Fallen Crest Public(96)

Frankie Pailor ran Frisco how we ran Fallen Crest. We played sports against each other, but that was our only rivalry with them. Since Frisco territory touched on both sides of Roussou and Fallen Crest, much like a triangle, we understood Frankie’s dilemma. He kept a friendly alliance with the Broudous as well.
“And my night just got weirder,” Frankie noted as he watched another person break free from the Roussou side. “Should I run interference already?”
Channing Monroe was headed towards us. His jeans rode low on his hips, the top button loose, and his shirt hung open without another one underneath. As he drew closer, he lifted a hand to run through his hair. His other hand held a beer with four bottles stuck inside his pockets. He fished them out and handed one to me and Logan. “Boys.”
Frankie moved back. His eyes skirted from Monroe to me, then Logan before his hands lifted in the air. “I give up. I thought I’d have to come over here and keep the peace. Maybe not.”
Channing flashed him a grin before extending a bottle to him. “I don’t want you to feel left out, Frankie.”
Logan chuckled. He indicated Channing’s chest. “Does that work? Showing off the pecs and shit?”
Channing shrugged. His shirt opened another inch as he lifted his arm, taking a long pull from his beer. “Like you need help with the ladies, Kade.”
“Okay.” Frankie had been studying all of them. “What’s going on? You guys are friendly now?” He jerked a thumb towards the Roussou side. “Budd and Brett know this too?”
“We have a few friends in common.” Everyone was silent after I said that.
Channing shifted so he stood closer to me and Frankie caught the slight movement. “Let me guess, Budd and Brett have no clue?”
I gestured to Channing. “I suppose that’s up to him to answer.”
The good-natured glint in his eyes sobered. He glanced somewhere in the crowd before turning back. “They have no clue.”
“Good,” Logan bit out.
Budd Broudou had been trying to find out who my girlfriend was since he heard about her existence. They asked at Quickie’s and had been back one other time. I didn’t think Sam’s identity had leaked, but I couldn’t wait any longer. The situation needed to be dealt with before it was.
There weren’t many from my school that were friendly with Roussou. The fact that Samantha had friendly connections through Heather hadn’t escaped me. It was ironic, but I was going to use that connection now. Channing Monroe had power over there. He wasn’t friendly with Budd and Brett Broudou, but he wasn’t their enemy either. If Sam got hurt, that would hurt Heather and I recognized another guy in love. Monroe would do what needed to be done to keep Heather from being hurt, and that meant siding with us.
“Is Jax here tonight?”
Channing hesitated.
Logan cursed a moment later. “She’s here, Mase.”
“This has nothing to do with her,” Channing murmured.
He was mistaken and he knew it. I said, “What do you think they’ll do to her if they find out about Sam? Heather knew who she was and she never told them.”
“Oh, whoa.” Frankie shot his hands between us. “You two aren’t friendly? I thought you were. My mind is being blown right now. You guys are enemies? Monroe, I didn’t think you had enemies.”
“We’re not,” he snapped at him, but said to me next, “I’m aware of what will happen. Are you aware that she knows them?”
He wasn’t referring to Heather. Logan and I got the implication. We shared another look.
“Jax?” Frankie asked.
Logan narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about? She’s never met them.”