THE BRAVO BOYS - SNAKE EATER [book three]

Chapter NINE

Logan Nash

"Gosh-darn-it! I'm gonna be late for practice!" Dallas exclaims, checking the time on her phone, drawing my attention away from the movement outside the cafe windows and stirring me from my bored trance as she leaps to her feet.. After listening to my niece and Shelby discuss everything from evening wear to pageant strategy for the past hour, my head aches and my patience has worn thin..

All I want is some solitude, to close myself off and hole up in my office with some code to crack and the hum of hard drives.. I itch for something that makes sense, something to take my mind off all this pageant bullshit, the likes of which only reminds me of yesteryear..

Honestly, it all reminds me of Dixie and all the ways I failed her..

The Miss Darkport Pageant is exactly the kind of thing Dixie would've adored doing with her daughter, and because I had failed to protect her, she isn't here to share in Dallas's dreams. She isn't here to watch her grow and thrive.

Goddamn.. I fucking hate that my sister isn't here. Every day I keep thinking I'll feel a little less lonely but every day I only miss her more.

"You need a ride back to campus?" I offer to my niece a little too eagerly, in a hurry to escape the Army Barbie and the terse, daggered look she's been giving me since I sat down..

"Naw, Wacey is already out front to pick me up.." Dallas reddens in embarrassment at the mention of her crush, star athlete and captain of the Northbank High Lacrosse team, Wacey Taylor..

She must assume that I'm a fucking moron not to notice the way she swoons at the very mention of the guy..

But I see it.. I see everything..

Yeah, I know all about that no good fuckboy and his intentions towards my niece.. I can tell from his online presence, his shirtless selfies and stupid caption quotes that he's a vain and insipid little shit that doesn't deserve even a dribble of Dallas's attention.. Still for some stupid reason she seems to think he's something special.

Typical fucking teenagers..

"I don't like that kid, he thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow.." I grumble in disapproval but Tex just giggles, knowing full well that I hate to intervene in her business.. She's a smart girl and mature enough to make her own choices.. I just wish she'd make better ones..

Reaching out to link her little fingers around my wrist she placates me with an innocent white lie.. "Chill, Lo-Lo! He's really not so bad once you get to know him.."

I scoff.. "That remains to be seen, little lady.."

Shelby, with her sapphire eyes illuminated in interest, looks up at Dallas as she collects her patent paperwork from the table to stuff it into her daffodil-yellow backpack.. "Oh? Is Wacey your boyfriend?"

"What? No way! We're just friends!" Dallas splitters, flushing an even darker shade of pink, unable to meet my eye.. Somehow in the short span of time since we walked into the cafe Shelby had managed to forge some kind of connection to the teen, because Dallas bites her lip and leans forward to whisper conspiratorially to her new confidante.. "Although, would you believe my bestie Sheridan seems to think he's going to ask me to Senior Prom!"

"That sounds like fun." Shelby forces a smile though it comes across as more sad than sincere..

"Oh, It will be!" Dallas giggles, leaning down to peck my cheek before she shuffles away from the table.. "Anyways, I gotta go you guys! I'll see you at home, Lo-Lo.."

"Don't be late, Tex.." I call after her in response, but Dallas escapes before I can even finish the sentence..

Shelby waits for the girl to disappear out the cafe doors before she turns back to look at me with those big blue oceans of hope.. "That went well- I think.."