Renegade Path

“No? Let me guess, you got out of jail—”

“Juvenile detention. For something I didn’t even do,” I corrected.

“Right,” he scoffed. “You got out of kiddie prison and aged out of care, right?”

I set my jaw in a firm line and crossed my arms over my chest. He didn’t need me to answer since he knew everything.

“It was a stroke of luck, that woman leaving this to Juliet.” He raised a hand, indicating the house. “So, you’re thinking, what? You’ll move in and live off her like a tick?”

“No,” I growled. It was a testament to how much I loved Juliet that I didn’t clean his fucking clock.

“Uncle Dex.” Juliet’s harsh voice pierced our glaring contest. “Don’t you dare talk to Roman like that.” She hurried to my side of the table and stood next to me, her leg brushing against my side. “You have no right.”

“I’m worried about you, Julez.”

“I haven’t seen you in months. You’ve been off riding the wind,” she sneered.

Dex winced.

But Juliet wasn’t finished. “Then, you show up unannounced and immediately start hassling the one person who actually cares about me?”

“I care about you.”

“Yes,” she said with a heavy dose of sarcasm. “The post cards you sent from the road were lovely. They didn’t do me a lot of good when I was scared here all by myself, worried Uncle Jared would come looking for me.”

I tilted my head and stared at her. She always seemed so brave. It hurt knowing she’d been so scared and alone while I was away. I nudged her hand with my knuckle and she curled her fingers around mine.

“He hurt you?” Dex snarled.

“That’s not the point.”

“The hell it isn’t.”

She ground her teeth. “I love you, Uncle Dex. And I’m happy to see you. But you don’t get to show up whenever it’s convenient for you and play paternal protector.”

Oof. Those last words landed on Dex hard. I almost felt bad for the guy. His shoulders slumped and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Juliet, I’m not trying to play anything. I’ve known guys—”

“What’s changed?” Juliet snapped. “You liked Roman well enough before to help him find a job.”

It was an odd experience sitting in the middle of their argument—about me—and not speaking up. But this seemed to be about more than my presence. Anything I said would’ve made things worse. Plus, I enjoyed this feisty side of Juliet.

“I felt bad for him being railroaded through the system. But—”

“He still got railroaded!” Juliet exploded. “Not that it’s even your business, but did you bother to ask if he even did what they accused him of?”

Dex focused on me and raised an eyebrow.

“Seriously?” I asked. “You’re concerned with my guilt or innocence?” He remembered that I watched him beat a man half to death once, right?

His mouth twitched, as if he understood the irony, but he continued waiting for my answer.

“No. A guy and girl in my group home set me up.” I squeezed Juliet’s hand. “I never would’ve done anything to get taken away from her.” My throat burned. “I didn’t want to leave. For once, I liked the school I was at. Liked my job. You think I felt like getting my GED in kiddie jail instead of graduating with my class? I didn’t. And I sure as fuck didn’t enjoy getting the shit beaten out of me as entertainment for the guards.”

Juliet gasped. In my fury, I’d gone one too far. Revealed too much.

Dex sat back and sighed. “I’m sorry, kid.” Red tinted his cheeks. “I know how the system grinds people up and spits ’em out. I also know every inmate claims he’s innocent.”

“It’s really not up to you, either way,” Juliet said.

“I suppose you’re right.” He sat back and drummed his fingers over the table. “You’re not even eighteen, Juliet.”

“You and Aunt Debbie met in high school,” she said gently.

“And look where that got us,” he muttered.

Having Juliet in my corner was great and all, but it was time for me to speak up. “Dex, I’m trying. Trust me. I know I don’t have shit to offer her. But I’ll do anything and everything to keep her safe and make her happy.”

“You already do,” Juliet said.

“Ah, fuck. I said I’m sorry.” Dex pinned me with a sincere stare. “You want me to sing it in a song too?”

“Could ya?” I asked.

“Well.” Juliet clapped her hands. “Since I’m not kicking you out, would you like some coffee with the cheesecake?”

Dex chuckled. “Yeah, thank you.”

She kept her eye on us while she gathered things in the kitchen.

“Have you been able to find a job?” Dex asked.

“Uncle Dex,” Juliet warned.

“I’m just making conversation!”

“Not yet,” I answered.

“He’s taking care of all the things I can’t do around here by myself,” Juliet said. “Suddenly caring for a home at seventeen has been a little overwhelming.”