Page 98 of The Play

ME: Yeah, I just heard. Any idea who it was?

HIM: Never seen any of them before. The main guy kinda looked like a young Johnny Depp?

ME: Doesn’t ring a bell.

HIM: Anyway, I heard someone mention to them that youmight be at Matt Anderson’s house tonight. Wanted to let you know in case he tracks you down.

ME: Thanks. I appreciate it, man.

Okay. I don’t like this at all. Two different warnings that a bunch of strangers were asking about me? Strangers who raised enough alarms that Tara and Grady both felt the need to reach out to me.

And fuck, I’m glad they did, because when I reach Matt and Con’s street, I immediately notice the group twenty feet ahead, loitering by the curb. If I hadn’t been forewarned, I might’ve waltzed right up to them thinking they were partygoers.

Instead, I slow my gait, giving myself time to scope out the guys. There are five of them. They’re not particularly huge in terms of height, but they’re all pretty beefy. One is bald and stocky and appears vaguely familiar. The tallest one has his back to me, but he turns around when he hears my footsteps.

“Nico,” I say guardedly. “Hey.”

I haven’t seen or spoken to Demi’s ex since the night she went all Carrie Underwood on his stuff. And on closer examination, he kind of does resemble a young Johnny Depp, but with a darker complexion.

“What’s going on?” I ask when he doesn’t return the greeting.

“You tell me.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Really? Because rumor has it you were out with Demi on Monday night.” Barely concealed rage reddens his face. His fists are clenched at his sides.

Nico’s friends creep forward. Not close enough to pose a physical threat, but enough that my shoulders snap into a rigid line.

“Yeah, we went to Malone’s for a drink.” I omit the part where Demi was going there to meet another guy. Nico is already on edge.

“I heard it was more than a drink.” His voice trembles with anger. “Heard you got thrown in lockup together.”

Fuck’s sake.

I open my mouth to respond, but Nico hisses like a venomous snake. “Heard you got pulled over with yourdickin her mouth.”

“That’s not what happened.” My tone is calm, even.

“You feel like a big man, Davenport, disrespecting my girl like that?”

“I’m not disrespecting anyone—”

He’s still talking. “Using her? Forcing her to blow you?”

“I didn’t force her.” I quickly amend that when I realize what it implies. “Nothing happened, man. It was a misunderstanding, and the cops let us go. But even if somethingdidhappen, you’d have no right to be pissed. You guys aren’t together anymore.”

“We’re not together right now,” he qualifies. “We’ll get back together. We always do.”

“Is that so,” I drawl.

“You don’t know a damn thing about our history.”

“I know you cheated on her at a frat party.”

Nico’s eyes flash. “She tell you that?”

“Nah, I saw you, man.”

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