Page 33 of Unbidden

“Your sister.” I turn to walk away.

“Yeah, I don’t think so.” He chuckles.

“Not up for discussion. Don’t worry, I won’t corrupt her too much,” I yell over my shoulder while giving him the bird.

I slide into the back of the car and shut the door. “Ready,” I tell them while I click my seat belt in place.

“Nice touch,” V tells me between laughs. “Giving them the finger.”

That makes Tinsley start giggling.

“It felt right.” I shrug.

I look out the windshield at Keaton and Reed arguing in the parking lot.

“Let’s go before they register that we’re leaving,” Tinsley mumbles as her eyes lock on Finley.

Victoria starts to ease forward, but before she can move too far, Keaton jogs over to us. Reed looks as if he wants to follow, but Finley and Sterling each grab a shoulder, Sterling whispering in his ear.

Victoria slams on the brakes to avoid hitting Keaton. He runs to the back door and attempts to open it, finding it locked. Victoria rolls the back window down enough for me to talk to him.

“What do you want, Keat?” Tinsley says before I can speak.

“Can you open the door and give me a ride to the party?”

“You’re going to let me go?” She lights up.

“Yep. Now let me in.”

Once he’s seated next to me, Victoria continues to exit the parking lot. Keaton looks out the back window, drawing my eyes in the same direction.

Reed stands, staring after the car. Keaton turns to me, giving me a small smile.

“Reed thinks Tinsley is still a child,” he whispers to me as the girls up front talk. “If he had his way, she’d never leave the house.”

“You disagree?” I whisper back.

“I think she’s a sophomore, and she deserves to have a high school experience. It wasn’t until you came here that I realized we’re holding her back. That’s not to say I want her to do the things I did last year, but I don’t want her to look back and regret having two overprotective brothers. “

I give him a smile, leaning closer to him. “You’re a great brother.”

“To Tinsley, maybe. Reed doesn’t think so.”

I shrug. “Reed will get over it. He can’t be her fatherandbrother. He’s taken that father role, so that means you get to be the brother. Don’t waste it. Time is one of the only things you can never get back.”

“You two done making out back there?” Tinsley giggles.

I jerk back from Keaton, realizing our foreheads were touching as we whispered.

“No… we weren’t…,” I stammer.

“I’m kidding. You should see your face. We’re going in. You coming?”

I turn and reach for the handle, but Keaton grabs my arm.

“We’ll be in soon. V, can you keep an eye on her?” Tinsley glares at him but softens when he continues. “Stop that, T. You know Reed is already going to have my ass. I need to at least make sure one of your friends is with you at all times tonight. It might be the only thing that’ll save my life.”

She smiles at him. “I know, Keat. Thank you for this. Love you.”

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