Twist the Knife - Page 158

“Yes.”

“And you need me to clear out early tomorrow?”

“Clear out makes it sounds so nefarious. But I have a meeting with the priest at eight.” She chuckles, then sips her coffee. “So maybe.”

I smirk, resisting the urge to make the obvious joke about how much sinning we’ve been doing.

“All right.” She sighs and slides off the stool, taking her plate to the sink. “I better go before Dad starts hitting the buzzer.”

“Does he really do that?”

“Sometimes.”

“Well, let’s get you downstairs, then.”

She pushes out her bottom lip into the cutest little pout. “But I don’t want to leave you.”

I pull her into my arms, holding her close, not wanting to admit I don’t want her to leave, either. “I’ll be back tonight.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Jigsaw

The ride out to Jezzie’s apartment was peaceful. The ride to Zips was not.

First, Jezzie complains about my bike. Then she squirms and moves around so much behind me, it fucks with the bike’s stability. I have to work hard to control the steering and not overcorrect to compensate for all the shifts in her weight.

By the time we finally roll into Zips, every muscle in my body screams from the constant battle to keep us upright.

“I’m not getting back on that thing. So either you find a normal vehicle,” she huffs, glaring at the cracked pavement as if blaming it for the ride, “or I live here now.”

I point to the back of the bleachers. “You can find shelter there. I’m sure it’ll be cozy.”

“Ugh.” She stomps ahead of me.

I raise my hands to the sky and tip my head back. What the fuck did I do to deserve this?

“Slow down.” I jog to catch up with her, while pulling out my phone to check my texts.

Rooster: When are you getting here? Dex’s about to throw down with Torch.

Fucking Torch. I better not see that orange-haired prick, or I’ll knock him out myself.

Did Margot ever break that date?

Me: We’re here. Dealing with a Jezzie tantrum.

Rooster: What’d you do to her?

Exist? I don’t fucking know.

I tap out a text to Margot.

Me: You cancel that date with Torch?

Then I erase it. She’s busy working a double funeral today. She doesn’t have time for my jealous antics.

We’re approaching the track when I spot Dex and Emily by the bleachers in a heated conversation. Not sure how I feel about her yet, or if she’s ol’ lady material. But Dex is into her. Never seen him so fucked up over anyone before.