Page 75 of Ruin

Rayne rolled her eyes. “Boring. You just shit on my BL dreams.”

“Rayne,” Dad snapped, but the grin didn’t go along with the tone.

“What’s BL?” Nary asked.

“Boys’ love. It’s like a genre in Manga.”

“Manga?” Mum asked.

Rayne groaned. “You guys are so old. Graphic novels I read about two guys getting together.”

“Are you the right age for these Manga?” Dad asked, and when Rayne looked away, we all knew she wasn’t.

“Right, until you reach sixteen, stay away from them,” Dad ordered.

“But there are ones for my age.”

“Clear it with your mother first so she can check it out before you look at any more. Where do you even find this stuff?”

“Online.”

Dad sighed. “Everythin’ is too easy to get online. I mean it, Rayne, check it with Mum. If I find out you haven’t, there’ll be hell to pay.”

“I know.”

“Now that’s cleared up. Josh, you should come back to the barbeque. I’d love to spend some time with you before you head off. Maybe go in the morning?”

“In other words, Mum’s missed you and wants you to stay for a bit longer,” Nary supplied what I’d already been thinking.

Nodding, I said, “I can leave in the mornin’.” It also gave me more time to talk to Dad and let him know what Talon had said and what had been happening in Melbourne.

One night.

I had to hold off for one night without seeing Taro. I could do it for my family since I’d been stupid enough to leave in the first place.

Chapter Nineteen

Ruin

Alot of members had crashed at the compound for the night. I took my old room. Nary, though, had taken off with Rayne and Vicious before the party had kicked into the next gear. It ended when a drunken Hell Mouth fell off a table she’d been dancing on for her man Griz; she broke her wrist when she landed on Ivy, another old lady.

It was a good night, though. Always was when it came to the Hawks because every member was family. Even though I enjoyed catching up with everyone, I still felt the urge to leave and get back to Taro. More so now that I was awake.

The conversation I’d had with Dad the night before ran through my mind. He’d pulled me away from everyone and sat me down at a table out back.

“Spoke to Talon. Know he’s already given you the go-ahead. Somethin’ I should have said back at the house.”

I’d drawn my brows down. “Said what at the house?”

“Should have told you that no matter who you like, you’ve got our support. Not just the Hawks, but us as your family.”

“Dad, I knew you guys wouldn’t think less of me because of this.”

He’d grunted. “If anyone does say shit, fuck ’em.”

Smiling, I’d nodded.

He’d knocked his boot against mine. “You also gotta know, I’m not a fan of this Wolf guy’s life. The business he deals in. Only because it could bring danger to you.”

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