The Wayward Sister (The Wayward Sons 5)

“Thank you for fixing and cleaning up the bathroom.” I give him a slight smile, pretending my heart isn’t about to leap out of my chest. “Good night, Adrian.”

“Good night, Sierra,” he says, clearing his throat.

He watches as I enter my room, our doors right across from one another. My pulse is still erratic once I’m in the bed, and I have to force myself to stay in my room.

That kiss?

That kiss was epic.

And there’s no way I’m going to only want one.

15

Holden

Even though it’s my truck, Sierra has no problem adjusting the radio station as we drive into town. She flips past country, rap, pop, and thankfully the talk-radio channel, finally settling on classic rock. She spins the volume dial, cranking it up, and leans out the open window, hair flying, singing.

I’ve never seen her so happy and I smile watching her.

“What?” she asks, noticing me noticing her. She rests her foot on the seat, revealing a long, bare leg.

“You must like this song.”

“It’s Led Zeppelin. Of course, I like this song.”

I’ve seen the songs on her playlist, the name of her business, her entrenchment in the Supernatural fandom. It’s weird, but cute—nice that she has something to cling to. “The Wayward Sun, that’s after the Kansas song, right?”

Her face lights up. “It is. Did you know that, or did you look it up or something?”

“I didn’t get it at first, but after looking at my mug this morning for like, thirty minutes, it clicked. What made you pick the name?”

She shifts toward me. “A couple of things, I guess. The shop and house used to be a boarding house, and really the whole town of Lee Vines is kind of a pit-stop on the way to somewhere else. It felt likely that some lost souls would wander in occasionally.” She pushes her hair behind her ear, but the wind makes it fly back out again. “Then there’s the Supernatural connection. Sam and Dean, the real Wayward Sons, traveling across the country, fighting demons and saving the world. Once the boys all moved in, it gelled even more. It just felt like a good fit.”

“I think it’s a very good fit.” I turn on the main road into town. “I also think what you did for Dexter and the other boys is pretty awesome. I could’ve used someone like you in my life when I was their age.”

“Maybe. Sometimes I think I was too hard on them. Maybe I should have given them more time to be kids.”

“You taught them self-reliance, taught them skills, and gave them a safe home. That’s the best thing for kids in that situation,” I say. She looks at me curiously and I grimace. “My house was a mess. My parents were divorced. My dad spent most of his day stoned, while my mom was too worried about giving me everything I wanted, never really thinking about what I needed. Our house became the party house—anything goes. Booze, drugs, sex. My mother turned a blind eye because she thought me being happy was the best thing for me. In reality, it was the worst. I stopped going to class and spent my days watching TV or fucking off. I got a couple DUIs and the judge came down hard on me and my mom. She sent me to a wilderness program and although it was hard, and at times I hated being there, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Is that where you met Adrian?”

I nod, surprised she knows. “And Smith.”

“Huh.” She looks out the window. “By the way, if you’re trying to make me feel better about my skills as a quasi-foster mom, it’s working.”

I laugh. “You did what you could, Sierra, and we met those kids at Christmas. They seem to be in a good spot.”

She snorts and shakes her head. “They do, although they’re all sharing the same girlfriend, and I still don’t know what that’s all about.”

“They what?”

“I try not to ask too much about it but yeah, they all date the same girl.” She shrugs. “It seems to work for them.” I pull into the parking lot of the store. “Starlee has calmed them down, and honestly, I think they helped her deal with her own insecurities. Whatever it is, they’re happy, despite the fact I tried my hardest to ruin it for them.”

“You did?” I ask, turning off the ignition. “Why?”

“It’s complicated. I was worried about my foster care license—which was a valid concern. It did get suspended. But I know it wasn’t Starlee’s fault, and I know the boys love her. I do. It’s just unconventional, but they’re not exactly conventional guys.”

Four guys and one girl--the idea is definitely unconventional--but I think about the situation we’re in, the three of us living at Sierra’s house. The three of us all interested in her if we’re willing to admit it or not.