Under the Dusty Sky (Holloway Farms)

sandy version of Hunter’s short messy look.
    “ Graceland. What are you wearing?” His voice wobbles with the inexperience of being the stern parent.
    “ Daddy?” I scrunch my nose as I fully take in his new look. “What are you wearing?”
    Dad’s face goes the entire color spectrum before he looks to the road and puts the truck into gear. The twins are snickering in the back. Hunter, Emma, and Bentley must be going in Hunter’s truck.
    I study my dad again. He’s usually all about the farmer look. White wash wranglers, huge belt, plaid shirt, and baseball cap. Tonight he’s wearing dark jeans, a designer button down, and his old black cowboy hat is sitting on the seat between us. Still the same old huge belt, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he sleeps with that thing on.
    After we turn off the drive onto the gravel, I’m still gawking at my dad.
    “ Daddy, for real. Where did you get those clothes?”
    I can’t help but be a little hurt that he didn’t get me to take him shopping. I am the only estrogen in our house.
    “ I, um, I just got the same type of stuff that you make your brothers wear. When I was in the city last.” Dad stutters. He forces a smile and reaches across to grip my shoulder. “Just wanted to look nice for my baby’s 16th.”
    I grin at him. “Not technically for two weeks.”

CHAPTER 10
    Graceland
    It’s already a thousand degrees in the huge rodeo arena. Half the town is here, and more are trickling in behind us. I ditch my family as soon as we walk through the massive doors to find my friends.
    I weave through the crowd, saying hi to everyone because I know everyone. Everyone knows everyone. The last “new person” to town was Emma like six months ago. It was the biggest thing that had happened here in years because Emma is not normal. She was way worse before Hunter.
    At the far corner, in the back of the arena, most of my friends from school are sitting on the bleachers. My shoulders pull back as I get closer.
    Lacy is huddled into Kelsey talking about something important because Kelsey is waving her hands and speaking really fast. It’s impossible to keep up with her when she is like this, especially when she stops speaking English altogether and switches to broken Japanese. Kelsey’s boyfriend, Brandon, is talking to her older sister, Melanie, a couple rows below. I think it’s funny how hard he tries to impress her. I don’t approve of any girls my brothers are interested in. Well, Emma, I guess, but only after I knew she wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. She will, though. They always do.
    “ Damn, G. Nice legs, I mean dress.” Frankie’s drawl grates on me. Country gangster doesn’t suit him. Frankie is always the first one to talk. And usually the last. Basically he never shuts up. I smile and push his shoulder, making him stumble a little. The liquid sloshes in the cup he’s holding.
    “ Whoa, girl. Easy. I had to work really hard to get this.” He flips his shaggy red hair from his eyes and winks.
    I lift an eyebrow and cross my arms in front of my stomach. Dermott is here, and I feel him staring at me. The last time we saw each other didn’t end well. Although it doesn’t usually end well. Starts out great, though.
    “ You drinkin’?” I ask, ignoring Dermott's gaze, and Kelsey giggles from her spot next to Lacy. Her cheeks are red, which is hard for Kelsey with her rich, smooth skin.
    “ Kelsey’s drinkin’. I ain’t doing nothin’ but holdin’ it for her, baby girl.” Frankie wiggles his brows, gripping my hand and taking a drink. Dermott glares. Lacy shakes her head. Always the responsible one. She hasn’t touched alcohol since that party with her douche ex, who thankfully decided to take a hike for the summer.
    Frankie passes the cup to me, and I take a sip, holding in a cough because it’s pretty much straight whiskey. Dermott's watching me again, so I take another sip. The warmth of the booze travels down my throat and settles in my chest. It’s crazy how alcohol does that, makes you so aware of it. I focus on the warm chill that spreads from my chest to my fingertips, and I take one more sip before handing it to Brandon.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lacy stealing frequent glances behind her. The whiskey makes me bold, and I nudge her, saying loudly, “He’s with my Dad, over there.”
    I point across the crowded dance floor to Asher, standing with my dad. Lacy glares and looks down at her feet. A pang of guilt