Page 104 of Wild Card

“Can Uncle Talon come, too?”

Willow chews her bottom lip, eyeing me carefully.

“I’ll be there.”

The boy springs to his feet on the sofa, pumping his fists. Wolf goes wild, barking from the floor and waiting for what’s next.

I swoop him up, cautious not to jostle Willow, and fly him through the air. “Let’s take it easy close to Aunt Lolo.”

He holds his hands out and I swish him straight into Sterling’s outstretched arms.

“Bex is joining us for dinner.” Chase waves his phone.

I slip my card out of my wallet and the room goes quiet.

Lynden clears his throat. “Your money is no good here.”

“Lynden—”

“Grandpa always pays for family dinners.” Willow kneels on the edge of the sofa and covers my hand. “We don’t argue.”

It goes against everything in me, but I put the card away and tip my chin.

“Y’all get the order together, Talon and I will get the wine.” Chase jerks his head to the kitchen.

Chase has been on edge since walking in this afternoon. Given everything that’s happened, it’s understandable. But my instincts pick up there’s more on his mind.

“Rylee going to jail?” He hands me a beer.

“Do you care?”

“I don’t give a shit, but Willow has a bleeding heart and my dad is grappling. He’s pissed, but torn.”

I blow out a breath, knowing Willow has been struggling with the facts. She wants it all to go away and refused to press charges for assault. It was Rowan’s statement, backed by the witnesses, that held ground on the arrest.

“She’s not going to jail. Willow won’t press charges. Rowan’s revenge is banning her from the salon, and as the tale goes, thepublicity puts her business in the spotlight. Rylee will pay a fine and possibly do community service based on her lawyer’s deal.”

“Dad says the lawyer’s doing everything possible to keep the videos from going viral.”

It didn’t take long for videos of the incident to hit social media. Personal videos were the last thing I cared about. But with editing, filters, and enhancements, the incident is a circus show. Willow may not be at fault, but she doesn’t need her reputation tarnished or her name attached to Rylee’s tirade.

I showed the family the video footage from inside the salon so they had the whole story.

“Rowan’s contacting the ladies who posted and requesting they be taken down.”

“I don’t understand how this escalated. Rylee’s always been over-the-top but not outwardly crazy or violent. She was acting like one of those senseless reality show housewives.”

“Didn’t peg you as aReal Housewivesfan.”

“Bex likes it.”

And there it is. “You finally ready to admit that shit?”

“What shit?”

“You and Bex.”

“We’re friends.”

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