Page 109 of Drift

Light offered the violin back. “After you, then, dickhead.”

Laughter erupted around the living room, a few fight-stance “Ooohs,” and Jackson choked on his coffee. “Okay, considering I walked into that one…” He pointed a finger Light’s way. “You’ve earned a chance to play for me, but nothing more. So make it damn good.”

Whistles went up, a few fist pumps, then quiet infected the younger kids as they settled down. Others were too lost to playingFortnite.

Jackson took a seat on the arm of a chair and took a sip of coffee as Light laid his case on the floor and undid the zip.

His hand shook slightly as he reached for his bow, echoes playing through his head of standing in the back of a moving van, how he’d found his violin hadn’t burned down with his home, how Brin… Ed….

“Oh….” The violin Light held got Ed’s interest. “You’re a classical musician?”

“Modern classics?” added Jan, and his look said Light was more the type to go naked violinist, dancing in the rain.

“YouTube,” added Gray flatly. “Or more intros to Lee’s YouTube channel and the music to Xbox games.”

And that just about killed any vibe, and Ed was back to sorting very quickly through his phone, no doubt for headphones.

“Easy,” Simon whispered in his ear. Had he caught the shaking going on with his hands? “Focus on the now….”

Light took a deep breath, but as he stood with his violin and bow, he forced a calm he didn’t feel.

Biological warfare or not, this was a bad idea. A damn bad, fucked up idea….

Chapter 32

DAMN BAD IDEAS

Drift craned his neck back to the archway as an “Oooh” went up from the living room, but as Brighty sorted cues for the pool table, West’s kick at the stolen chocolate dispenser machine stole his attention more. He hated pool, but playing voyeur on West trying to sweettalk the machine into letting her have a Twix creased him up every time. She was banned from using it, so hernot-so-accidentalknocks into it were, well, never accidental.

West swore under her breath, and Drift laughed softly as she shifted from kicking it to going full on hands and sweetest kisses at the glass. “Just one, baby. Please. I’ll be… good. I promise.”

“I’ll get you one, Westie.” Brighty tossed the balls on the pool table and started to sort through his pockets for change as he came over.

West put a hand to heart. “My hero.”

Drift caught hold of him by the scruff of the neck and pushed him back to the pool table. “It’s bad enough me and West being in the shit.” He pointed at him, the warning clear. “Stay out of it.”

“Hey.” West shoved at Drift’s shoulder, sending him stumbling a few paces. “I was close… so close to getting a Twixfix.” She steadied him a moment later. “I hate you. I really, really hate you.”

“Yeah?” Drift reached into his hoodie pocket and tossed one her way. He’d slipped out last night, and she’d obviously not noticed, otherwise his pockets would have been raided as soon as she sniffed out he was back.

“Ooooh…” West caught it, grinned, then all sweet sexiness came his way. “Did I say hate? I meant love. I mean I really, really love you. You know that, right?”

Oh he wished, he really, really did. Drift snorted a smile and winked down at Brighty as a “No fair,” came from behind off him. “How comes you get to sneak out?”

West eyed Brighty up and told him to shush as she went over. “Most of you are on lockdown now, asshole. Keep your mouth shut too.” She offered him a smile, then ripped the wrapper open and offered him half. “Or better… keep it shut with that.”

Brighty started chewing through the chocolate bar, throwing anI’m her favouritebig grin Drift’s way. Drift crossed his arms, looking from West’s half of the Twix to her, then back to Brighty.

“What?” She shrugged, then did a littledon’t caredance. “Good family.” She came in, snapping her half in two, then gently slipped it in Drift’s mouth. “It’s what we do. Share and look out for each other.” Her softer look meant to ground Drift in more ways than one, and he stayed with it, not really seeing much else or feeling much beyond the softness of her fingers brushing his lips. “You should stick around more and see.”

“We’ve got fresh meat in there, boys.” Keyne came in rubbing at his hands, and he looked over, his glance going between Drift and West before he dropped his smile seeing her touch on hislips. “Oh, sorry. And lady boys.” A smile. “How’s it, well,stillhanging, Westie?”

Drift shifted for him.

West’s grip on his arm dragged him to a stop, and she grinned Keyne’s way. “Test your starter pack a little too much, do I, Keeno?” she said gently. “Because with or without mine, my balls will always be bigger than yours. And that’s what keeps Drift coming back my way. How a friend will always have his back more than a throwaway dildo like you.”

Drit fought a choked smile. Yeah, West knew how to hit back as blood redness flooded Keyne’s neck and face, all anger… embarrassment, and a look came Drift’s way.

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