“Of course,” Lynn says. “Shelby, I ran into Ms. Dean this morning, can you believe she’s still principal at your high school?”
Nice way to change the topic, Lynn.
“That old witch?” Shelby grumbles. “Yeah, I believe it. She still runnin’ around measuring the length of every girl’s skirt?”
Lynn waves off Shelby’s question. “They have a spirit day, class reunion thing going on and would love for you to attend.”
Shelby’s body stiffens and she stops scooping strawberries onto her plate.
“Maybe you could sing—”
“Hell effing no-way,” Shelby fumes, cutting off whatever her mother was about to suggest. “Are you kiddin’ me?”
Everyone stops and stares at Shelby.
Noticing the attention, she gently sets the bowl down and takes a breath. “That school made me miserable for four years. Treated me like trash. No way am I going back there and doing them a favor. No.”
“You’ve gotta be the most successful person in your class,” Jiggy says.
Shelby’s death glare settles on him and he rears back.
“Or not,” he mutters, stabbing into a strawberry.
“Aren’t there hundreds of movies based on that premise?” Steer asks. “Rubbin’ your success in the faces of the folks who disrespected you in the past?”
“My life’s no movie,” Shelby says. Her face softens and she reaches up to stroke her fingers over my cheek. “Although, I did land my Prince Charming.”
“Oh, puke,” Pants moans. “I mean, aww, that’s so sweet.”
“Okay, okay.” Lynn throws her hands in the air. “While you’re here, I thought you might want to have a revenge moment.”
“Nope.” Shelby shoves a forkful of cake, whip cream, and berries in her mouth, her signal she’s done talking about it.
After that, the conversation remains boisterous in volume but light in topics. The guys share road stories with Lynn and she feeds us until we’re ready to burst.
It’s late when the guys finally decide to head out.
“I wish I had more space for y’all,” Lynn protests. To be fair, she really does seem stressed about not having room for everyone.
“It’s fine, Lynn,” Dex says. “Thank you for dinner.”
I make a plan to meet up with them tomorrow so we can visit Blaise.
Somehow Jiggy stays behind. Why, I don’t even want to guess. Maybe he’ll be a good buffer.
“Well, your room’s all ready for you, Shelby,” Lynn announces.
Shelby wraps her arm around mine. “We’re gonna stay in the RV. There’s more room.”
Lynn blinks. “You don’t want to sleep in your own bed?”
“Well, that is my bed and I’m rather fond of it.” She nods to Jiggy. “Lord knows we’ve made you sleep outdoors plenty. You can sleep in my old room. Just please don’t do anything gross in my bed.”
I stare at Shelby but don’t want to voice my question in front of her mom.
“Thanks, songbird.” He pats Shelby’s head and she smacks his arm. “I could use some peace and quiet.”
We say good night and head inside.
“That was fun,” Shelby says. “I’m sorry she’s still—”
“Don’t apologize. She loves you and wants to protect you.” It’s annoying as fuck but nothing I can’t handle. “I get it.”
With the way Shelby stood up for us tonight, it doesn’t matter to me if Lynn ever accepts me in her daughter’s life.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Shelby
She’s really leaving the house I grew up in.
I can’t deny Momma’s announcement stung a little. I’d always hoped I’d be the one to buy her a new place. Since she’s moving into an apartment, I guess, technically, I can still be the one to buy her a house.
Still, something’s not sitting right with me about selling our house to someone who wants it because I grew up here. Too many Suggs’ vibes for my taste.
Rooster assured me it would be fine. Even finessed some info out of Momma so he could check it out.
While I’ve been busy out on the road, I’d forgotten all the little memories—good and bad—that made this my home for so long.
“What are we doing with all these baskets, Momma?” I flick dust off the woven material. My nose twitches. If it were up to me, I’d toss her basket “collection” in the trash. All they do is accumulate dust and grease.
Maybe it won’t be as bad in her new kitchen at the fancy apartment complex she’s chosen. A newer building will have to have better ventilation. Plus, maybe I can afford to pay someone to come in and clean once a week so she’s not doing it all herself.
She plunks a box on the table. “Pop them in there.”
Some idiot—I’m assuming my father—nailed the baskets to the wall. Prying the little suckers out is impossible. The chair I’m standing on rocks with the effort. My world tips off-balance.
Oof.
Strong arms wrap around my waist, gently setting me on the floor. “Let me do that.” Rooster pries the hammer from my hands.
“Such a gentleman.” Momma gives him a sly smile I can’t say I care for. “Come help me pack up the photos, Shelby.”
Wiping my hands over my jeans, I follow her to her bedroom. She closes the door part-way behind us.
“Things seem serious, Shelby.”
Half-listening, I glance around. Lots of photos to be found in here. I pick a line of them off the windowsill, stacking them in my arms. Hayley and me with the Easter Bunny. Hayley and me with Santa Claus. Momma and Daddy sure let us sit in a lotta stranger’s laps when we were kids. “With what?”
“You and Rooster?”
I close my eyes and inhale a long, slow breath. Are we back to this? After everything he’s done for me.
“Don’t start with the ‘don’t settle down’ speech again,” I warn her, fully prepared to don my battle gear and die on this hill.
Not at all bothered by my tone, she places her hands on her hips. “I’ve given up on that. But I still want you to think about your future, Shelby.” She lowers her voice and moves closer. “You’re making real money now. Stand to make a hell of a lot more in the years to come. You need to have that man sign a prenup before you even think of walking down any aisles.”
I blink and stare. I’d be less shocked if she’d gone and whapped me in the face with a stack of hundred-dollar bills. “Why would you even think that?”
Stubborn as hell, she digs right in. “Exactly what I said. Things get ugly between you two down the line, he’ll be helping himself to everything you’ve worked so hard for.”
Fury that she sees Logan as some sort of bearded gold-digger bubbles up inside me. “First of all, Rooster’s not that kind of man. He won’t take a dime now, even though he’s been busting his ass every night while I’m out on the road. Got his brothers to drop everything and provide me with security too when the record company wouldn’t.”