Page 78 of Shameless

“Don’t you even dare look at Lula.” Jules growls. “I already told you to stay the fuck away from her.”

Evan’s smile widens. That motherfucker must have a death wish for not taking Jules seriously.

“Jules is right,” I agree. “Lula has made it clear that she wants nothing to do with you. You’re lucky my dog isn’t here or I’d let him finish what he started on the ferry.”

Evan Johnston definitely has a death wish.

“Now I get it,” his chuckle is sinister. “You guys look so cozy. I bet you enjoy sword crossing when you tag team her, huh? Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

What the fuck is he talking about? “We don’t—” I start, but Evan interrupts me.

“I’m not judging you for that. Who hasn’t experimented a little with some man on man action here and there? Boarding school was all about that. What I’m judging you for is that you guys are actually related. I bet that turns you on, Lula? I’ve always known you were a dirty little slut. That’s why I like you.”

I’m going to fucking end this fucker.

Whoever killed Eddie was probably angry with him but I doubt they truly hated him. A shotgun to the face is a fast way to dieafter all. When I kill Evan, I’m gonna make it as slow and painful as humanly possible, I swear.

“Say another word to Lula,” I grind out. “And I swear to fucking God?—”

“Cool your jets, dude.” Evan laughs. “For as much as I enjoy the foreplay between me and Lula, I actually came here to talk to you.”

I don’t understand. “Me?”

Evan nods. “Yeah. Remember our little issue with the yacht you crashed? And our wager? You had to place first in at least one heat or in one of the categories overall in the race that was canceled at Twinberry Cove and I wasn’t going to press charges and forgive your debt. If you lost, I was gonna get to drive the electric boat.”

How could I fucking forget? “It isn’t my fault if the race was canceled. The next race is in the Ozarks in a month. Unless you want to let our bet stand until then, do what you need to do. I hired a lawyer to help with our issue anyway.”

I haven’t yet, but I’m going to do it soon.

“Nah,” Evan says. “I lost interest in seeing you lose a race and in a month I’ll be back on the campaign trail with my dad. But if you let me drive the electric boat before I leave Star Cove, I’m willing to forget the whole thing with the yacht.”

I don’t trust Evan, that much I know. But this situation with the yacht has literally derailed my life. Making a deal with him would be great, as long as he keeps his word.

Jules voices my question before I can. “Who tells us that you’re not going to go back on your word if we let you drive the electric boat?”

Evan looks amused by this entire conversation. “No one. You’ll have to trust me.”

Fuck.

Again, Jules is the one who expresses my own thoughts better than I could. “Yeah, you just answered your own question. You’re a slimy asshole and a creep. Your word means nothing to us.”

Maybe I should be worried about the fact that not only do I agree with Jules Cutler, I’m actually grateful that he’s talking to Evan when I’m too furious to even put my thoughts into coherent speech.

“Are you sure?” Evan says. “The damages to the yacht plus all the legal fees, if I press charges and we go to court, are going to be more than half a million dollars. A few minutes on your boat are a small price to pay to make it all go away.”

I hate that he’s right. Even with Eddie’s money, a trial would be stressful and take a long time.

“What I don’t understand,” I finally say. “Is why you would forget about the damages just to drive one of our powerboats.”

Evan shrugs. “The yacht was insured against theft and accidental damage. My father has already ordered another one. I just want the thrill of driving a one of a kind boat. Posting a video like that on social media would get me all kinds of pussy. You should know that.”

I don’t tell him that I’ve never needed any help to get pussy. “Yeah, but like Jules said, we don’t trust you.”

The creep finally shows his hand and looks eager. “I’ll get my lawyer to write an agreement with the terms of this deal. You let me drive the boat for a few minutes and film me and your fuck up is forgotten. Once the sheriff clears me and Lula’s Mom from the murders, I’ll have to go back East. First is the campaign trail with my old man. Then he expects me to intern for him in his senator's office and to find another rich, snooty girl to marry. My life is going to be so fucking boring. Maura at least was fun, but most of his friend’s daughters are snobby and superficial. The only thing that will keep me from taking a shotgun to my own head out of boredom, is some street cred so I can get laid.”

Jules and I look at each other.

Cutler could be a pain in my ass and veto this. After all, the boat isn’t just mine.

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