Rose smiled and hugged her. “Don’t worry. We’re just friends. I promise.”

Grace prayed she wasn’t making a mistake agreeing to this. When Rose pulled away, Grace looked at her very seriously. “If I get wind that it’s become anything more than just a friendship, I’m gonna have to put a end to it, okay? I don’t want you to be angry with me. I’d only be doing it for your own good.”

Rose nodded, grinning way too big for Grace’s liking, then hugged her again in a near squeal, before jumping off the bed to grab her phone from the desk. Yeah, a teenage girl got that excited about being able to hang out with a boy who was just a friend.

The bad feeling she’d had in her stomach throughout the entire conversation just got worse. As if she needed this added to her plate right now. Grace made herself comfortable in her bed, lying back down again, and dozed off within minutes.

~*~

Romero was still there when Vincent arrived. Sal had agreed to let Vincent drive the Jetta to and from work. He walked out into the bar area still tying his busboy apron on. “Hey, Vince.”

Vincent looked up at all of them and smiled.

“Is Rose still in Laughlin?” Sal asked, getting right to it.

“Nah, they got back a few days ago, but she’s been busy packing for uh…” He glanced away from Sal, finishing tying on his apron and walked over to them. “You think maybe it’s okay for me to drive out tonight and see her for a couple hours after my shift?”

Sal barely heard the second part of Vincent’s response. He was still hung up on the first part. “You mean unpacking, right?” Sal eyed him until Vince’s eyes met his again.

“Um yeah,” Vince nodded. “Something like that. I guess.”

“Well, which is it? Packing or unpacking?” Sal pushed.

Vince shrugged. “I dunno. Unpacking I guess. Point is, she was busy. So you think I can go?”

“You and Grace’s sister, uh?” Romero asked, crumpling his napkin and throwing it on his now empty plate then burped. “She’s straight jail bait, man.” Romero shook his head. “I couldn’t believe it when Grace said she was only fifteen.”

Vince’s face screwed up. “Jail bait? What the hell does that mean?”

Romero smirked, obviously amused at Vincent’s annoyance. “Means you’re gonna have your hands full, fighting off older guys who might mistake her for an eighteen-year-old.”

Sal saw Vincent’s eyes light up but not in a good way—one thing about his young cousin that had always reminded him of his brothers. “No I won’t. ‘Cause she’s not like that.”

Romero lifted his hands in the air, still smirking. “You wanted to know what I meant. I was just explaining.”

Sal decided to play into Vincent’s already ruffled feathers to try and get more out of him. “Romero is right. She did already get asked to that prom by an older boy.” Sal smirked adding, “I dunno you really think she was busy for days unpacking? That’s kind of odd. Isn’t it? You sure maybe her prom date wasn’t keeping her busy?”

The second Vincent turned to him, Sal saw it. Bingo—he hit just the right nerve. “She was packing, okay? I wasn’t supposed to say anything but they’re moving.”

The smug feeling from having Vincent fall right into his trap, was replaced with an icy panic down Sal’s spine. “Moving where?”

“They’re not sure yet. That’s another thing that’s kept her busy, Sal.” If Sal wasn’t so suddenly uptight he might of laughed at his cousin’s irritation over his insinuation about Rose. “They’ve been busy looking for a new place, too. But all we do is text so she can’t write it all down.” He stopped a slow grin appearing across his lips and lifted an eyebrow. “If I see her tonight. I’ll finally get to talk to her. I can get the whole scoop for you.”

Normally Sal would’ve said hell no to his less than trust worthy, barely-old-enough-to-drive cousin about driving all the way to Chula Vista. But the morning’s eye-opener had changed his outlook on more than a few things. “Sure you can go see Rose, Vin.” Vincent’s grin got even bigger. “But I have a few conditions.”

His cousin’s grin turned into a suspicious stare. “What kind of conditions?”

“Well, for starters the obvious. Rose is only fifteen and a very sweet girl. Do not let me hear that you’ve gotten her into any trouble or that you’ve disrespected her in any way.” Sal saw Vincent’s eyes roll up and he frowned. “I’m serious, Vin. I swear to God, I get even one complaint about you, and your ass will be back in La Puente so fast you won’t even know what happened.”

“I’m not gonna get her in any trouble.” He turned and glared at Romero who was smirking again. “And like I said, she’s not like that, so you can count on me not disrespecting her either.”

Romero stood up off his bar stool with a chuckle. “I’m out of here. I’ll call you if I hear anything.”

Sal nodded. “Yeah, keep me posted.”

Romero smiled at Vincent. “Listen to your cousin, Vin. A girl like that can be trouble.”

“A girl like what?” Sal could see Vincent wasn’t playing anymore. Romero had purposely pushed too far. “You don’t know shit—”

“All right, all right!” Sal interceded as Romero laughed, walking away. It was one thing to rile Vincent up, he didn’t want him so mad he wouldn’t be willing to agree to the rest of Sal’s conditions. “He’s just messing with you, Vin. You’re right he doesn’t know anything about her. She’s a very nice girl.” He turned to Romero who was already halfway to the door but still laughing and looking back at them. “Get out of here, ass. And don’t forget to call me as soon you know anything.”