Page 35 of Devil Inside: Green

Even though her dad eyes him up and down and, for a second, I’m not sure if he’s going to shake Green’s hand, he does. Points to him for making the right decision.

“I didn’t know you had a man, Danni. When did this happen?”

“We’ve been together for a while,” I sort of lie. I don’t want to give him any ammunition to keep Misty from me like I’m making bad or rash decisions or some bullcrap answer. “Actually, that’s why we’re here. I’m moving to Kentucky.”

“Kentucky?” he asks.

“It’s where I’m from,” Green says.

“I need a change,” I admit and Misty’s dad—his name is Carlos—nods.

“I can understand that,” he says, and yeah. He’s a decent guy. How he ever ended up with his wife is beyond me.

“Can I drive down with them to help Danni clean out her apartment?” Misty asks, turning on these huge, puppy-dog eyes. They’re so wide and round, it’s almost comical. “They’ll drop me off back here when they’re heading out. It’ll be my last chance to see her for a while.”

“Won’t you have to miss school?” he asks, but he appears to be thinking about it.

“Dad, I’m a straight-A student. Taking a day or two off isn’t going to hurt my GPA and you know I’ll be able to make it up.Please.”

Right when he’s about to sayyes, his wife walks into the room. Her name is Evelynn, but we’ve always called her “Evil Lynn.” “Why are there all these people in my living room?” she asks before she sees it’s me. Evil Lynn sets her own work hours. She owns a small realty company in town. I guess it makes it easier to harass Carlos on his days off if she can be here for them, too. “Oh—Danni, what are you doing here?”

“Danni is moving to Kentucky. She wants to spend a few days with Misty while they clear out her apartment.”

“She’ll have to miss school,” the woman says. She’s the shortest person in the room, a bit on the curvy side, especially in the tummy region, but that doesn’t make a lick of difference to me. She might’ve been pretty at one point, with her big dark eyes and rounded cheeks, but her ugly attitude hasn’t let me see that side of her from the moment we first met years ago. Today she has on blue shorts that hit her knee made of an unbreathable synthetic fabric—yes, in Texas—and a white sleeveless blouse with matching blue flowers. Her hair is cut in an unflattering bob that ages her a good decade at least. Still, she was Carlos’s choice for a wife and Carlos is Misty’s dad, so I do my best to smile at her even though I don’t feel it.

“Yeah,” Carlos admits.

“She can’t be allowed to take off school if the boys don’t and neither of them can miss this week.”

“Why can’t I take off school?” Misty asks.

“It wouldn’t be fair. I won’t have your dad playing favorites.”

“They could take off another day when I don’t. It would equal out.”

“Please, Evelynn,” I say, speaking up. “It would mean a great deal to the both of us.”

“Dad,” Misty pleads.

“We have rules, Carlos,” Evelynn says.

I’m sure he’s going to turn us down when he says, “Ev, she’smydaughter. You’ve made that clear from the beginning. So she’s going. It’s not playing favorites when her sister is moving. If the boys want to take a skip day at some point, we’ll talk about it. But if they want to take a couple days off when Misty goes off to college, I’d sayyesto that too.”

Okay—who is this guy and what has he done with Carlos? That man never stands his ground against Evil Lynn.Never. Then Carlos looks at my sister. “Go—get your stuff.”

She squeals, jumping up and down, then kisses his cheek. “Thanks, Dad!”

“This better not hurt your grades,” he hollers after her as she runs up the stairs.

“It won’t,” she calls back.

“Thank you,” Green says. “I know this means a lot to the both of them.”

Carlos nods. “I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Carlos Sanchez, Misty’s dad.”

“Well, thank you, Carlos,” Green says again.

“I’m trusting you and Danni with the welfare of my only daughter.”

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