Starlee's Turn (The Wayward Sons 2)

That is a total lie. From the look on her face, she knows it.

“Dexter be careful. Not just with your own life, but with Starlee’s as well. You know you’re not the only one she’s seeing, right? Just the other day I caught Jake hanging out of her bedroom window.”

“I know and it’s complicated.” I say this, but I know it’s not. We love her. All of us. We’ll do anything for her. “It’s under control.”

“Well, make sure you get your dick under control until you graduate, got it? It’s not just me and the social workers you have to worry about. What if Ms. Nye finds out and turns you in? What if her mother shows up again?”

“Sierra. Chill. None of that is going to happen.”

“Don’t be a dumbass.”

I drop my head into my hands and groan. “Fine. I got it. No violations of any kind.”

“Good.” Her voice evens out. “After December you’re off the hook—although that doesn’t mean you can take advantage of that girl. She’s sweet. Lovely. Too fucking good for you.”

“That’s the damn truth.” I laugh and she laughs too and the tension eases in the car. “She’s too good for all of us.”

“Then treat her that way.”

I feel the argument slipping away just as the miles back home. Sierra’s right. Starlee is too good for us and she’s worth a little restraint, especially if crossing those lines gets me in more trouble.

24

Starlee

Life settles down in Lee Vines. The green aspen leaves turn a bright yellow. The football team remains undefeated. Sierra adds Pestilence’s Pumpkin Spice to the Wayward Sun menu, which may or may not be appealing to customers, but it really is delicious. Homecoming is a few weeks away, but the biggest excitement happens on a Thursday night in early October.

Supernatural Premiere Night.

After weeks of bingeing to get caught up, Leelee and I join Sierra and the boys for a viewing party. To say I’m excited is an understatement. I feel like we’ve been invited to an exclusive club. You know, the club that includes a grandmother, a coffee shop owner and fangirl, four foster boys and me, a runaway.

Honestly, it makes perfect sense.

There’s a huge spread of food; themed, of course. Dexter went all out, spending too much time on the menu. There’s a tray of (Sea) Salted and Burned caramels, Crossroad Buns, Hex Bag Trail Mix, and a special tray of Bobby’s Balls for LeeLee.

It seems everyone has an assigned seat, although I think Dexter and Jake give up their spots for me and Leelee and sit on the floor and the twins separate and give me a sliver of couch in the middle.

I can think of worse things than being the center filling of an Evans brother sandwich.

Just before the show starts, Sierra stands in front of the room, shushing everyone to get our attention.

“Oh boy,” Charlie mutters under his breath. “Here we go.”

“What?”

“Welcome new viewers,” she says cutting me off. “We’re happy to have you join us but please note; there are some rules.” Dexter groans and his sister shoots him a glare before continuing. “Rule number one. No talking. Rule number two. No talking. Rule number three…”

The boys reply in a group, “No talking.”

“We’ll have a full discussion afterwards, but until then, keep it to yourself. Oh,” she says, flipping her hair over her shoulder and looking directly at Charlie, “No phones or other distractions. Got it?”

“Yes,” Leelee says, just as excited as I am to be here. I nod in agreement. I’m not doing anything to get kicked out of here. I’m also not the least bit surprised when my grandmother shouts, “Bring on the Winchesters!”

Sierra turns off the overhead light and settles into her own chair. Once it’s dark, everyone gets comfortable. Dexter leans against the couch on one side of my feet. Jake on the other. They both stretch their legs out into the middle of the room.

The four words we’ve all been waiting for come on the screen.

The Road So Far…