

“After Sierra learned you’d come back in town, she and I had conversation and figured we should all get together to lay some ground rules and expectations.”

“Expectations?” I slide onto the loveseat next to my grandmother. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” Dexter says, glaring at his sister.

Sierra shoots him a look in return before smiling at me. “No, honey, of course not. It’s just that things are a little different now that you’re here during the school year. Everyone is already stretched thin between the shop, academics, sports—”

“My tournaments,” Charlie adds.

“Extra-curriculars,” Sierra acknowledges. “It seems best that we get to an understanding now and not in a few weeks when grades come out and all hell breaks loose.”

Her eyes sweep over the boys and I get the feeling this has been an issue before.

“Okay, sure, I understand that.”

“Good.” She smiles, relieved. “I’d like to declare that I think school nights are for work, homework, and rest.”

“I like that,” Leelee says. “Starlee is already behind.”

“I’m not that behind.”

“And you’re going to be jet-lagged and adjusting to the time for a while.”

I don’t argue. It doesn’t seem worth it.

“Weekends are more flexible,” Sierra says. “Of course, you’ll have your jobs and chores, but beyond that I think it’s okay for you to hang out.”

I start to breathe a little easier. That all seems reasonable. Dexter’s jaw hasn’t loosened, though.

Sierra glances worriedly at my grandmother. “There are a few other rules I’d like to implement.”

“Rules?” George asks, perking up suddenly. Now he looks worried.

“Starlee, as much as I love you and trust you, I can’t say the same about these knuckleheads. I’m declaring the upstairs of my house off limits.”

Dexter runs his hand through his hair but says nothing. Geor

ge’s leg starts to bounce in agitation and Jake leans forward. “What? Nothing’s ever happened in our bedrooms,” Jake says.

“Good. And nothing will happen,” she says.

“Same applies here,” Leelee says. “Actually, I’d like to go one step further and declare no boys in the house unless I’m here.”

“What?” My voice is unexpectedly loud. “That’s a little extreme. What if we’re doing homework? Or just watching TV?”

“You can do your homework in the coffee shop or the lodge office. Or you can wait until either Sierra or I are home.” My grandmother’s tone is firm.

“One last thing.” Sierra looks at my grandmother and she nods. “Eleven p.m. curfew.”

“You know some of my games go later than that,” Charlie says.

“Eleven p.m.,” Sierra repeats. “I’m not trying to be a jerk, but I’ve been slack about a few things because there have never been any girls in the mix. Having Starlee here changes things. I know you care about one another and I trust that you’re behaving yourself, but there are firm rules I agreed to when I took you all in as foster kids, and this kind of stuff could get you removed or get my license revoked.”