Sean aka Diesel (Cocker Brothers Book 14), стр. 26
We can however help ourselves to large helpings of delicious jambalaya and extra crispy tater tots. And these beers won’t drink themselves.
Atlas grins at the spread, “Wow, I guess you guys knew we’d nail it, huh?”
Honey Badger throws an arm around Jett’s shoulder and announces in a booming voice, “Luke proposed to Sofia Sol!”
It takes a second to let this sink in before I scream, “What?! How is that even possible?!”
I’m grinning from ear to ear as we are attacked by multiple voices shouting over each other. As I piece the story together, my hand flies out to smack Atlas’s chest, “Isn’t that great!”
He offers a forced smile, “Yeah…great.”
Sage grabs me, jumping up and down in place. “Can you believe it? Can you believe it?”
“No, I can’t! I have to call her!” I’m already dialing on my dash upstairs. Running into our room I leap onto her bed and not mine, since I miss her so much. She answers with a normal hello and I scream, “What the fuck, Soph! What is happening?!”
Laughing, her voice changes to relief and utter happiness as she finally gets to tell me everything she’s wanted to, but couldn’t. I listen to the whole story, freaking out, rapt, in awe. “Tell Luke I’m furious I wasn’t there to witness the look on your face, Sofia!”
“Hang on, I’ll put you on speaker. Say it again!”
I repeat it to our long lost Martinez brother and he leans into the phone, says in a sexy voice I don’t even recognize, “Some things you can’t watch, Ceels.”
“Who are you?!!” I demand on a peal of laughter. “And when are you guys coming home?!”
“We’re taking another week. With the travel it’ll be about nine days.”
“Get your asses back here!”
“Things are different, Ceels. We’re in love.”
Collapsing onto the bed I cover my face with my hands, laughing, “You are killing me! I’m so happy for you!”
Sofia’s voice gets serious as she asks, “How is everyone over there?”
“Your dads are acting like their old selves! It’s a miracle!”
“Um…have to go now. Luke just unzipped my pants. Again. I’ll call you again this week!”
“You better!” I grin and hang up, staring at the ceiling, thinking about everything she said, their story, how all this time I never knew it was happening.
Glancing to our sweet nightlight that Sofia Sol and I got when we were little girls, I reach to switch it on and off, smiling to myself.
The festivities downstairs are too much fun. Bets over pool games are totally normal for us, but this night our celebration is a release of tension among a family that sorely needed it.
“We were divided,” Jett announces, holding up a shot. “We are one again!”
The cheering is cacophonous, southern food piled Mount-Everest-high, and we’ve broken into the booze—the beer can wait!
But the party has one guest I can’t take my eyes off of for long. Despite the tornado of activity around Sean, he hasn’t snapped out of his walking coma. It’s as though when he saved Mr. Russo’s life he joined him on the road to the great upstairs.
While I sip from my second tequila over ice with lime, I watch our newbie slowly rise from the couch to take his uneaten plate outside.
Snatching corn bread from the basket, Atlas passes me for the game room. “Might make me some money tonight.”
I grab his arm before he vanishes, whispering, “What do you think about Sean’s reaction to the mission?”
He shrugs, “Maybe he can’t handle it.”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
“You don’t want him to leave, but he might.”
My head swings back a little. “What? I don’t care if he stays or goes.”
Atlas heads for the game room, “Yeah, sure, Ceels.”
“That’s not it at all!” I call after his smirk. “I hope you lose money!”
His laughter fades with distance, and I glance around the Cipher family, eyes quickly locked onto the backdoor. Squishing my mouth to the side I consider what to do, decide, “Fuck it,” and hurry to join Sean and see if he’s okay.
“Celia, where are you going?” My mom calls after me.
“Outside.”
“Who’s out there?”
“Tons of people.”
“Anyone specific?”
Pausing I cock my head. “Yes. Sean is out there.”
She motions for me to join her at the sink. Gritting my teeth I make my way back around and listen to her hushed warning, “Be careful! We don’t know this boy!”
“He’s a man not a boy.”
Giving me a look she rolls her eyes, “And that’s better?”
“What do you have against him?”
She grabs the counter, hands starting to tremble. “He’s an outsider!”
Touching her back I keep my voice quiet, “Mom, remember when you said that Tonk Jr. feels like an outsider? Remember how upset you got at Dad for making him feel worse? Where’s your compassion now?”
“He’s my son.”
“Sean is somebody’s son, too. He doesn’t know anyone but me and Atlas. We’ve become friends. Everyone’s partying, but he’s outside by himself.”
Stubborn fire lights her up, and I’ve never seen her like this. “I trust the people here. Our family! We know them. There are bad people in the world! Very bad people!”
“Okay, now you’re making me smile. Do you realize who you’re talking to? The things I’ve seen? I know the evil that’s out there, Mom! Sean’s a good person. Trust my judgment!”
“You’ve never lived with a bad person, Celia!”
“He’s not bad! Wait…” I pause. “Have you?”
She wrings her hands. “I just want you to be careful.”
“You’re being ridiculous. I’m sorry, but this is nuts.” Swinging the refrigerator open I snatch a can of beer for Sean and avoid my mother’s hawklike gaze as I make my way outside.
CHAPTER 18
SEAN
N ot until I hear her voice standing right beside me do I know I’m not alone. “Sean?” A beer is placed in my hand.
From habit alone my fingers close around the aluminum as Celia takes an old wooden chair to