Page 85 of Collect the Pieces

“Agreed.”

When the line moves, I pick up a plate.

“What do you want?” Jigsaw asks, grabbing a set of tongs.

“I can do it.”

He squeezes the tongs open and closed. “Chop, chop. We’re holding up the line.”

Laughing, I point to a piece of French toast. “One of everything.”

He dropstwoof everything on my plate along with a heaping pile of scrambled eggs. “I’ll eat whatever you don’t,” he promises, leaning down to kiss my cheek.

One of the guys—Hustler, I think—walks up and slaps Jigsaw’s back. “Bro, do you want to have some pie with your bowl of pussywhip instead of that French toast?”

Jigsaw bares his teeth in a maniacal grin. “Tastes fucking delicious. You should try it someday.”

My skin warms with embarrassment. I don’t want to be the reason Jigsaw’s brothers tease him. Although, the more I’m around them, it seems like they’ll take any opportunity to hassle each other.

“No offense, darlin’.” He winks at me before strolling away.

“Lots taken,” I mutter.

Jigsaw shakes his head. “It’s a compliment as far as I’m concerned.” He jerks his head to the side. “Let’s grab a seat.”

We find our way to the same chairs we’d sat in last night. Shelby beams as I sit next to her, then winces. “Those sweet teas snuck up on me.” She pokes her fork into her eggs. “I’m only eating so I can down some Advil.”

“Ugh. I’m sorry.” Now I’m glad I switched to drinking water last night.

Rooster sets a cup of coffee in front of her and leans over to whisper something in her ear.

“Good morning.” Ravage stops behind my chair and stretches over me, slamming my statue next to my water glass with a thud against the table loud enough to draw everyone’s attention to us. “I think you left something in my room last night,” he announces.

I mash my lips together to stop laughter from pouring out.

“No fucking way.” Z stands at the end of the table and leans forward. “It’s real?”

Sparky arranges his fingers into a cross and hisses at the statue.

Jigsaw’s laughter rises from a deep rumble to a high belly laugh. He rocks sideways, clutching his stomach and almost falls out of his chair.

“I take it those wereyourmanly screams we all heard echoing through the hallways early this morning, Ravage?” Dex asks.

Emily glances down at her plate and snort-laughs.

“I didn’tscream,” Ravage protests.

“Uh, yeah, you did,” Birch says.

I tug the black velvet satchel out of my sweatshirt pocket. “Well, thank you for finding her, I was wondering where she wandered off to.” I scoop the doll up and stuff her in the pouch, securing the ties at the top.

“It scared Bonnie half to death,” Ravage says. “She left.”

A sly smile curves my lips. “So, it servedtwopurposes.”

Rav rests his hand on the back of my chair and leans over, his morning coffee breath hot against my cheek. “I play pranks too, you know.”

“No, you don’t.” Jigsaw shoves Rav sideways. “Not on my girl.”

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