Draw (Gentry Boys #1)(21)

She grimaced. “I need to drive back to Cali.”

I tensed. “Why?”

“Because that’s where all my stuff is. I mean, I can’t go living off Millie’s wardrobe forever.”

“I’ll get you some money to buy more f*cking clothes.”

She thought that was funny. “What? No. Cord, come on. Devin won’t try anything. In fact he says he’s getting help. I told him that was good because he needed help. He said I could drive out anytime and take whatever was mine. Bray will come along.”

An alarm went off inside my head. “You shouldn’t go.”

She looked at me. “How come?”

“’Cause I may not have many talents but I can usually sense when things are bound to go foul.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe in premonitions.”

“Do you believe in common sense? Don’t f*cking go, Saylor.” She glanced at me with some irritation. “Please,” I said quietly and she softened.

“I know how this must seem to you. But believe me, the next man who tries something like that isn’t walking away with his balls intact.”

“Well, okay. Good. But I still don’t think you should trust him any further than you can throw a pickup truck.” My mind was working rapidly. “When are you planning on driving out?”

“I have off on Monday so I was thinking of going then.”

“I know Brayden takes some summer classes, right?”

She nodded.

“So I’ll go with you. I’ll drive out there with you to California, help you get the rest of your stuff and let that Devin f*cker know he’s not going to get the chance to hurt you again.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she said softly.

“I know I don’t. That’s why I’m offering.”

She smiled. “You might change your mind when you hear my car doesn’t have air conditioning.”

“We’ll take my truck.”

I couldn’t read the look in her green eyes. She might have just been trying to figure me out. Or she might have been recalling the snotty little delinquent she’d grown up with.

“Why?” she shrugged.

“Because my truck may be an ugly pile of metal but at least it has air conditioning, a necessity if you’re driving through the desert in summer.”

She twisted her mouth. “No, I mean, why do you want to do this? Why do you want to insert yourself in the mess some girl has made out of her life?”

“Would you believe I’m on a mission of personal redemption?”

Saylor bit her lip. “No. Anyway I don’t hate you anymore, Cord. And I already told you not to feel sorry for me.”

“I don’t feel sorry for you. But the thought of you going out there to face that psycho alone will keep me up at night. You don’t want me to lose all kinds of sleep, do you? Makes me cranky. And then I start doing weird shit, like tackling pretty girls in the dark.”

“No,” she laughed. “I guess we can’t have that. All right, Cord. If that’s really an offer I’ll take it. I’m sure Bray will be relieved that he doesn’t have to do the honors himself.”

We were in front of Brayden’s apartment. I saw something flicker in the window and figured we were being watched.

“So, Monday, right?”

Saylor nodded. “Yeah, let’s leave early. I just want to get it over with and be back here by evening.”

“Works for me. I’ll be around to get you at seven am. That okay?”

“That’s fine.” She shook her head and laughed lightly.

“Now what?”

Her grin was playful. “I’ve spent a lot of hours wishing you’d get your testicles mauled by a rabid squirrel.”

“That would have been upsetting.”

“Well, I’m glad it never came to pass.”

I glanced wryly down at my crotch. “I appreciate that.”

Saylor pulled her towel around her shoulders. “Unfortunately, it seems my rancor has been wasted. You’re a different guy than you were then.”

“I’m the same guy,” I told her soberly. “It’s just the mechanics have changed a little.”

She cocked her head slightly. “Well, I’m glad,” she said. “I’m glad you’re here and that we’re, what are we? Friends?”

“I think so. Sure.”

“And we’re not in Emblem anymore.”

“No,” I agreed. “We’re not in Emblem anymore.”

Saylor nodded to the apartment door. “Bray and Millie are home. You want to come in for a few?”

“Yeah, I would, but my boxers have soaked through my jeans. So now it looks like I’ve pissed myself.”

She looked at my wet pants. “Well, I hinted for you to get your suit.”

“Next time I’ll listen to you, Saylor.”

“And next time I’ll remind you of that.”

A lock of brown hair had fallen across her face. Without thinking I reached over and pushed it back. If she were any other girl I’d move in and grab her, haul her back to my bed. But Saylor wasn’t any other girl. She turned around and started walking to the door.