Page 17 of King of Justice

I slowly shook my head in fake disapproval. “Stop hitting on me.”

“Was Marcus hitting on you?”

“I’ve known Marcus for years!”

“Well, you have years to get to know me.”

We approached my house, and I pointed. “Stop, this is me right here.”

He slowed down the car and brought it to a halt, shifting to face me as he placed his elbow on the wheel. “You’re really not gonna give me your number.” He paused, staring at me in disbelief. “After all we’ve been through?”

Knowing that I should at least explain, I let my sigh be heard as I slowly blinked. My words came out slowly, unlike my racing thoughts. “Look… Nathan… I might have not shown it? But I had an amazing time. But in my experience, letting it be just that is the only way to keep it sweet… and simple.”

“Simple,” he repeated. His gaze was a million miles away.

“Yes.” Without another word, he unlocked the doors, and I placed my fingers on the one next to me. “Goodbye, Nathan.”

He nodded and said nothing. As soon as I left the car, he drove off. And before I even thought about getting inside the house, I wanted to go to the market and buy replacements for everything he and I used over the past three days.

Perhaps my mother was right about me. My brain did put practicality ahead of feeling, and actions above words. Nathan Wright might have wanted to be my friend, but that would have never worked.

six

Creating Chance

Nathan

“I have two crates from Amsterdam waiting to be consumed,” I said to Chad over the phone as we prepared for his New Year’s Eve party.

“Dope—”

“Dope? Really?”

“Whatever, dude. Everything I got is from Germany, France, and Italy. Abel said something about a fine ouzo import from Greece. Supposed to change your life.”

I snorted. “If you say so.”

“Oh, who are you bringing? Please, please, please say Taya.”

I chuckled. “You can invite her if you want.”

“You know what I’m talking about.”

“Yeah, her sorority friends. Don’t you know enough actresses and models to fill up a pool?”

“The more the merrier.”

“I don’t wanna give her the wrong impres—Oh, wait! She said she’ll be out of town.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“No, seriously. She’ll be visiting her mom in Zurich.”

“Lame.”

“Again, you can invite her friends yourself.”

“It’s so last minute.”

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