Page 235 of Repairing the Wreckage

Griff patted Easton’s back. “You’re in luck, Roman. Eraser’s a beast in the cage. He’ll help me train you.”

“What’s this Eraser shit?” I asked, ignoring the part about them training me.

The two of them shared a sly smirk.

“It’s a ring name he picked up.” Griff dropped to a low, dramatic crouch, sweeping his arms through the air like a dive-bar magician. “Our boy can make someone disappear with his fists,” he added in a low, theatrical voice.

“Good to know.” I chuckled and made a jerking off motion with my fist. “I was thinking it was ’cause you got caught rubbing one out.”

Eraser burst out laughing. “Fuck no.”

“Hey.” Griff’s expression turned serious. “How’s Ella doing? Where’s she at?”

Eraser side-eyed Griff. “I’m gonna ignore the fact that you brought my girl’s name up after talk of rubbin’ one out and assume your question is genuine.”

Griff’s mouth flattened to a thin line, but his cheeks twitched. “Bro, I swear I’m serious.”

Whoever Ella was, the mention of her name sucked all the humor out of Eraser. “I don’t know, Griff. I gotta get the fuck outta here so I can track her down.”

“You best stop gettin’ your ass thrown in solitary then.”

“No shit.”

“Give me whatever information you’ve got. I’ll pass it along to Remy. See if he can find her.”

“Thanks.” The two of them shuffled over to the beat-up desk in the corner to talk quietly.

I hopped back in my bunk and pulled out one of Juliet’s letters.

“You got a girl, Roman?” Eraser asked.

I held up the paper in my hand. “Yeah. Juliet.”

“Roman and Juliet?” he snickered. “You serious?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Oh shit. I just got that.” Griff giggled like a little fuckin’ kid. “That’s precious.”

“I wouldn’t announce it took you that long, Griff. Makes you sound like an illiterate fuck.” Eraser gave his buddy a quick shove.

“Fuck both of you,” I grumbled.

“She pretty?” Eraser asked.

“Who?”

“Your girl.”

My mouth curved up. “Prettiest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

“Aww!” they shouted.

Eraser hopped up on my bunk, swinging his legs over the side.

“Don’t get comfortable,” I warned him. “I’m not trading.” We’d shared a room for a couple months when we were kids, and I liked the guy well enough. This reunion was fun and all, but I wasn’t going to let him push me around. Didn’t give a fuck what his new nickname was.

“Ease up.” He lifted his chin toward Griff’s side of the room. “I’ll take the bottom bunk on his side.”

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