Page 101 of Too Far

With my eyes trained on the road and the accumulating traffic, I mull over his words.

We’re all on the outs with Cap. Have been since the morning he gathered us together to break up with Jojo.

The unexpected blow hit every one of us hard. None of us would have allowed it to go down like that had we known. But once Decker sets his mind to something…

Shaking my head, I tip my chin to Nicky. “We’re aligned in our feelings, but tread lightly for the next few days, brother. We’re playing with fire putting everyone under one roof. I know you want to protect her and avenge her, but despite the whole ‘lone wolf’ bullshit he’s got going on right now, I’d reckon you can’t burn him without hurting her, too.”

Locke crosses his arms over his chest and watches the scenery out the window.

“Oh shit,” a small voice mutters behind me. A voice that shockingly sounds like one of my sisters.

“What did you just say?” I whip around just as Emilia is reaching for the floor.

“She dropped sixteen beads in the seat and on the floor,” Kylian announces from the back.

How he knows the exact number, I don’t bother asking. I have no doubt he’s right.

Turning forward again and easing off the accelerator as we get closer to the car in front of us, I shoot a quick glare at my sister through the rearview mirror. “What did I tell you about making friendship bracelets in the car?”

With her chin held high, she meets my gaze. “Not to do it.”

“And yet you deliberately disobeyed me?”

“Ohhh,” Jade whispers.

Sitting up straighter, I eye her in the mirror. “Hush.”

Emilia scowls at me, indignant and self-righteous. “I was making a bracelet for Jojo. She’s sad, Kenny. I wanted to cheer her up.”

We come to a full stop. The traffic is getting heavier as we approach the metro area outside of Charlotte. Shifting in my seat, I look at my girl—my beautiful, gorgeous, sad girl.

Jojo’s tipped forward, searching between the captain seats, talking low to Emilia as she hunts for fallen beads. She must feel my stare, because she lifts her head, still murmuring reassuringly to my sister, and offers a meek smile. Fuck. It’s so incongruent when compared with the enigmatic smile or playful smirk I’m used to seeing plastered on her face.

My sister’s right: she’s sad.

Unlike Emilia, I know the reason behind her sorrow.

“Why are you sad, Jojo?” Jade twists in her seat, but she’s trapped by her safety belt.

“Stay buckled,” I warn.

She dismisses me with a wave of her hand. Little sass pot.

Jojo smiles at me in the rearview mirror, the smallest reassurance that she’s got this one.

“I haven’t seen your brother in a while. I missed him.”

“Aw. That’s so sweet,” Jade gushes.

Emilia groans. “Gross. I better not have to watch you kiss at the cabin.”

My girl laughs, a hollow reply that contains only a fraction of her usual joy. But at least she’s laughing. At least she’s trying to smile.

Running a hand down Emilia’s arm, Jojo pulls back and sits up straight again. “I promise you won’t have to watch anyone kiss at the cabin.”

Beside her, Kylian lets out an indignanthmph.

“It’ll be fun to all hang out over the next few days,” she adds.