Page 84 of Look at Her and Die

Hell, even Kent and Anders had some stuff here for when they came over to hang out.

The house was looking rather lived-in lately.

The old place hadn’t felt like this since my dad had been alive.

“Ohh, that’s beautiful!”

Scottie’s voice had me turning to survey her.

She was home for the weekend, and she’d volunteered to go with us tonight as moral support.

I’d readily agreed since I didn’t want to leave Searcy alone at any point in the night, and if I had to talk to someone, I didn’t want Searcy having to deal with all the bureaucracy bullshit that came with these types of functions.

Not that I thought Searcy couldn’t handle it. She more than could.

But because I knew how shitty these functions were when you were forced to go, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

“You look stunning,” I said to my little sister.

Scottie beamed. “Thanks.”

I gestured to the door. “Y’all ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” Scottie said. “You?”

“I guess.”

Searcy snorted and slapped my shoulder as she moved past me.

She walked as confidently in an expensive pair of heels as she did in a pair of worn-out tennis shoes.

The two ladies made their way to my truck, and I helped both of them inside before slamming the door to my ol’ red Dodge.

“Should’ve cleaned out the dust,” I muttered as I looked into the passenger seat where Searcy was to see all the dirt and grime on the seat.

“It’s black.” She shrugged. “It’ll wipe off.”

I started the grumbly diesel up, and we were headed to the outskirts of Dallas where the event was being held at a convention center.

Why we couldn’t do this in Decatur, I didn’t know, but I wasn’t the one to plan this out.

Did it make sense that we would do it in the same town that we were trying to help? Yes.

But I was going anyway.

The drive took forty-five minutes, and by the time that we arrived at the event center, I was angry because I hated having to deal with stupid traffic.

“How’s Calliope doing?” Scottie asked.

I’d filled Scottie in on everything Calliope relayed when she’d arrived.

“Calm your tits, Hicks.” Searcy giggled as I put the truck in park and got out.

“They are calm,” I grumbled as I helped first Searcy out, then Scottie.

“They don’t appear calm,” Searcy teased as she tried to squeeze my nipple through my suit jacket.

I caught her around the waist and pulled her to me, laying a quick one on her before holding my arm out to both of them. “Let’s get this shit over with.”