Page 174 of The Sidekick

“What?” He starts biting his lower lip to hold in laughter. My eyes narrow as if I’m about to scold him, but I chew my lower lip as an unwilling smile begins to form.

“Yup. I went to juvie for a while.”

“You’re so sweet. I can’t picture this at all.”

“The guy was rich and wanted to make an example out of me. He tried to get me punished as an adult, but I didn’t threaten him or have a weapon or anything.”

“Who gave you the dare?” He asks with a grin.

“My brother,” my eyes automatically drop away from his as I think of my family.

He shifts until he’s closer to me, eyes narrowed. I just realized he doesn’t have his glasses on. Maybe he’s not seeing me properly. He’s been wearing them less and I miss them.

“What was his punishment?”

“He said I lied to make him look bad to our mom so I wouldn’t be the only one in trouble,” I shake my head with a sigh.

“He’s younger?” Asher asks with a faint smile.

“Yeah.”

“Has he confessed to her yet?”

“I don’t think he did, and I can’t ask.”

“Why’s that?”

“Mom passed away before I was released, and I haven’t spoken to him since I was arrested. I tried to. He didn’t want that. Mom probably told him that if he ever spoke to me again God would turn his back on him.”

He’s probably obeying her that way to this day, listening to the faded echo of our mother’s strident voice struggling to get us to behave like normal children. I’m the same way.

“When was that?” He’s beginning to frown as his thumb strokes under my chin.

“Um, I guess seven years ago? I lost track of him when he started living with Aunt Cecile. I kind of got disowned.” Understatement of the year.

“Who did you live with when you got out of juvie?”

I wince and chew my lip. “I just hung out at a lot of places for a while. Then South got released and we got a place together.”

“Who’s that?” His brows draw down. I could swear he sounds jealous.

“My oldest friend. She made sure no one picked on me and helped me grow up a little. I taught her how to be a person.”

“How old were you when you were released, Tera?”

“Seventeen.” I shrug, and his eyes widen.

“No one took you in?”

“They all told me no because I was too much trouble,” I wonder if he’ll start agreeing. Everyone else does. Except for South and Shade, that is. “My behavior wasn’t what my family wanted to be known for.”

Asher’s mouth opens and shuts several times as if he can’t find the words. “I can’t even imagine. My Maman would kill for me, my sisters too. Even my stepdad. We’re a unit.”

“That sounds amazing. You’re so lucky,” I grin at him and shift a little closer. “Did your sisters go on any heists with you or anything?”

“Fuck. No,” He says firmly and frowns at me. “They didn’t need to get involved with my rebellious phase.”

“Oh,” I chew my lip as I take in how serious he is. “I took my brother with me everywhere.”

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