Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“Did you hear that some kid from Central Academy is missing?”
“Dead for sure. No one is gone for an entire week unless they’ve run away or they’re dead.”
“He was on the basketball team.”
“Everyone says they were fixing games.”
“For who, though? Like who is betting on high school games?”
“People bet on everything. I saw someone made twenty grand on Reading’s backup quarterback to score a touchdown. The odds were like two thousand to one.”
“Twenty grand? It would have been twenty thousand to one.”
“Whatever. Do I look like I bet?” This comes from a redhead who scowls at her male friend.
The guy, who is clearly into her, shrinks back. “You were talking like you did,” he mumbles into his smoothie straw.
“Well, I don’t. Anyway, if you don’t pay, the Pipefitters send someone to beat you up.”
“What kind of fan fiction are you reading?” This guy is not getting laid anytime soon.
“It’s not fan fiction, asshole. I saw that kid take money from a gangbanger with the pipe tattoo on his arm right outside the Crocker courts. Everyone knows what that tattoo symbolizes. Or everyone with a brain.” The redhead jumps off her stool and grabs her drink cup. “See you never.”
“Wait.” The guy scrambles to his feet. “I was just kidding.”
But the girl has no interest in that.
“We’re not following her?”
“No. Didn’t you hear what she said? The Crocker courts. Do you think all those people lied to us?”
“All of them, no. But maybe the little weasel.” I rub my knuckles. I know exactly how to wring out some truths from that prick, though.
“None of that.” Josie covers my hand with her own. “We’re going back to Crocker courts and stake it out until we watch a money exchange. Then we follow the Pipefitter—”
“No.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll support a lot of things for you, Josie, including going to the pool hall or Crocker courts, but I can’t let you follow a Pipefitter around. You might as well ask me to cut off my balls and hang them like a wind chime in front of the school. No self-respecting man puts his woman in that kind of danger.”
Josie’s face tightens. “Is this because of my diabetes?”
“Fuck no. It’s because they’re a gang, Josie, that does bad things to sweet people like you.” I run an agitated hand through my hair. This fun little investigation of hers is taking a bad turn, and I don’t know how to handle it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
JOSIE
The entire way back home, we are both quiet. My mind is racing with all the things we learned tonight and the possibilities of what that could mean and how it would fit together. Cole isn’t the only missing high school boy.
Each time I glance over to Bam, I can tell he’s on edge, and I don’t like it. He normally has jokes and easy smiles or, well, just appears cool in general. Those are his vibes. Now I’ve put him in this headspace, and all he’s doing is trying to look out for me.
“Hey,” I say the second we’re through my front door, turning to face him. “I’m not going to do anything without you being involved.” I know he’s really trying here with me. I was shocked when he told me we could go to the next court together. He gave some, and I should do the same. That’s what being a team is about. Well, I think. It’s new to me too.
“I can’t lose you, Josie.” His face is so solemn. “You’re all I have. Sure, I’m close to Niki and his family, but that’s his family.” Bam’s words hit me in all the feels.
“You’re saying you’re starting to think of me as your family?” Gah, how can I be upset after he just laid that on me? I can’t.
“Yeah.” His hands cup the back of my neck, his body encasing mine.
“What did I tell you about falling in love with me?” I tease. I’d been joking. I didn’t actually think Bam would fall for me, but it’s clear he has or close to it.
“Impossible not to.” Yeah, I think I might be in love with him too.
“I know.” I give a dramatic sigh, making him finally give me a smile. “I got all the feels for you too,” I tell him because I’m too shy to say the L word.
“The feels?” he says playfully, but it makes me wonder if he might be shy about it too.
I bet he doesn’t get told that often, if at all. I don’t end a call without my dad and me saying it to each other, and when he’s home, you sure as heck don’t leave the house without saying it. It’s like an unspoken rule.
“Okay.” I shrug one shoulder, peering up at him. “It might be more than the feels.” I slide my hands up his chest. “I love you.” That playful smile he has drops.