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Delaney glares at him. “Don’t you dare.”

Duke turns to me. “We sat on these pews that apparently weren’t level. The reason I know this is that as we were sitting there, all of a sudden, the back of my pants was wet. My mom was on the other side of me, and she noticed it, too.”

Delaney hides her face in her hands. “I can’t believe you are telling him this.”

“She peed her dress, and it went down the entire row. People jumped up and caused a commotion. But when they discovered what it was?” He’s laughing hard. “Well, let’s just say it didn’t go well.”

I rub her shoulders. “Hey, that happens to a lot of kids.”

“Oh,” Duke says, “that’s the best part. She was seventeen!”

“You’re dead,” Delaney says, as she jumps up from the stool.

“I do miss that church. We never went back,” Duke says as he runs out of the room.

I’m happy to see Delaney and Duke get along so well. It reminds me of me and my brother, Brian. He’s always been there for me. But then my smile fades. Will he support me if I marry the daughter of a drug dealer? I’d like to think so, assuming I get her away from here.

CHAPTER6

Delaney

Duke successfully outran me and escaped before I could inflict any punishment on him. But he knows I’ll get him back. I think I’ll make him wait and suffer, not knowing when.

“What’s that grin for?” Logan asks as we walk toward my favorite ice cream shop.

“Just thinking of the revenge I’ll get on my brother.”

He laughs. “You’ll have to tell me about that.”

It’s good to see him smile. I’ve shown Logan most of my town and had hoped he’d love it as much as I do, but based on the serious expression he wore, I’ve been worried he doesn’t.

“Are you ready for classes to start again?” he asks as we get in line.

I sigh. “No. My classes aren’t too exciting this term.”

“Still doing business?”

I turn to face him. “I told you; I have to.”

He frowns. “Have you told your dad how you feel about it?”

I turn back as we reach the counter. “No point. He made it clear he would only pay my tuition if I got a business degree. I can’t afford school on my own. Besides, I’m almost done. I graduate in June.” I glance up at the woman behind the counter. “Can I get two scoops of Rocky Road in a cup?”

She nods, then grabs a cup.

I reach out and touch the worry line between his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

He stares at me for a moment. “I don’t get it. You’re outspoken and don’t seem to take crap from anyone, yet when it comes to your dad, you let him order you around, even though it clearly makes you unhappy. You don’t like business school. And if you can’t afford art school, then why don’t you save up and go in a year or two? I mean, you’re living at home rent-free, right? You must have something saved already.”

“What can I get you?” a man asks Logan.

“Strawberry. Two scoops in a cup, please.”

The man nods and grabs a scooper.

“I don’t,” I say quietly.

Logan pays for our ice cream, and we sit at a table. “You don’t, what?” he asks.

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