The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (113)
Thomas’s eyebrows bunched when the movement drew his attention to my neck and the hickeys my hair had been covering. Shit! Casually, I pushed my hair back in place only for the nervous chord in my stomach to tighten when he cast a worried glance up the stairs.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
“Um…nothing comes to mind.”
My prayers were answered when he didn’t mention the marks his son had left on my body. He then excused himself, leaving whatever he needed to speak with me about a mystery. Was it possible he suspected that Ever or even Jamie had been the one to mark me? After a moment of deliberation, I shrugged it off, deciding that if he had suspected his son or nephew, no way would he keep silent.
Eager to check on Jay D, who had been unexpectedly left alone overnight, I flew up the stairs and burst into my room. The damage I found was about what I expected. An excited Jay D hopped from my bed covered in the feathers and cotton that used to make up my bedding. His food and water bowls had been tipped over, the bottom of the curtains chewed, and in one of the far corners were his droppings.
He whined as he pawed my legs with wagging tongue. “I’m sorry, Jay.” I picked him up and scratched behind his ears before taking another look around my room with a wince. “I guess I deserved that, huh?” He barked and licked his answer all over my face.
It took an hour to clear out Jay D’s handiwork, and other than the barren bed and the small carpet stain that my mirror did a good job of covering, my room was back to normal. I’d replace my bedding with some of the cash I’d won, and then I’d buy Jay D’s forgiveness with a new chew toy or two.
I was clipping Jay D’s leash to his collar to take him for a well-deserved walk when I heard a throat clear. Standing in the open doorway was Jamie, accompanied by Ever. Since coming home, they had both showered and changed into fresh clothing. Jamie wore a distressed denim jacket, yellow long-sleeve bearing a white hand flipping the bird, skinny brown joggers that sagged at the crotch, and chocolate leather Timberland boots. Ever’s choice of clothing was also casual though far more uptight: forest green sports coat, white cowl-neck sweater with the front tucked into dark blue jeans, and brown leather belt with matching hiking boots.
Jamie took a slow look around my room while Ever pretended I didn’t exist.
“You two looking for something?”
With a shrug, Jamie threw a thumb over his shoulder. “Ever here decided to take the scenic route.” I didn’t miss Ever’s jaw clench when Jamie exposed him. “We’re heading over to Vaughn’s.”
His announcement reminded me that I needed to call and check on my friend. Getting a gun pointed at you wasn’t easy to bounce back from. A year later, I still had the occasional nightmare.
“Oh, well, have fun.”
I stood to my full height and grabbed my not-as-stylish, not-as-expensive windbreaker from my closet. I heard them whispering and told myself I didn’t give a shit what they might be saying even though I lingered in my closet longer than necessary. The whispering stopped, and hoping they’d gone, I emerged only to find them still hanging around.
“Got any plans today?” Jamie questioned.
I studied their faces, seeking motive, but neither of them gave anything away.
“None that will get me killed.” Sometime between almost dying and my life spared a second time, I decided that my illegal racing days were over. I wasn’t surprised that Mickey still did business with the Exiled. Trying to kill me didn’t make their money any less green. He owed me nothing, so he offered nothing. I also realized that risking my life and freedom no longer made sense. Now that I was eighteen and didn’t need Rosalyn’s consent, I could feed my addiction legally, and one day, I will have my season in the Grand Prix.
“Well, if you change your mind, just use the bat signal.”
“Or don’t be fucking stupid,” Ever acerbically inserted.
Usually, I’d give as good as I got, but this time, words eluded me. Was it because I’d given him everything only for him to discard it like yesterday’s trash? After what I cost him, I wasn’t entirely sure I didn’t deserve his hatred. That didn’t stop me from getting pissed though.
“Don’t worry. What I do is no longer your concern. Actually, it never was, but you insisted, so the next time you’re feeling chivalrous, spare me.” Unwilling to spend another moment in his presence, I shoved past them with Jay D and didn’t look back.
Hours later, I still wasn’t able to shake my anger. I so badly wanted to vent to Tyra when I called to check on her, but I forced my drama with Ever to the back of my mind and focused on consoling my friend.
“If you don’t want to be friends anymore, I totally get it.” That was a total lie. I’d be completely broken up over losing a good friend.
“Please,” she scoffed. “You’ll never find a better wingman than me.”
We talked until it was time for her shift. I tried to talk her into calling in sick, but she insisted on using the distraction. She also admitted that Vaughn had excelled at damage control last night and this morning. Whatever that meant.
Sick of twiddling my thumbs, I decided to check my email. Not long after Rosalyn handed over my birth certificate, I took the exam and submitted the application for my license. Now I was just waiting to hear back. I was marveling over the convenience of having my email at my fingertips when I remembered it was Ever who made it possible. Without a second thought, I grabbed the packaging from my desk before heading over to Ever’s room with the phone and Jay D trailing. Once inside his room, I carefully arranged the phone inside the box, placed it on his nightstand, and then grabbed the notebook and pencil he used for sketching and writing despotic notes. I flipped through the drawings, begrudgingly admitting his talent until I came to a blank page. I told Ever it was over if he walked out that door, but even then, I held onto hope. Maybe it was time I set myself free.