At least, I would’ve been if Willow, not twenty-four fuckin’ hours after I’d told Saint to stand down from babysitting her night and day, hadn’t chosen to be a rebellious little shit. Irony, folks. It wasn’t lost on me. Not today.
Willow:I’m eighteen TOMORROW. Mum doesn’t get to rule my life and decide where I drive my car.
Dad:she’s not trying to rule your life. She’s just saying ure not experienced enough to drive that thing to france and back just yet
Willow:Why not?
Dad:cos that’s how time works. it’s not instant because u want something
Willow:Mum said you’ll take my car off me if I don’t do as she says.
Couldn’t if I wanted to, not after tomorrow. I’d registered the car to Willow. Paid her insurance and road tax for a full year. As of tomorrow, the world was her oyster, and there was nothing either me or Kara could do about it.
Dad:i’m not going to take your car. i’m ASKING you wait until summer b4 u do anything wild. for my sake, i’m grey enough.
Willow:You’re not grey at all, and you don’t ASK ME before you get on your motorbike and crash it every six months.
Ouch. Her words made my healing body ache, and I couldn’t even argue with her, cos that was the lie she’d been fed all these years. That I was such a shit biker that I fell off every other week and kicked seven bells of hell out ofmyself.
“What’s up?” Orla’s scent enveloped me. Then her silky tattooed arms, her soft lips at my neck. “Not that the smouldering look isn’t sexy as fuck on you.”
“Smouldering?”
“You’re glaring at that phone like you wish it was dead.”
I passed it over. Orla scanned the messages, dark eyes shining with amusement. “I didn’t know my good girl had it in her.”
“She’s nice,” I corrected. “Kind, and funny. That doesn’t make hergood, trust me. There’s a reason she’s at college and not sixth form. The fuckin’ school wouldn’t keep her.”
Orla laughed and gave the phone back. “She’s just flexing. Excited about making her own decisions. She’ll be okay.”
“Oh yeah? What would River have done at that age?”
“Ask him yourself.”
On cue, the front door opened and River appeared in the kitchen a few seconds later. I’d expected him; I’d seen him on the security cameras. Didn’t knowwhyhe was here, though. And I didn’t get a chance to ask before Orla jumped in.
“What would you have done if Mum and Dad had told you not to drive your car to France?”
River had a lolly in his mouth. He shifted it from one side to the other. “How old am I in this scenario, and what fictitious car do I get?”
“Does it make a difference?”
“No, I’m driving there immediately.”
Orla winced.
I sighed and picked up my phone again, busying myself with another pointless message exchange until I realised Orla had her boots and coat on. “You ready to go?”
“Yup.” She came closer and pushed me down in my seat as I tried to rise. “Not you, though. That’s why River’s here. You have the day off.”
“Since when?”
“Since now. Have fun, sweetheart.” She kissed my cheek and breezed out of the kitchen before I could argue.
River tipped me a sympathetic grin. “I’ll let you know if we leave the compound.”
I appreciated that as much as the brotherly hug he gave me. River had a spiky personality when life overwhelmed him, but he was strong and loyal and fierce. I pitied the fool who came for Orla when he was by her side.