She’s not wrong. “Yeah, well, with Mom, he just pretends that it’s all a big secret that only he knows about. Such a fucking hypocrite.”
“Exactly. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones and all. The only thing you need to worry about is how the sexy biker feels about you.”
“How Coop feels about me? I can’t say I know either way, but you’re right. That’s all that matters. You think I should ask him?”
She laughs. “Well, yeah. Unless there’s another way you can find out.”
“I can’t imagine going up to a guy like Coop and just asking how he feels about me. It’s too soon for all that.”
She shrugs. “Maybe, but like you said, your dad isn’t going to make your life easy, and I don’t think you want to deal with his crap for just a good lay.”
“A great lay,” I clarify with a laugh.
“Okay, but remember who we’re talking about. Charles Marin can be as petty as a scorned woman if he chooses to be, and when it comes to Coop, he will be.”
“All right, fine. I’ll talk to Coop.” If or when I see him again. “Now, back to the mystery man with the magical mouth.”
“Who has a magical mouth?” The voice belongs to none other than my sister, McKenna.
“Mind ya business,” I tell her with a snarl because she’s nosier than the old couple who lives on our block, always peeking out their windows to get into other people’s business.
McKenna laughs and waves away my words. “Oh, please, like you two have anything interesting to talk about.” She rolls her eyes and takes a seat, her friend Grace right behind her.
“So?”
“So, nothing,” I shoot back. “Go away, Kenna.”
She laughs and motions for Grace to sit beside me.
“Come on, Kels, don’t be mad at me. I’m just looking out for your interests because that scummy biker won’t.”
I groan and smack the table. “You aren’t looking out for me, so don’t give me that bullshit. You’re a miserable bitch, and you want everyone to be miserable just like you.”
“Ouch.” She keeps her smile in place because that’s what the Marin family does, smile through everything. But her eyes tell me I hit the mark.
“You know Dad won’t go for it,” she snaps.
“You’re not Dad,” I remind her with a glare. “And don’t act like you give a shit about me.”
“I do,” she insists, flashing a worried look at her friend, the only decent person in Kenna’s life.
“Really? Because I met Coop on my birthday. Ruby and I went out because it seems everyone else forgot. Everyone.”
Kenna opens her mouth to say something, but I stop her.
“I don’t want to hear any of your bullshit excuses any more than I want to hear Dad’s. So save it, and just leave.”
Kenna sighs and looks to Grace and Ruby as allies.
“Come on, girls. Help me out here. Tell her nothing good can come of dating a biker.”
“Who says they’re dating?” Ruby flashes a cheeky smile. “Maybe he’s got a ten-inch cock that she’s using as a fuck toy. You ever think of that?”
Ruby laughs because, of course, that didn’t occur to my sister.
Kenna rolls her eyes and looks at Grace. “Come on, Grace. Tell her this has heartbreak and danger written all over it.”
Grace flips her thick brown hair off her shoulders and shrugs. “I think Kelsey is an adult, and she can do who and what she wants. Just because you’re looking for a white knight with a big trust fund doesn’t mean she is.”
“Damn,” Ruby snickers and shakes her head.
“She’s barely an adult,” Kenna scoffs.
“Says the twenty-six-year-old still living at home and working at a pizza place,” Grace quips.
McKenna scoffs at her. “Whose side are you on, Grace?”
“I’m on my own side, here. Kelsey is an adult and so are you. Get on with your life.”
My sister’s mouth drops, and I just giggle. Even her bestie is sick of her judgmental ways.
“I tell you what, Kenna, you mind your business, and I’ll do the same,” I say and take a bite of a delicious strawberry cream pastry.
“No. Absolutely not. That fucking biker and his buddies could bring bad news and danger to our doorstep.”
I snort and laugh. “Unlike the shady dudes Dad does business with? Come on, Kenna, you can do better than that. You’re jealous or whatever, and I don’t care. What I do and who I do is my business.”
“And Dad’s while you live under his roof.”
“Like he’s gonna say anything. Remember, we all have secrets,” I shoot back ominously. McKenna doesn’t have much of a life, but she’s not without her secrets. “Remember that.”
McKenna lets out a very unladylike grunt and smacks her palms on the table. “Screw all of you, and excuse me for just trying to look out for my little sister.”
Grace lays a gentle hand on top of my sister’s. “If you’re trying to look out for her, be her friend and be there if your worst fears come true.”