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“Ready to go inside?”
“Nope. Is that bad?” I knew there would be all kinds of Reckless Bastards around to help me celebrate because they were that kind of family. Loud and rowdy and they showed up for every life event.
“Not bad. It gives us time to talk about the mystery man you were with last night. I assume it’s the same guy who put that big goofy grin on your face?”
Damn, I was caught. “What mystery man?”
“Maisie.” She gave me that mom look, the one that would get you to spill all your secrets in a matter of minutes.
“Okay fine, it’s Virgil. The guy who brought me home that one night.” That seemed like such an inaccurate description of him, but I couldn’t tell my aunt that he was the guy who’d fucked me until he infiltrated my dreams. My fantasies. “He’s nice.”
Jana laughed and shook her head. “Nice. I heard you creep in at six this morning, Maze. The dude is a hell of a lot more than nice.”
I sighed, feeling slightly embarrassed because Jana was my aunt not my friend.
“He is but I don’t know him that well and…”
I didn’t know how to explain everything I was feeling about Virgil. “Hell, I don’t know Jana. I just don’t know him that well, and I get the feeling there are things about him I don’t want to know.”
Bonnie’s reaction to him was just one red flag but the way he left our first date was another.
“I don’t know if you know this, but I pretty much thought Max was a criminal when I met him. A hot criminal, but still.” She flashed a teasing grin that made me smile.
“Gross, but I get your point. I think.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “You gave Uncle Max a chance and you think I should give Virgil a chance. Right?”
“Wrong.” At my shocked look, she laughed even harder, the sound echoing around us inside the car. “I’m saying that you should get to know him but listen to those red flags, they might save your life. I got lucky that Max wasn’t a real dirtbag like some other men in my past, but it could have easily gone the other way. He was still a criminal to some. Be careful.”
Careful was not my strong suit, but like Jana said, I was a grownup now. No more safety nets and exams and second chances. I blew out a long, thoughtful breath. “I’ll do my absolute best.”
“Excellent,” she said and flashed a high beam grin before jumping out of the car and running around to my side. “Let’s get inside and celebrate the new college graduate!” Jana wrapped both arms around me and squeezed tight. “I’m so proud of you, honey. Is Bonnie stopping by later?”
“No,” I groaned and rolled my eyes. “She’s going to dinner and then church. With her parents.” I had no issue with going to church even though Father Eric was always trying to get me to show up more often and get more involved in activities, but what kind of assholes made their kid go to church for her college graduation?
“Sucks for her,” Jana said and rolled her eyes because there was no love lost between my family and Bonnie’s. “Come on!”
The closer we came to the open front door with the tightly secured screen door, the louder the noise inside grew. “Sounds like a party.”
Jana tossed her head back and laughed, one arm still tangled with mine. “Well, you are the first Nilsson to graduate. It’s a damn good reason to celebrate I’d say. Ready?”
For a party? “Always.” I stepped inside and had to catch my breath. I’d gotten used to the Reckless Bastards parties over the years and they were always loud. They lasted all night long and everyone always had a great time. Even Bonnie. But this was…overwhelming. Everyone showed up. Everyone.
“Gunnar!” He turned with a smile and that’s when I saw the rest of my family. “Peaches! Stone!”
“See, babe, nothing to worry about. She still remembers us,” Gunnar joked and wrapped an arm around my favorite woman in the world.
“Very funny.” My legs carried me quickly into my big brother’s embrace and being there made me feel like I was seven years old again. “I thought you guys couldn’t make it.”
Peaches rolled her eyes. “It’s called a surprise girl.” She laughed and wrapped me in a hug that transported me right back to Hardtail Ranch and Opey, Texas. “Damn it’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you guys too. Even you, squirt.” Because I couldn’t help it, I ruffled Stone’s hair and as expected, he gave me a glare that was just shy of adorable from the lanky teenager. “Miss me?”
He shrugged. “A trip to Vegas so I said yes.”
“Liar,” Peaches contradicted with an affectionate smile. “He wanted to see you. We all did.”
