Dirty Kisses (17 page)

Tiffany jumps next to me and covers the mic with her hand. Her lips pull in the corner as if she’s hardly able to control her rage, and I can smell the fear on her as she attempts to make nice with the guest of honor. “What the hell is going on?” she grits through her teeth while sporting a fang-bearing smile at Dorma. Tiffany always was a kiss-ass to the very end.

“Daisy is my guest.” Dorma removes Tiffany’s hand from the microphone. “And you are wasting her time.” Her voice rings out clear, and an underlying choir of
oohs
circulates throughout the room. The seventh grader in me completely loves it.

I squint out at the crowd, out in the foggy direction where I know Jet watches, and offer a humble smile.

“Hello.” It comes out feeble as if I were about to be clubbed to death by a mic-wielding Tiffany Ikeman. I give her the stink-eye for a moment, and she inches back a notch. “My name is Daisy Pembrooke, and I’m here to tell you my side of the story. I’m here to tell you the truth.”

And I do. I don’t let up until every last word expels from me like a watershed. If the senator is going to fill the world with vile lies, I’ll counterattack with facts.

“Bullying of any kind is not acceptable. Cyberbullying is no exception. No person, male nor female, has the right to utilize fallacies against anyone else. I don’t know why the senator has chosen to manufacture facts that couldn’t be further from the truth. I wish I had the answer to that. But I do believe over time the truth will prevail. My reputation, my tainted name, may never be the same, but this didn’t break me. I’m still standing. I will persevere.”

The audience remains eerily quiet. Scarlett is the first to spike out of her seat and clap like mad. A wild whoop comes from the back, followed by a small crowd of applause that I’m pretty sure is led by Jet. Slowly, one by one, the remainder of the audience joins in with careful intent. They rise to their feet, and soon the sound of their approval is deafening. I glance over to Tiffany who offers a silent nod, moisture building in her eyes, and I’m almost amused. She reaches over and offers a spontaneous embrace.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers and nothing else. But those two words are by far enough. It’s all more than enough.

The flood of words that I poured out tonight had somehow empowered me. Months of silence landed me in a parched emotional desert, and loosening my truths into the world had quenched my thirsty soul. I’m no longer the frightened little girl who will do anything to survive—the bottomless pit of wanting that no American Express card could ever fill. I’m born anew. And I’m satiated just being me. I’m no longer shamed by the lies that clung to me like excrement. I’m not a victim. I’m a victor. Tonight wasn’t about taking revenge. It was about taking my life back.

Once the meeting is over, the crowd disperses, and Scarlett wraps me in a strong embrace.

“I love you.” She pulls back, her eyes sparkling like sea glass. “That’s a strange thing to hear from a friend, I know. But I just need you to know that.”

“No, it’s perfect. I feel the exact same way.”

Jet makes his way over and lands a soft kiss to my cheek, his warm hands pressed to my back. “You did great. I have a little surprise for you. I hope you won’t be too upset.”

“What?” I lean back. My eyes snag on a familiar older couple standing behind him, and I gasp. “Mom, Dad?”

Mom shakes her head as if denying her own presence. “Can you forgive us?”

Dad pulls me into a warm embrace without waiting for a response. “We’re not perfect. We just wanted what was best for you so bad. I’m sorry we hurt you.”

My heart detonates against my chest a few good times, and I’m half-afraid I might pass out. I never expected to see my parents here at Whitney Briggs, and, now that I do, they look markedly out of place. My body goes numb with shock, and for a moment, I wonder if I’m dreaming. “You’re really here for me?”

“Yes.” Mom takes ahold of my hands. For the first time, I see the soft folds around her eyes, ageing her just enough, and my heart breaks for this older version of my mother. My mother had always called me her girl. We enjoyed clandestine shopping trips and lunch dates that my father would never have financially approved of. Up until junior high, she was my partner in crime. Somewhere around high school, I traded her in for boys and a nasty circle of friends. I wish I never did. I miss my mother. That’s when everything went wrong, and the disapproval set in on their end. “Jet said this would be important, and he was right,” she continues. “We should have believed you from the beginning. I’m disgusted that I ever thought otherwise.”

“It’s okay. It was easy to think otherwise. I get it.”

We head outside into the perfumed night air and talk about life and classes and my prospects for grad school before we finally say goodnight. I watch as they disappear into the night and wonder if any of that was real.

“Your parents are pretty amazing.” Scarlett blushes because that’s basically what her Irish genes have programmed her to do. “I’d better get going. Rex is meeting me at the library.” She starts to take off. “Oh, and I totally think you should move into the dorm again. You take back what’s yours, girl!” she bubbles with a laugh as she blends in with the night shadows.

“Maybe I will.” I shrug before turning to Jet and that growing look of disappointment.

“You’re welcome to stay with me for as long as you like.” His dark hair, those steely eyes make me want to graft myself to his body.

“Thank you.” I wrap my arms around him. “But I think Scarlett is right. I need to firmly take back my life.”

His brows knit together in a silent fit of opposition. “How about you do both?”

A warm laugh bubbles in me. “I like both. School days at WB and weekends playing musical beds at your place?”

“I was thinking we could have a study group in the living room, but if you want to be a pervert, that’s fine by me.”

“It takes one to know one.” My hands slide up his shirt, and I smooth my palms over the contours of his abs until his lids flutter and a deep hard-won groan comes from him. “Just so you know, my weekends start on Friday.”

“They start on Thursday afternoon from now on.” Jet moans as he presses his lips just under my ear. “But as for tonight, please come home.”

“Home. I do like the sound of that.” I pull back, clasping my palms over his cheeks. “You feel like home.”

“I am your home.”

F
riday night
, Daisy and I bundle up and head out to the big game, a home game at Whitney Briggs. Rex kills it. There is not a move that boy can’t make on the field that isn’t the right one. I’ve always admired that about Rex. As much as I’ve teased him about being “golden,” I’ve meant it. And right now, with Daisy tucked safe in my arms, I’m feeling pretty golden, too.

After a landslide victory, we head over to the Black Bear. The 12 Deadly Sins rage up on stage as bodies pour into the bar as if it were a safe haven, and it is from the icy weather.

Daisy nods toward the bar. “There’s Lucky.”

And indeed, there my baby sister stands, looking every bit like a grown woman—one wearing far too little clothing and looking far too beautiful for me to ever feel safe.

“I don’t think I can do it,” I whisper deep into Daisy’s ear, soaking in her sugary scent, just breathing the woman I love. Last week, she suggested I cut the apron strings, so to speak, when it comes to my sister. I told her I’d try, and she insisted I let Lucky in on this, promising me that it would only strengthen our bond, not break it.

“I get it. I have big brothers.” Daisy twists in my arms, swaying her hips to the music. Before I know it, I’m doing the same. If you would have told me a year ago I’d be dancing in the middle of the Black Bear, I would have laughed and then probably shot you. But this woman, right here, can get me to do just about anything—including something I swore I would never do with Lucky, let go.

Daisy takes a gentle bite of my lip. “You’re a far better brother than either Nelson or Jonas, but, at the end of the day, I still love them, and I still want them in my life.” She gives a little shrug, her golden hair bounces over her shoulders, and I want nothing more than to lose myself in this goddess I’ve been blessed with.

Lucky’s laughter pulls me out of the moment, and I find her tossing her hair, having fun with Owen’s little sister, Ava, each of them with a red fruity drink tucked in their hands.

“Let’s do this.” I take a breath as we head on over. “What’s up?” I pull Lucky into a quick hug and nod to Ava. Both girls quell their laughter, buttoning up as if a parent just walked into the room. And that’s the moment I know Daisy is, without a doubt, right. “Hey”—I give Lucky’s hand a quick tug and nod toward the exit—“can we talk for a minute?” That long black hair, those corn silk eyes glare up at me a moment for even suggesting it. She looks every bit like our mother each and every day. And now that I think about it, I see traces of my father in her features as well—her strong jawline, those heavy brows. I see them both, and for whatever reason, it warms me.

She scowls at me as if I’ve offended her. “If it’s about the money I’ll give it right back.”

Knew it. In an effort to make Daisy look bad, Lucky conducted the ridiculous “heist” herself. “It’s not about the money. Can we step outside?”

“I’m good with here.” She scoots close to Ava, rooting herself to the floor, letting me know she isn’t budging. “Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of Ava and Daisy.” She rolls her eyes just enough to get the point across that Daisy isn’t exactly her favorite person. It’s a little ironic because Ava adores Daisy. They’ve actually built a friendship, and as close as Ava is to her, that’s exactly how
far
Lucky is.

“Okay.” My chest expands with my next breath as I glance to the woman I love. It’s Daisy’s support that’s getting me through this. “Lucky”—I swallow hard, looking her dead in the eyes—“I just want you to know that I love you.” Her eyes widen as if it’s the last thing she expected to hear. “I do. You know that. It’s not something I say often, if ever, but that’s going to change.” She eyes the exit like it’s suddenly the best idea we hit it. “But something else
is
going to change, too. I’m not going to breathe down your neck every moment. You’re a grown girl. You’re in college. I want you to enjoy this season of your life without feeling like you need to ditch me every chance you get.” I tighten my grip on her hand, and she offers a firm squeeze back. “How does that sound?”

She looks from me to Daisy with a stern expression I can’t quite read. Knowing Lucky, this could go either way.

“Sounds like someone’s been drinking the Kool-Aid,” she snarls at Daisy for no apparent reason, and then as quick as her anger ignites, her expression softens. “And I kind of like it.” Her shoulders hike to her ears. “Whatever voodoo magic this girl is doing on you, it’s not half-bad.” She makes a face as if somehow it still made her sick. “But, yeah, I like it. I want that freedom. But I still want you.” Her voice breaks, and I pull her in close to me. “I still need you around. I may not like it, but deep down, I want it. You’re all I have left in this whole world, Jet, and without you, life would be a lonely place.” She shoots a painful smile to Ava for a moment. “All I’d have is this crazy lunatic dragging me off into all kinds of twisted trouble.” They share a secretive giggle as if they’re already in all kinds of twisted trouble, and as much as my stomach grinds thinking about it, I’m leaving it at that.

“You know right from wrong. Yes, people make mistakes, and, yes, I’m going to love you through them, but I’m trusting you’ll use your better judgment. Fun is one thing. Hurting someone else or yourself is something entirely different. Go easy, okay?”

“Okay.” She wraps her thin arms around me, and just like that, I’m transported back ten years to when she was just a peanut. Even way back then, I knew I would die for her if needed.

A dark scar blossoms over her forearm, and my eye snags on it.

“What the hell is this?” I pull her arm away carefully and examine the raw inky scab with what looks like a dead bird etched into my sister’s flesh.

“You wouldn’t give me a freaking tattoo!” she whines before shrinking back. “Sorry. I kind of went behind your back and found some hole in the wall, and they chewed me up for breakfast.”

“Crap. Keep an eye on this. Cover it with antibiotic ointment, and make sure it doesn’t get infected.” Everything in me wants to roar with rage, to turn tables over, and to kick chairs to the ceiling. Nobody should be inking up my sister’s skin with the exception of me. “I’ll fix it if you want when the time comes.” Daisy rubs my back because she knows how much effort it took for me to say that in a reserved manner.

“Thank you.” Lucky sags as if dejected at the offer. “I’m not in a hurry, though. It was pretty brutal.”

“I’ll make it as easy as I can.”

A group of guys walk by, and the brooding dude in the middle looks all too familiar. Grant. Before the night is through, I need to at least say hello to the kid. I recognize that pained look on his face. Underneath that tough guy exterior, he just looks plain grieved.

I pull Lucky into another quick hug, drop a kiss onto her head, and whisper, “Have fun. You know where to find me.” I take a few steps away, pulling Daisy right along with me. “Stay out of trouble.”

Daisy hops a little while pointing at the dance floor where Scarlett, Piper, and Cassidy are busy tearing it up.

“Go for it, girl. I’ll watch from the stands.” My hand slips into the back of her jeans, and I can’t help but give a tiny squeeze. This girl has me going twenty-four seven, and I don’t ever want to stop.

As soon as Daisy bops away, I head over to the brooding dude who’s now hiding in the corner with his buddies. I know for a fact he’s trying to avoid being spotted because he has his back to the bar, head bent to the table.

I slap a hand over his shoulder, and he jumps as if I had just electrocuted the shit right out of him.

Grant stands with a smile that quickly goes from polite confusion to instant recognition.

“Dude.” He slaps me five and pulls me in close. “What’s going on? You tatting people up in the back?” He takes a few steps away from his buddies, and I follow.

“Nope. Just hanging out with friends. You?”

“Same.”

“You go to the game?”

“First one.” He shakes his head as if it were hard just to do that.

“She’d want you to.” Yeah, I went there. It’s pretty evident that his heart is still seated firmly over his sister’s grave. “She wants you to enjoy life. To live. Heck, live for her.” I keep my voice down in the event his friends pick up on our more than slightly morbid conversation.

Grant grows intensely serious, staring me down, and any moment now, I’m prepared to have my ass kicked.

“You’re right.” That frown of his melts into something just this side of a grin. “This is a good step for me.” He takes a look around. It’s clear he’s still unsure of his footing. “I’ll get there. I’m stretching myself. Steph would definitely want me to pull myself out of this funk I’ve been in.”

“How long has it been?”

“Too long.”

“Get back in the game, man.” I offer a quick pat to his back. “You know where to find me if you need an ear. I’ll see you around.” I head over to Rex and Owen who are both laughing at Cade while he shows off on the dance floor—grinding up against Cassidy as if things were about to get pornographic.

“You hear the news?” Owen slides his phone over to me.

Daisy’s picture stares back at me in a split screen with a despondent looking Senator Danberry. “What’s this?”
Senator admits to wrongdoing.
Morano slaps Danberry with sexual harassment suit on victim’s behalf.

“It’s good news, dude.” Owen takes his phone back. “That speech Daisy gave last week took down a congressional Goliath.”

Rex leans in. “Scarlett says that the Legal Eagles have actually been fielding requests all day from other clubs to book her—they want to
pay
her.”

“She can be a life coach,” Owen muses. He knows a thing or two about coaching. He still runs his hookup business on the side, although he much prefers the word
matchmaker
. I settle my gaze over my old friend. A part of me wants to tell him that Grant Jones is in this very bar, just a few feet away. I know Owen. I know he’d want to go over and plead forgiveness for what his sister did. I know that Bryson, the dude who owns this place, would want to know, too. I’ve met Bryson a time or two. He’s a pretty good guy. Grant doesn’t need to hide. I just hope he’s not harboring resentment toward Owen, or Bryson either for that matter. I should know more than anyone else that resentment can kill. That’s exactly why I plan on watching out for the guy—like now, by not telling Owen.

“Life coach.” I nod into this. “She changed my life for the better. That’s for sure.”

Daisy falls onto my lap as the girls appear all at once.

“Scarlett just told me the best news!” She bounces hard up and down over my lap, and my boxers twitch because Daisy always brings the boys the best news. Daisy is free to bounce on me with or without her clothes on anytime she likes.

Daisy rambles it all out so quickly the sentences string together in one long word.

“I knew it’d all work out for you.” My hands warm her back as I draw her close. “I had faith.”

“Thank you.” Her mood grows serious as she pulls me into a smooth, heated kiss. “Thank you for being the rock I needed you to be.”

Piper smashes Owen’s glass over the table until she has the attention of just about everyone in the bar. Something about Piper reminds me a lot of Lucky, and not necessarily in a good way.

“It looks like our little circle is complete.” She falls onto Owen’s lap.

Cassidy gives an impromptu applause. “Sure is. I always knew Jet and my girl here belonged together.” She rocks back on Cade’s lap and taps her foot over Daisy’s knee. “It looks like your darkest hour is about to turn into your shining spotlight. I always knew you would set the world on fire. I’m still so sorry my sister had anything to do with this.”

Daisy takes a quivering breath. “Don’t be. In a strange way, it feels as if I was just propelled that much closer to my destiny. And if this nightmare had never transpired, I would have still been spinning my wheels—or my stilettos.” She wags her pink heel in the air. “I’m a big believer that the people you need in your life get put there right on time—and, no, I’m not talking about Senator Dingleberry.” She burrows in against me. “I’m talking about Jet Madden, the love of my life.”

Rex lifts his beer to me. “I don’t know what took you two so long. Once Jet was hanging at Stilettos every single night, I knew he was a goner. And don’t think for a minute that he noticed another girl there. It was all you, Daisy.”

“It was Daisy.” I bounce her over my lap a moment.

“I’m so glad you came to your senses.” She offers me a quick peck as the rest of the table explodes with a laugh. Daisy lifts a finger to Piper. “But you were wrong. I don’t think our circle is complete quite yet. I’ve got two little besties that are just feeling their way around campus. I’d love to have Ava and Lucky feel free to join us—to
want
to sit with us at some point in time.”

“Door’s always open.” Piper shakes her head. I know that Ava and Piper don’t have the best relationship—sort of like Lucky and Daisy. But it warms my heart that Daisy feels just the opposite toward her.

Scarlett clips Daisy with a look. “My brother, Lawson, is here, too. And, I don’t know, we’re pretty content keeping to our own social circles.”

Rex shakes his head. “Lawson’s not hanging around you because you’re hanging around me. He’s not my biggest fan.”

Cade huffs at Rex. “He’s her brother—and he’s
your
stepbrother. I can see how he’s a little uptight about it. It weirds him out. He’ll get over it—maybe.”

I glance over at the dance floor and spot Lucky and Ava talking to a couple of preppy looking dudes, and my blood boils in an instant.

Daisy follows my gaze. “Down, boy.”

Owen groans from across the table. “I’m not built for this. If that asshole touches my sister, he’s going to lose an arm.”

Piper cackles out a laugh. “Close your eyes, boys. Those girls are beautiful, and the two of you are in for one bumpy ride.”

Daisy sits up and effectively blocks my view. Her beautiful smile expands ear-to-ear and miraculously defuses my rage. “You’re letting her go, remember?”

“Maybe so, but I’m not letting her get kidnapped.” I crane my neck to get a better look at my little sister. Her hand is on her hip, her hair drapes over her back, and it kills me that she’s no longer that little peanut in pigtails. She shakes her head at whatever the dude tells her before grabbing Ava and heading out of the bar.