Page 41 of Break You

“Jesus Christ, man, what the hell is wrong with you? I was minding my own fucking business, and you charge in here and hit me, like some psycho. What’s your deal?”

“Funny you should mention minding your own, because from what Cherie says, you’ve been doing anything but.”

He rolled his eyes, rubbing at his chin, where I could already see a bruise blooming.

“And you're going to listen to something lunatic chick says, before even speaking to me about it? Did she tell you that she and I were a thing or something? Honestly, man, the two of us just fuck sometimes. It’s not the last of the great romances, and I thought the two of you were the same. If I’d known you were serious about her, I wouldn't have touched her. I’m sorry, but surely we can talk about things like friends, or whatever the fuck we are. No need for you to come charging in here, fists flying like some puny white-boy Merriweather.”

Why the fuck was he talking about white Merriweather? Why wouldn’t I be McGregor? Not that it was the point, but it stood out in my mind.

“Are you out of your living fucking mind, dude? When have I ever given the impression I was interested in Cherie for anything other than getting my rocks off? I couldn't give a flying fuck if the two of you eloped to Vegas tomorrow. The business I was referring to was Rocky, not fucking stupid-ass, oxygen-thief Cherie.”

He feigned confusion for a moment. “Rocky? You mean that Rollergirl chick from the other day? The one you co-opted the cygnets into scaring the living crap out of at the club the other day? The one you vehemently deny having a thing for, yet seems to be everywhere I turn?” If this was his idea of diffusing the situation, he really did need his head looked at.

“What is it with the two of you? No actually, the three of you? You’ve been tight-lipped ever since that incident, and pretending like you don’t want to fuck her from here to Mars, and now here you are defending her honor or some shit. Worse still, I had to listen to Cherie babble on about her when my dick was practically still inside her. For someone you both claim is unimportant, she’s taking up a whole fucking lot of time in both of your minds. Maybe I should get in on the action and make it a family affair.”

“I mean it, Drew, our friendship is on thin ice. Carry on with this bull, and there’ll be nothing left.”

His laugh was hollow and bitter. “Do you even hear yourself? Everyone on the planet knows there’s no true friendship with Xavier goddamn Cross. We’re all employees—members of staff, to be used however you see fit, there to do your bidding. Even those of us who are not actually on the payroll.” His words were similar to the taunts Rocky had thrown at me earlier. “So, excuse me if I don’t collapse into a ball of tears and lament the end of our great friendship. I know where I stand with you. I’m pretty much as good as the last order I followed. So, yeah, do what you need to do. I can only deal with one existential crisis at a time.”

I paused for a moment letting his words sink in. There was definitely a grain of truth to what he said, but he was way off base as far as the friendship between the two of us went. I genuinely liked him—had done since we were in pre-K together, and despite the tension that had been rising since Rocky came on the scene, I could see us being friends for years to come.

“What's that supposed to mean? Is there something going on with you I should know about?”

“Ha! That's a joke if ever I heard one. Like I said, one crisis at a time. And anyway, at this point in time, there’s kind of nothing to really tell, but if that changes you’ll be the first to know.”

I had no idea what he was talking about and definitely didn’t have the headspace to play mind games, so if he wasn’t willing to talk freely, I wasn’t about to pry the details from him. I filed the information in the back of my mind as something to come back to at a later date, but in the meantime, I had business to see to.

“I need you to organize the cygnets again. I have another job for them.”

“Why do I have a feeling that this is something to do with a certain Rollergirl? You can’t just keep using them as your personal errand boys, especially when it comes to menacing a chick you’re obsessed with.”

Now it was my turn to let out a brittle laugh. “Ha! You really think so? What do you think my grandfather’s grandfather set Cygnus Dei up for, if not to get other people to do his bidding? They’re lucky I haven’t made them do anything dangerous, like they did in the good old days.”

Rocky

“Has there been some kind of colossal screw up?” I knew I shouldn’t be rude—

not only was whatever was going on not her fault, but pissing her off wasn’t going to get me what I wanted. “What do you mean you can’t release the car to me?”

The lady looked and sounded bored. I guessed for her this was an everyday occurrence. Ten times a day, or more probably, but for me, it was very new and very real. “No mistake ma’am, but you’re not driving this car away today. Or any day, for that matter.”

“I don't understand. Why can’t I?”

“Well, let me see. Apart from the fines outstanding—”

“I have the cash to cover those,” I interrupted, rummaging in my purse for the money I’d been paid by the mysterious Mr. Cob.

“—If you’ll let me finish ma’am. Apart from the fines outstanding, I cannot release this vehicle to you, because it’s not registered in your name.”

Huh? “Oh, yeah, it was my mom’s, so it’s still registered to her.”

Not giving up on the boredom routine the woman behind the counter tapped at her keyboard officiously. “Unless your mother is one Mr. Jupiter Cob, I don’t think so. In any case, this car isn’t yours to collect."

“Jupiter Cob. Is this some kind of sick joke? I need that car.”

She looked at me as though I was out of my mind, and I could see how it might seem that way. I blinked rapidly through my tears.

“I’m sorry ma’am...” She sounded anything but. “…and not that it's my job to tell anyone their business, but why don’t you drive the perfectly good car you do have?”

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