Page 13 of Dark and Dangerous

Wearing the same clothes she wore to school earlier, Harlow shifts from one foot to the other. “I was waiting for you to come out, but…”

I check the time on my phone. “My shift doesn’t start for another fifteen minutes.”

“I know.” She nods slowly. “I start at the same time.”

Right. Because she works here now, and today’s her first day, and Lana has instructed that I watch over Jonah while Jonah watches over her, which is going to be dope…not.

“Can we maybe talk a minute?” she asks, and she looks uncomfortable.Last time I saw her, she was smiling, laughing hysterically with her new friends—those cousins who live in a cult. I can’t imagine those two girls saying anything funny, but who am I to judge?

Also, just between me, myself, and I…

I really like it when Harlow laughs.

Even more so when she smiles.

“Just give me a second,” I tell her and then close the door between us. After saving my game and turning off the Switch, I throw it in my backpack along with my work shirt and whatever else I need. Then I lock the back of the van from the inside and exit through the driver’s side door.

It takes Harlow a few seconds to realize what’s happening, and as soon as she does, she makes her way toward me. I lean against the van, backpack at my feet. “So, what’s up?” I ask once she’s close enough to hear.

The parking lot is starting to fill with the usual after-school crowd, and I really don’t want to be caught out here longer than I need to be. Sure, we can go inside, but that’s where I work, not where I play. Not that Harlow and I are playing, and I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore, but she’s been quiet. Too quiet. And I’m getting nervous.

Finally, she asks, “Why haven’t you told anyone about my mom? About what she did to you?”

This, I can answer. “Why would I?” I have nothing to gain from talking shit about anyone. It’s half the reason I barely talk at all.

I thought that was all she wanted, but clearly I’m wrong because she’s settling in beside me now, resting her back against my van. Hands splayed at her sides, her fingertips tap, tap, tapping at the metal, and she smells nice. Like flowers or spices or… something. “I spoke to Sammy today,” she says.

I’m pretty sure Sammy is the dark-haired girl who’s always reading. “Okay…”

“She told me that Newton, where most people from school are from, is a rich town…”

Not rich.Wealthy. But whatever. “And?”

“And a lot of the boys putting money on who can bag me are from Newton.”

I sigh, ignoring the bile that rises to my throat at the thought of those motherfuckers coming near her. “So?”

“So… Sammy heard the cash pool was over five grand.”

It’s at seven now, if I’m not mistaken, which just proves that the world is full of morons who have way too much money to waste. “What about it?”

Harlow stands taller, though it doesn’t really add much to her height. She’s short, no more than 5’3”, and maybe it’s her shampoo I can smell. Huh. “I have a…” she trails off.

“A what?”

“A… proposition.”

“That involves me?” I ask, and she nods.

“I wouldn’t be here talking to you if it didn’t.”

I push off the van and pick up my backpack. “I’m really not interested.” I start to walk away, but she grabs my arm, stopping me.

“Wait,” she says, and I can hear the desperation in her voice. “Just listen, okay?”

I turn slowly, already annoyed with myself for giving in so easily, and for the next few seconds, we play this awkward game of not looking each other in the eye. “I need a car,” she says out of nowhere.

“There’s a dealership?—”

---