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“Oh God, please tell me he didn’t use that word.”
“I would if I could.”
“Lucy is one mixed up girl.”
“Latch tries, but he’s not equipped to raise a woman who honestly, should be an adult by now. He’s gone pretty often, too. He’s serving overseas. We all thought he would come back and put down some roots, but now…” She shrugs. “Skull says some men have the military life in their blood.”
“Where is Latch? I haven’t seen him much.”
“He’s here. Actually, I see him over there talking with Annie,” Beth says, her voice sounding puzzled. I follow her line of sight and see Annie talking to who I assume is Latch. They’re in an intense discussion. Latch looks pissed, and Annie…looks…scared.
“That does not look good,” I whisper softly.
“That’s what I’m thinking. I’m going to head over there and play mediator. You want to join?”
“Hmm… I think I’ll pass on that one,” I tell her with a laugh.
“Gee thanks,” she mutters with a wink and walks toward them.
My eyes go back to Lucy and I didn’t plan on it, but for some reason I find myself walking over to her and Spencer.
“Hi,” I announce, my voice overly bright and cheerful. Spencer’s head jerks back, his face red in anger. Lucy looks up to, but she’s pale and when she sees me, I can’t help but notice that she looks very uncomfortable.
“Hello, Hayden,” she murmurs, proving she knows who I am. I find that interesting, since we’ve never been introduced and this is the first time I’ve seen her.
“It’s a great party, isn’t it?” I ask, again being overly cheerful and ignoring Spencer’s sulking look.
“Uh… yeah. It’s nice.”
“I think it’s kind of stupid to have a party outside in the dead of winter,” Spencer mutters.
“It’s sixty degrees outside,” I argue—mostly to annoy him some more. “It hardly feels like winter,” I point out.
“It’s January,” he breathes, clearly irritated and finding me beneath him. “Lucy, I’m going to leave. Are you coming, or not?” he huffs, clearly having dismissed me already.
“But they haven’t given Michael…” She stops and looks at me, blushing slightly. “They haven’t given Beast his present yet, Spence.”
Spencer, proving he’s an even bigger asshole than I suspected, snorts. “So? It’s not like these people have a place in your life anymore, Lucy. You’ve evolved and outgrown them. I don’t know why you insist on clinging to them. Even your brother realized this life goes nowhere and reenlisted,” he responds, ignoring me completely.
“Wow,” I murmur.
“What?” he says defensively. “I didn’t say anything that’s not true.”
“Is that how they do it these days?” I ask.
“Do what?”
“Treat good people.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Besides, this is not really any of your business—”
“You were invited here to eat and take part in my husband’s birthday party. You’re insulting him and his family, I think that makes it my business,” I tell him more pissed than annoyed now.
“I didn’t say anything that’s not true,” he repeats. “Surely, even you can see that Lucy and I are nothing like these people. I’m going to be a lawyer! I can’t be seen consorting with criminals.”
“I can definitely see that you’re nothing like them,” I agree. He smiles like he won this argument between us, making my hand tremble with the need to slap him.
“Thank you,” he responds.
“It wasn’t a compliment,” I mutter.
“Are you ready to go, Lucy?” he snaps.
“I want to stay for a little while. I haven’t seen my brother much, you know?”
“Well, I’m leaving. You can catch a ride home with your brother,” he answers, showing he’s not happy with Lucy’s reply.
Lucy and I watch him leave and she slowly turns to look at me. We stare at each other in silence.
“I’m sorry. Spencer’s not a bad guy—”
“I think we disagree on that. You and I don’t know each other, Lucy—”
“I know who you are.”
“And I know who you are,” I agree.
“Micha—Beast told you about me?”
“He did.”
“I hurt him,” she says.
“Not really, but you need to know your actions have that power. Michael and I both hoped you would learn that lesson, but from the looks of your boyfriend—”
“I don’t feel the same as Spencer,” she argues.
“Yet, you bring him to our dinners and you let him talk about your brother’s club, your brother’s family, like that. You stand by and let him talk bad about men—good men—who have stepped up to take care of you and your brother when there was no one else.” She doesn’t reply, just stares at me. I don’t think my point is getting through. “Listen Lucy, I know better than anyone how unfair life can be.”
“I don’t think—” She tries to interrupt, but I’m on a roll and I figure I might as well as finish. It’s up to Lucy if she hears me or not, but for her sake, I truly hope she does.
