Free The Stern and Wild Ones (The Seeker Series) by Reece Evhans

uncle looked me straight in the eye and told me to get my head out of my ever-lovin' ass and shape up. What kind of an example was I setting for my little sister?"
    "So, that's your Kryptonite, huh? Megan?"
    He chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, my aunt and uncle saw what was going on with my dad and packed Megan and me up and brought us back to Albuquerque. Manny told me that I had one chance. He gave me a job at his body shop and told me that I had to go back to high school and graduate. He and my aunt just took us in, fed us and clothed us, gave us each our own bedroom. Their kids, my cousins, are mostly grown and gone. I wanted to just drop out and get my GED because I was so far behind in my credits, but they said that was a deal-breaker. I needed to set a good example for Megan. I had to serve 10 months in juvenile detention before I got to live with them, but at least Megan had a good home. I just got out this summer." He stared out the front windshield. “Man, I owe them so much.”
    "Hey," I squeezed his hand. "I think you owe yourself some credit, too. You have really turned things around. That can't be easy."
    He wrapped his hand around mine. It was a wonderful feeling; his hand was so warm and rough from his job at the body shop. "Thanks, Ally. You're a really good person. Does my story scare you away? Still want to be friends?" He looked at me hesitantly.
    I squeezed his hand. "Of course I want to be friends. You have a great ride," I made a last attempt to lighten the heavy mood and change the subject.
    He chuckled appreciatively. "Ok, let's get you home so you can get changed. Then, if you want, I can take you to pick up a new cell phone."
    "I would love that, thanks. Isn't it amazing how dependent we are on a piece of technology? How did our parents’ generation get by without them?"
    "Payphones, I think," he said as he backed out of our parking spot. "My Aunt Trina talks about always having to have a quarter in her pocket when she was younger. Can you imagine?"
    "Do they even have payphones in real life anymore? Hey, there's something I've been wondering about. Why don't you ride a motorcycle?"
    "What do you mean? I have a car," he replied, stating the obvious.
    "I know you have a car, but it would totally fit your badass image, you know, with a tattoo and a leather jacket, and that dangerous look you have."
    "Badass image?" He laughed. " You're crazy. Nobody thinks I'm a badass. Nobody thinks about me, period. Why would they? Most people are too busy thinking about themselves, at least in high school." He paused and looked over at me. "So, you noticed my tattoo, huh?"
    "Well, at least some people aren't too busy just thinking about themselves," I tried for a superior tone, trying to cover my embarrassment at having been caught out on the tattoo comment.
    He spared me a glance with more than a little smirk in it. "Do you like tattoos? Do you have any?"
    "I like them on some people. And, no, I don't have any. I'm only 16 and my mom would never even consider giving me permission to get one, unlike Veronica's mother."
    "You're only 16?" I'm pretty sure I heard him swear under his breath. "So, when do you turn 17?"
    "Next month. I'm one of the unlucky few that has a Christmas birthday. Why? Does it matter? Do you have a rule against hanging out with 16 year-olds?"
    "No, I don't have a rule against it. I just thought you were older. You seem older." He drove in silence for a few minutes. "I'm 18, Ally, almost 19. And I'm on probation. Listen, I know we're not dating, or anything, but it still doesn't look too good. I just have to be careful. The next time I’ll be tried as an adult."
    "Oh, ” I said in a small voice. "I don't want to get you into trouble or anything."
    "I know," he sighed and reached over to take my hand. "It's ok. None of this is your fault. I just need to be extra-careful because my next probation hearing is coming up in a couple weeks. I'm really hoping this will be my last one and I'll be