Page 101 of The Way We Score

Jumping straight in my seat, I cover my mouth with a napkin. “Aubreyisa badass! Oh, my lord, Garrett…”

“I know!” He shakes his head. “I pretty much handed her stuff when she asked for it and stayed out of the way. Snakes were everywhere.”

“Stop—I can’t stand it!” Dylan waves her hands, doing a full-body shudder. “I would’ve run.”

“Imagine how the horses felt. That mama snake laid them all right there in the back stall.”

Craig walks up with a beer. “Why are y’all having a party back here without me?”

“Share my seat.” Dylan hops up, grabbing his arm. “We’re discussing how your cousin’s a badass.”

“Aubrey? Yeah, she’s got some stories.” He points at Garrett. “She’s so excited you’re coming to work for her. She’s been your biggest fan ever since the incident.”

“What incident?” Rachel’s eyebrow arches.

“Something that happened back in middle school.” Garrett shifts in his seat. “It was nothing.”

“Was that when you got sent to the principal’s office?” Zane’s brow lowers like he’s remembering, and now I’m pretty sure we’re all on the edge of our seats, glancing between both of them.

“The one time.” Garrett nods. “It didn’t happen again.”

“What happened?” I tilt my head at him.

“I was in eighth grade.” Garrett leans closer. “You didn’t know I was alive.”

Craig points his longneck at Garrett. “This guy was always a foot taller than everyone, and when my parents moved here, I didn’t have any friends.”

“You had me!” Dylan loops her arm in his, leaning her head on his shoulder. “We danced together and played Barbie vs.Brats together.”

“And there were a few high school guys who didn’t like boys dancing ballet and playing with dolls,” Craig continues. “So Garrett stuffed them in a dumpster. After punching them both in the face a few times.”

“Just taking out the trash.” Garrett straightens in his seat.

“They were beating you up.” Dylan’s voice is quiet, and her lips press into an angry frown. “You couldn’t dance for a month because of your ribs.”

“But they gave me this sexy scar.” Craig slides his hand along the side of his hair, and a noticeable scar is on his temple.

My eyes widen. “That looks like it was pretty bad.”

“Dad was so pissed you were sent to the principal’s office.” Zane smiles proudly. “I’m pretty sure he threatened to throw that guy in the dumpster along with the bullies.”

Garrett puts his napkin on his plate. “Nobody bothered my boy Cray after that.”

“Or anyone else who played with dolls or danced ballet,” Craig adds.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure you were the only fairy doing that,” Garrett quips. “Oh, wait. I was dancing with you.”

Dylan grins, wrapping her arm around her friend’s waist and resting her head on his shoulder. “Those idiots.”

Shifting in my seat, I slide my arm behind Garrett’s waist and rest my head on his shoulder, too. “Were you always being a hero?”

He turns, kissing the top of my head. “When I wasn’t being a dumbass.”

22

Garrett

We stay a little longer until Liv’s eyes blink slowly, and I know she’s tired. She gets tired early these days.

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