Page 14 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 2

“I went to a play party hosted by someone I know, who has been vetted by you and Mari, and I ended up hooking up with the guy I’ve been crushing on for practically my whole life.”

Sighing heavily, Jake scrubbed a hand over his face. “That’s not the point, Izzy. You didn’t know it was going to be Ethan when you went, did you?”

“No,” she admitted reluctantly, lowering her gaze to the scarred wooden table.

“Look, this thing with you and Ethan… I’m not crazy about it, but you’re right. You’re a grownup and I have to let you make your own decisions. But you have to be careful, honey. And if you’re going to be gone all night, text one of us to let us know. You scared the shit out of Mari, Iz.”

The last sentence was like a punch in the gut. “I’m really sorry. I just got so swept up in everything I didn’t even think about it, but I should have. Forgive me?”

“Of course I do, sweetie. Come here.”

She ran around the table and climbed into his lap. Over the past fifteen years, Jake’s lap had become one of her safe places. It was where she’d cried endless tears over her parents’ sudden deaths, where she’d come for comfort when a stupid boy had broken her heart, and it was where she always found forgiveness after she’d messed up. When his arms came around her, she felt some of the ache in her chest ease.

“I really like him, Jakey.”

“I know. Ethan’s a good man. I’m just not ready for you to grow up, I guess.”

“Will you ever be ready?”

Laughing, he gave her another squeeze. “Good point. Why don’t you go upstairs and talk to Mari. You can tell her I said it was okay.”

“Is she in trouble?”

“I’ll let her tell you about it.”

With a loud kiss to his cheek, she hopped off his lap and headed for the stairs. The door to the master bedroom was slightly cracked so she rapped lightly. “Mari? Jake said it was okay for me to come talk to you.”

There was some shuffling, which she imagined was her sister rushing to get dressed after her corner time. When Mari opened the door, her cheeks were stained with pink and her eyes were rimmed with red.

“What happened?” Izzy asked, torn between sympathy and curiosity.

“Jake found out we went to that social a while back. I’d told him we were going into the city to shop, and you know how he feels about lying.”

Although Jake had never laid a hand on her personally, Izzy had heard enough stories from her sister to wince in sympathy. “Poor Mari. I’m sorry. It’s kinda my fault he found out.”

“Because he caught you at Sheriff Clarke’s house this morning and Ethan has a big mouth?”

“Um, yeah. Pretty much.”

Mari shrugged. “It’s all right. I’m the one who lied, so it’s really my fault. I wish you would’ve called or shot me a text last night, though. I was worried, Iz.”

“I know. I’m really sorry.” It was a long-standing agreement between them. Even in high school, when she’d rebelled hard against her sister and brother-in-law, she’d never stayed out all night without letting them know. The walls in their house weren’t thick enough to muffle the nightmares Mari still had on a regular basis about the car crash that had killed their parents. It was the one rule Mari was a stickler for, and Izzy felt horrible for making her worry.

Mischief twinkled in her sister’s eyes. “You can make it up to me by telling me everything from last night.”

Chapter Five

Saturday nights were for the Thirsty Bear, the bar Jake co-owned with one of his childhood friends, Nathan. On Saturdays, they opened up the floor for dancing, and since it was the only place within an hour’s drive that did, it was usually packed.

This particular Saturday wasn’t any different. The bar was shoulder to shoulder with locals, and the curious tourists who trickled out of Atlanta for a taste of “small town life” in the south. From her spot at the bar, Izzy scanned the crowd, looking for a familiar uniform.

“Would you relax? You’re making me antsy.” Beside her, Mari sipped a glass of wine the same deep red as the sweater she was wearing. Unlike Izzy, Mari always looked put together and classy.

Izzy had opted for another short, curve-hugging dress, this time in a deep green that Mari said made the gold in her eyes really pop. Now that she was officially dating him, she was curious to see if Ethan’s disapproval of her wardrobe would continue or if he’d come to appreciate her preference for “inappropriate attire” as he’d often put it.

“He said he’d be here. What if he changed his mind?”

Mari rolled her eyes. “I’m sure he didn’t. He probably had a call or something. You know how Saturday nights can be.”

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