Page 50 of Trip Through Your Wires

Marcus is doing great. Scouts have been calling him as well, and he seems to have found someone he really likes. It’s best if he believes what he walked in on that night when he found Cruz and I questioning Cal was remnants of the fight they had on the beach—an argument fueled by drugs and booze. There was no reason for Marcus to believe it was anything more. He was halfway across the country by the time the girls got up the next morning and never saw the bruises on Ellery or Jenica’s catatonic state.

Cruz shakes his head and grips the back of the couch. “I swear to God, Jake, if anyone tries to grind their ax on Ellery’s neck, I will bury them six feet under.”

Cruz’s eyes are dark. He’s not playing around. When it comes to Ellery, every promise he makes is rooted in a primal need to protect. I understand that kind of loyalty and recognized that fierce need to keep someone you cared about safe because I’d seen it myself before.

“Look.” I clear my throat, not wanting to give that part of me any reason to rear its head. It was bad enough what happened between Jenica and I had stirred it from its dormancy. I didn’t need it coming out now, creating drama where there didn’t need to be any. “Everything’s going to be fine. The past is in the past. Just focus on the here and now and if anything does come up, we’ll take care of it.”

He swallows and nods. “You’re right.”

“Damn straight I am.”

“Thanks, brother.”

He sticks his fist out and I bump it with my own. “Don’t mention it. But, if it would make you feel better, I could ask my dad to check in on those guys. See if everyone is where they’re supposed to be, doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”

My dad was a big help last summer when we were looking into the girls that had gone missing in Cherry Cove. While he knew about the whole Elmhurst society scandal—the story had dominated the news for months and anyone not living under a rock had seen it—he hadn’t said anything to me. It was part of his whole, need to know rule. But if I needed him, I could come to him for anything, and I’d happily ask him to look into Ellery’s former friends if it would put my best friend’s mind at ease.

“Sure,” Cruz nods in confirmation. “That would be good. Better to be safe than sorry.”

“No problem.” I get up from the couch and stretch. “I’ll ask him the next time we talk. If he finds anything, he’ll let us know.”

“Good,” Cruz nods and does the same. “Although, it would be better for my blood pressure if he didn’t find anything.”

“Same, Cabron. Think we hit our quota on drama for a while. Now come,” I nod to the kitchen, “I’ll make you some coffee.”

We amble into the kitchen and I reach into the cabinet, pulling out a canister of the instant coffee I make when I need a caffeine fix and don’t want to bother Ellery.

“Now that we’ve settled that,” Cruz hops onto the counter. “How about we talk about you and Jenica?”

“Man.” I reach into the cabinet and grab two cups and set them down on the counter. “Give it a rest.”

“Girls and baseball,” he continues. “Two of your staples since I’ve known you.”

“Don’t forget school,” I add.

“Yeah, okay, school, too. But strangely, one has been noticeably absent lately. Why is that?”

I grab a spoon out of the drawer and remove the lid from the red, white, and orange striped canister and put a couple of scoops in each cup. When done, I make my way over to the stove and turn on the burner under the kettle.

“Come on.” He kicks the lower cabinet with his heel when I don’t answer. “Just tell me what’s going on with you two. Every time I mention her name you get this look on your face.”

I lean against the counter and cross my arms while waiting for the water to boil. “I do not.”

“Yes, you do,” he laughs.

“Fine.” I throw up both hands. “If it will get you off my dick, you’re right. I haven’t been hooking up with anyone.”

“And why is that?” He leans forward.

“Because I haven’t wanted to.”

“And you haven’t wanted to because…”

“Jenica,” I bite out. “There. Happy?”

“I knew it,” he grins and leans back. “That’s why you wanted to knock O’Brien out yesterday. He made a move on your girl, didn’t he? At the frat party.”

I motion for him to be quiet while stepping out into the hall. Seeing neither Ellery nor Marcus are up yet, I pop back into the kitchen. “Would you keep it down?”

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