Page 39 of Sin With Me

“Can I be exempt from that?” Noah raises her hand.

Tripp snorts.

“If you need anythin’ in town,Noahwill get it for you” Dad says, staring at her as he exaggerates her name.

“Oh, because I’m a woman, I should do his shoppin’?”

“That’s sexist and buyin’ into the patriarchal nonsense we’ve been stuck with for centuries,” Mallory adds.

Dad pinches the bridge of his nose, then exhales through his mouth. “That ain’t why I picked her to do it. She was being a smart-ass, but if you wanna volunteer, be my guest.”

“Heck no.” Mallory scoffs.

“She’d probably poison my food anyway.”

She scoffs, leaning back casually in her chair. “I wouldn’t waste my good Foxglove on you.”

For only being seventeen, Mallory scares the shit out of me sometimes.

But I’d never admit that aloud.

“Am I stillallowedto go to Vegas?” I ask Dad.

“That’s three and a half weeks away, so we’ll cross that bridge when we get closer,” he says.

Not the answer I was hoping for, but at least it’s not a definite no. I’ve been looking forward to that trip all year.

And that first beer I order when I get there will be the best sip of my life since I’m staying sober until then.

“For now, no one talks to the press, no one mentions anything in front of guests, and you go on as usual,” Dad orders. “No matter what else is said. Do not retaliate or comment. Got it?”

He scans the room until his eyes lock on mine. He’s warning me to stay out of trouble because if I get arrested while on probation, there’s nothing anyone can do.

“Yes, sir,” we respond.

Once the meeting is dismissed, everyone shuffles out the door to get back to work, but I stay put.

“Miss Tierney said she can get you registered to volunteer at the shelter tomorrow at six. Think you can make it there on time? It’s about forty-five minutes away.”

“Sure, Mom. Not like I’m allowed to do anything else.”

She pats my hand before moving toward the fridge to grab ingredients for dinner. Gramma Grace comes over and hands me a cookie. “Here, eat this. It’ll make ya feel better.”

“Oh? Is it aspecialcookie?” Grinning, I grab it and take a bite. Then I smell it.

When I glance up at her with a furrowed brow, she winks and then walks away.

Yep, she just gave me one of her pot cookies she takes for arthritis and nerve pain. I haven’t had an edible in years.

This oughta be interesting.

Since I didn’t get to surprise Delilah tonight like I wanted, I opted for the second-best option.

Delilah

Did you send Chinese food and several bouquets of flowers to my apartment?

I lean back on the couch and kick my feet up on the coffee table until I’m comfortable. I’ve been waiting for her text since I placed the orders an hour ago.