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“Force of habit, I guess.” Jocelyn was a little surprised at her sister’s fairly adroit and adult view of their father. “Will you come back with me and at least have a conversation?”
Behind her, the door opened, and Dean came out carrying a beat-up guitar case and a half-filled trash bag. He stiffened when he saw her. His gaze then went over her head to where Logan and Kendall stood. “What’s going on here?”
“Jocelyn wants me to go back home and talk to my parents.”
He shrugged. “Well, me and the band are headed to Laughlin for a gig. They’ll be here any minute.”
“Is that what you’ve been doing here all this time? Watching him play in his band?” Jocelyn asked.
Dean frowned. “What’s wrong with that? She also waited tables to help with expenses. Does that help your shitty opinion any?”
Logan stepped forward, but she held up her arm.
Jocelyn gave Dean a withering look that would melt steel then ignored him to stare into her sister’s downcast expression. “Come here, Jenna. Just talk to me for a minute, okay?” She put an arm around Jenna’s shoulders and walked a few steps away from the men.
Dean called out, “The guys will be here any minute. You need to decide what you’re going to do, Jenna. You know I can’t wait around forever.”
Her sister nodded and they walked a few more steps until they were out of earshot.
Jocelyn started. “Here’s the thing. You’re nineteen years old. You can make your own decisions. But is this the life you truly want to live?”
“It’s not so bad. The music is great. Our life is simple, but I feel free. Besides, I love Dean. And I’d rather be with him and waiting tables than under Dad’s thumb all the time.”
“You don’t have to answer, but are you and Dean married or anything? I mean this is Las Vegas.”
“No.” This prompted another dispirited sigh. “Dean doesn’t want to ruin his band image by getting tied down.”
“Oh, but he’s happy to have you help with expenses by working as a waitress though.”
“If you’re going to be judgmental like Dad, I’m leaving.” She turned as if to go.
“Wait. Wait a minute. I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right.” Jocelyn put a hand on her shoulder. “My current task as per our parents for the past several weeks has been to locate you, talk some sense into you, and then demand that you return home with me so you can get back into community college.”
“Not going to happen.”
“However, my personal goal is only to ensure that you’re safe and happy. And also to get you to at least contact me on a regular basis so I continue to know that you’re safe and happy.”
Jenna’s gaze found her face. She looked determined. “Will you tell them where I am?”
Jocelyn quickly pictured the coming argument with her father if Jenna didn’t accompany her home, but said, “Not if you don’t want me to. I promise. I’ll just tell them you’re happy and don’t want to go to college now. The thing is, I worry about you. Just stay in touch, okay?”
“That’s not your job, Jocelyn.”
“Sure it is. Just ask Dad. He’ll tell you.”
Jenna laughed for the first time since they’d arrived.
Jocelyn glanced over at the three men, pointedly not talking to each other, and figured she had only a few more minutes of quiet cooperation. She reached into her purse and pulled out the cell phone she’d purchased. “This is a disposable cellular phone with about five hundred minutes on it. There’s only one number entered into the phonebook. Mine. Just take this and promise to call me from time to time.”
Jenna took it with a surprised expression. “What will you tell Mom and Dad?”
“I’ll just say that I found you, however, you declined their generous offer to return to community college.”
“They’ll yell at you.”
Jocelyn shrugged. “Not the first or last time that will happen, I’m certain.”
“I know you don’t approve of Dean.”
Jocelyn closed her eyes. “Don’t get me started.”
