The Vincent Boys 02 - The Vincent Brothers

out.
    She turned back to look at me with that carefree expression she always wore like a crown. “Yeah?”
    “Don’t tell my mom or dad I’m here if they call, okay?”
    Jewel nodded, “No worries. I’d want to hide from those two if they were my ‘rents too.”
    “And Ashton, if she calls... I don’t want her to know either.”
    Jewel’s eyes went wide in surprise, “Wow, really? What’d the ever perfect cousin you love so much do? I can so, go pull her pretty blonde hair if I need to. She’s a little too prissy perfect for my taste anyway.”
    Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but smile. Yep, Jewel might hit on the guy you like and dress slutty for confession in hopes of tempting the priest but she’d have your back in a fight if the chance ever arose. “Ashton did nothing to me. Still love her, just need some distance from Grove right now and everyone in it.”
    Jewel puckered her lips as if wanting to ask more and trying to keep from it then finally nodded, “Got it. Don’t tell one fucking soul that inquires about you that I’ve seen you. Done. Now get your perky ass in a bikini and slather on some sunblock because God knows you don’t need any more freckles.”
    ~*~

    Not being able to use my phone sucked. I needed something to read while I lay on the beach. My phone had my Kindle app on it. I didn’t have an actual book with me and all Jewel had were magazines that I wasn’t in the mood to read. I already knew those “How To” articles did not work. I’d tried most of them.
    Lana waved happily when she glanced up at me through her hot pink aviator sunglasses. She had a great setup out here. Two lounge chairs and large beach umbrella already tilted to shade the entire empty chair. She was bathed in the sun’s rays with a magazine in her lap and a large hurricane glass in her hand.
    “You look smoking, Lana banana,” she called out then whistled.
    I was beyond getting embarrassed by Jewel’s comments.
    I sat down in the shaded chair, leaned my head back, and sighed. This was nice. The breeze, the sound of the ocean...
    “Here take a sip. It’s got orange juice, pineapple juice, ginger ale, and vodka. It’s amazing .”
    I started to shake my head but instead reached for the cup and thought, what the hell.
    Taking a sip of the tropical flavored concoction, I realized it was really good. I could easily drink the whole thing. But I didn’t. I needed my sense about me right now. Drinking away my problems was a weak thing to do.
    I handed the drink back to Jewel, “Yum. Thanks.”
    Jewel started to stand up, “You keep it. I’ll go make another.”
    “No thanks. I don’t want to drink. Not now anyway.”
    Jewel frowned and took the glass before settling back in her chair.
    “You gonna tell me what happened?”
    No, probably not.
    “Don’t want to talk about it,” I replied.
    Jewel sighed, “Okay, fine. Be warned, I’m only going to let that answer fly for a little while. Eventually you are going to tell me what happened in Grove.”
    Fair enough. She had supplied me with an escape and she was keeping shut about it. When I was ready, she deserved an explanation.
    The phone in her lap began singing Circus by Britney Spears. It was Jewel’s theme song.
    She glanced down at the phone, and then up at me, “It’s your mom.”
    I’d been prepared for this. “Answer it. Act like you haven’t got a clue.”
    Jewel grinned. She loved the idea of getting to lie. It was ridiculous but she liked the feeling it gave her.
    “Hello?”
    She was quiet a moment. My mom was probably talking a mile a minute.
    “So, wait... she’s just missing? Have you talked to her?” Jewel winked at me. She was good at this.
    “Oh, wow. No, she hasn’t called or anything. Should I try calling her? I can see if she answers my phone call and tells me where she’s gone off to.”
    She was really good. Heck, I almost believed she didn’t know I’d left Grove.
    “Off? Ouch. Who pissed in her Wheaties?” I covered my mouth in shock. She’d just said pissed while talking to my mother.
    “Weird, Mrs. Mac, but no, she hasn’t called me. I was hoping she would but I haven’t heard anything yet. I’ll let you know if I do.”
    My mother hated it when Jewel called her Mrs. Mac. Actually, my mother just hated Jewel. This phone call had to be annoying her to no end.
    “I gotta go, Mrs. Mac. Sorry, but my lifeguard is here and he is one yummy number, ya know? I’ll call if I hear anything,” she