dickhead.”
“Stop lying to me, what
really happened?” Garrick shot Jimmy a shut it glare and sat back down, putting
his head in his hands.
“She really posed for
this guy in Mexico, but, bro, she was beyond wasted drunk when she signed the
consent. I’m sorry, but really your family is overreacting.” He wanted to add so is your sister. Instead he remained
wisely silent while Garrick processed.
Instead of talking,
Garrick withdrew and leaned back in his seat. “I have a baby coming soon, what
the fuck am I going to do with a second out of control sister?”
“One drunk mistake
doesn’t make her irresponsible. Don’t judge her. I think the rest of your
family is doing enough of that, so much so she won’t go home.”
“I just want to know
she’s okay so my family can calm down.”
“Remember when we were
caught with open containers and drunk out of our minds doing donuts on the
ATVs. The park ranger didn’t put us in jail. He hauled us into his office, gave
us all coffee and then called my dad. We got off lucky, and we haven’t had a
drink unless we know who’s driving or keep our own keys since. Lesson learned.
We were lucky because we weren’t signed yet with the label.”
“Yeah. We’ve been some
wild assholes and we’re okay. But fuck, she is my baby sister, who wants to
think of their sister posing in some trashy magazine?”
“Who wants to see their
brother’s drunk pasty ass fucking a slut against an alley wall? And there was
video of that too. Your dad got over it. I’m just sayin ’
perfect princess is going to need her brother’s support not another warden
ready to slam her in solitary.”
“Why are you taking her
side in this?”
“Someone has to.”
Jackson didn’t want to let them know Carlie was at his place suffering through
depression alone. He’d hoped her time there would give her some perspective and
she’d drag herself out of the funk. She had too much fight in her to go the
dramatic route, like her twin would.
“You’re into her.” It was
a statement, not a question.
“Hell no. I don’t do virgins
or friends’ sisters. That’s just crossing the line of no return.”
“I heard that.” Shea
popped him in the back of the head.
“If the shoe fits.”
Jackson smirked. Shea and Carrie belonged together, everyone knew it.
“Cut it. Every time
someone mentions her name you act all funny, and now you’re all on my case for
being concerned and pissed at her.”
“Dude, I’m not
explaining myself to you and you aren’t acting mad or concerned, you’re acting
like a douche dick, as if you’ve never done a stupid thing in your life. Big
difference.”
“Good. Keep your mind
games away from my sister.”
Anger surged through Jackson.
Garrick pulled no punches but when he was right, he was dead on. “I don’t want
your sister.”
“Until you convince
yourself you do. Like what was her name, Kellie. Yeah, you didn’t want that
barely legal girl and you still fucked her and left her the next day after
spending a day talking yourself into her bed.”
“She was no innocent
flower. And I never lie to my lovers. They know my game and choose to suck me
or let me fuck them, no strings, no seconds, if they get attached that’s on
them.”
“Just keep your dick
away from my sister.”
“Don’t get all hostile.
I told you I’m the last one you should worry about popping that sweet virgin
ass. Now can I fucking go back to sleep?” Jackson grabbed his pillow, the
blanket and turned his back on his mate. He didn’t really want Carlie. If she
got someone else to fuck her first, maybe then. He didn’t want the
responsibility of being the first, there were always emotional repercussions
with that. He believed if he told himself those words enough times, they’d ring
true.
“When we land I’m
taking two weeks to go home. Goodnight.” Jackson closed the world out.
* * * *
The
smell of ocean welcomed him. He stepped out of his service car,