Page 75 of Pawn

I don’t think that’s the alcohol or the weed. “What does your dad do with Evergreen?”

Isaac’s brows furrow before he leans over, taking the paper from my hand. “Evergreen?” His eyes bounce around the page. “Looks like some bullshit deal with the Huangs and the school. Never heard of it, but my dad likes to invest in everything outside of his own kid.”

Isaac has no idea what he’s looking at so I try to help jog his memory. “Evergreen is in The Grove.”

“What would the school want with The Grove?”

“I’m from The Grove,” I explain, snatching the paper back.

“I know.” Isaac leans forward. “What the fuck does that have to do with anything?”

“Someone at the school had something to do with my parents’ death. This Evergreen shit keeps popping up. It was my parent’s company.”

“Shit,” he says, smoke coming out his mouth, the room around us like we’re in the clouds. “Well, that’s a hell of a coincidence.”

Sitting up, I look beyond the smoke into those stoned red eyes, “Do you know anything else?”

He looks like he’s thinking for a second before he says, “I’ve got nothing. Have you checked with the school?”

I mutter, “Not like they’d tell me anything.”

“When did you start asking?” Isaac chuckles, his phone vibrating on the coffee table. When he picks it up, I see Allie’s name flash, his thumb on the green button. “Coming to party with your girl? She broke up with Damien.”

“Again?” Allie asks, on speaker-mode.

“For good!” I yell.

Allie snorts, before a sarcastic, “Yeah, okay. Wait, you went to Isaac’s?”

“He’s the last single one of my friends,” I slur. “Besides, you’re probably with Lea.”

“Problem, Medusa?” Lea’s voice is next and Isaac bursts out laughing making it hard to hide my stoned smile. “What? You jealous?”

“Gear down, Satan,” I laugh. “You proved my point. Why are you calling Isaac anyway?”

“Lea’s never tried pot,” Allie says.

“Because I’m not a degenerate,” Lea retorts. “But I’m stressed out about finals and Allie seems sure so I trust her.”

Trust. Something Damien and I can’t seem to figure the fuck out. And once we do, we shatter it.

God, and now I’m jealous of Allie and Lea.

“Well you know where to come for some fun,” Isaac says.

“Lea, what do you know about the Evergreen deal?”

She sighs, “This again? If you want to know anything you’re better off getting someone to ask the school. They’re less tight-lipped than my folks.”

“Shit, that’s what I said,” Isaac comments.

“Fine,” I say rising from my seat and taking a chug of whiskey long enough to make my throat burn. “Let’s go to school.”

“What? Like now?” Isaac looks at his phone. “How are you gonna get in?”

“What do you mean?” I ask, a devilish smile coming to my face. I can see it with my head to the mirrored ceiling. “I’m from The Grove, remember?”

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