Freeks(25)

“It was mostly fine until toward the end of the night,” Luka explained. “There were these two rich townie assholes wearing sunglasses even though it’s the middle of the night, and they were drunk as hell.”

I grimaced and my heart began to race as I realized to my dismay that it sounded like Luka was describing Logan and Troy, two of Gabe’s sister’s friends.

“They were just being punks and asking me what would happen if they stabbed me through the stomach,” Luka said. “They just wouldn’t let up, even when I tried walking away. One of the guys had a girlfriend, and she kept trying to drag him off and apologizing. It was really sad, actually.”

That definitely sounded like Logan, Troy, and Selena. At least it seemed like Gabe wasn’t around and hadn’t joined in. I lowered my eyes and tried to keep my expression blank. I didn’t want to hear the lectures from Roxie or Luka about associating with them, especially not after I’d had such a nice time with Gabe earlier tonight.

“Eventually, Seth came over and chased him off,” Luka finished. “But it still sucked dealing with them.”

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, because there was nothing more I could say.





12. townie

We played a full game and had started the second one when Tim Phoenix came in to join us. Other than being leaner and younger than his brother, Brendon, he looked almost exactly like him. Blond hair, blue eyes, and a bright smile, it was easy to see what Luka saw in him. Not to mention how good he looked in his acrobat uniform.

“Am I interrupting?” Tim asked.

Luka shook his head. “Not at all.”

Tim kissed Luka, then sat down at the swivel chair across from the dinette. “So, Mara, I didn’t have a chance to talk to you earlier today. How did it go at the police station? Do they know anything about Blossom?”

“She hasn’t been gone long enough for them to really investigate, but it sounds like there’s a big equinox music festival going on one county over, so she might’ve gone there,” I explained. “If she doesn’t show up in a couple days, I have a number I can call for more help.”

“I told you.” Roxie poked me in the arm to emphasize her point. “Blossom loves chilling out, getting high, and listening to jams. That equinox shit sounds right up her alley.”

“We don’t know for sure that’s where she is yet,” I pointed out.

“Not yet, but we will when she turns up just before we roll out of town,” Roxie said. She set her cards down in the center of the table and leaned back against the wall, so she was facing me. “Anyway, how did it go with that guy tonight?”

Luka set his cards on top of Roxie’s. “What guy are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you hear?” Roxie asked with a smirk. “Mara was doing the nasty with a townie.”

“So what?” Hutch asked, sounding irritated. “Are we just done playing then?”

I rolled my eyes. “We didn’t hook up.”

“Oh, yeah.” Tim grinned. “I heard about that.”

I tensed but tried to nonchalantly take a sip of my beer. “What did you hear?”

“I heard you guys were making out on the Ferris wheel,” Tim said.

“We just kissed a couple times.” I tried to play it off but nobody seemed to be buying it.

“I saw him. He’s cute,” Roxie said.

Luka leaned forward on the table, eyes wide and excited. “So are you gonna see him again?”

“I don’t know.” I lowered my eyes and didn’t know how to answer the question. I wanted to, and we’d made plans to, but I wasn’t actually sure that I should. “Maybe.”

“I always worry about dating a townie. What if you get attached?” Tim asked, expressing my sentiments.

“Well, it’s not just that. I mean, he’s a townie,” Luka said. “You know how they can be to people like us.”

Before Luka had gotten involved with Tim, he’d once tried to date a townie, and it had ended with the guy and a few of his friends beating the crap out of Luka when they realized he worked as a sideshow freak.

And that was only one of many similar stories I’d heard. My romantic entanglements hadn’t turned out as badly as they had for some people, because I usually had the good sense to get out of there before they realized who or what I was.

I shook my head, deciding that my urge to see Gabe was overriding all of my fears. “We’re just having some fun, and I’ll be okay.”

“Yeah, Mara’s a real pro,” Hutch said, making me sound like a prostitute. “She does this kinda thing all the time.”

“Thanks, Hutch,” I said dryly.

Roxie yawned. “Anyway, it’s getting late. I probably should head back to my trailer. Seth and Carrie have to be done by now.”

“Are you crashing here tonight?” Luka asked me.

“If you guys don’t mind.” I stood up so Roxie could slide out behind me. “My mom’s kinda in a funk.”

“Yeah, it’s no problem. If Seth doesn’t come back, you can sleep in his bunk in back,” Luka offered, motioning to the back of the trailer.

I noticed a disappointed look on Tim’s face and shook my head. “No, that’s fine. I can sleep out here.” I patted the bench cushions that were about a hundred times softer and fluffier than my own bed. “Me and Hutch can have pillow talk.”