to say, breathing into the freezing cold air.
She lifts her eyes. “I’m sorry, West. I wish I knew more,” she sighs. “All I can tell you is that not many people scare me, but your father is definitely on that very short list.”
There isn’t even a hint she’s joking about that.
“Ever since he came here, I swear I’m being watched. Granted, it’s entirely possible the man just gives me the creeps and I’m imagining it all,” she says with a faint laugh, “but something just feels… off.”
She leaves it at that, and I don’t doubt for one second that Vin’s capable of this shady shit. Sounds just like him, actually.
My brow tenses, thinking of something that doesn’t quite add up.
“No way he pulled the info about you and me out of thin air, so… how’d he know? About that? About Parker?” I ask these questions as my festering hatred for my father grows just a little more.
It doesn’t surprise me when Casey shrugs. I’m beginning to see she’s just as clueless about things as I am.
“No idea,” she answers, “but with all due respect… if I were you, I wouldn’t trust him. Like, not even a little bit.”
It’s like she read my thoughts.
I’m caught off guard when she leans in and squeezes me tight around my neck.
“Take care of yourself, and take care of NewGirl,” she says close to my ear. “I know you want answers, and I wish I had them for you, but sometimes… ignorance is bliss, West.”
With that, she releases me and I’m staring at her back as she puts distance between us. With the heavy snow, it isn’t long before I can’t make her out from anyone else walking in the crowd tonight, and that’s kind of how I’m feeling right now.
Like I can’t see my father’s identity, can’t tell the truth from a lie.
At this point, all I know is that my world is a whole hell of a lot more twisted than I realized.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
Chapter 38
BLUE
“They look like a miniature version of us,” I point out, peering at Shane and Scar over Ricky’s shoulder. They’re sipping milkshakes a few booths away, laughing about whatever weird stuff they’re always laughing about.
Ricky glances back and smiles, maybe reminiscing about when we were kids and things were simple like that.
“I’m calling it,” he says. “In ten years, me and you are gonna be standing up in their wedding.”
My brow quirks. “You really think so?”
He shoots me an incredulous look, like he can’t even believe I’m questioning it.
“No doubt. Look at them. They’re clearly in love with each other, but scared to mess up the friendship. Hell, they’ve already started fucking, so—”
I snort a laugh and nearly choke on my soda.
“Ricky! You can use any other word than that when you’re talking about them. Like, seriously, any other word.”
“What? I call that shit like I see it,” he reasons with a nonchalant shrug.
“No, they stopped,” I try to convince myself. “Getting caught totally killed the mood and they don’t even see each other in that light anymore.”
He gives me a look, one accompanied by a devious smile. “Or you just made it a hell of a lot more fun, because they have to sneak around to do it.”
My face scrunches up when he finishes. The truth is, my sister and his brother aren’t so innocent anymore. Not when it comes to each other. They’ve got this energy between them that makes me nervous as hell to take my eyes off them for even a second. With what Ricky just predicted for them, I’m guessing he feels it, too.
“Shit, we’re in trouble, aren’t we?”
“Definitely,” he nods. “Next thing we know, they’ll be sneaking out to your garage in the middle of the night.”
I don’t miss the reference to one of our old habits. In fact, I can’t even look Ricky in his eyes now.
“Did we step back in time?”
I peer up at Uncle Dusty when he approaches our table, carrying two burgers and a basket of fries for Ricky and me to share. There are two waitresses here tonight, but he wanted to serve us himself, because he’s awesome like that.
“Just hanging out,” I say back, prompting my uncle to volley a suspicious look between us.
“Well, keep the ruckus down before you scare all my customers away,” he teases. I’m positive it’s a joke because there’s no one in here but us.
“Noted,” I say back, watching as he makes his way to Scar and Shane’s table next.
“You practice today?” Ricky