Page 1 of The Misfit

ONE

lee

I thoughtmy first stint in jail would be for a crime far worse than kissing some random guy in a bar. If I’m being honest, it wasn’t the kissing part that landed me here; it was everything after that, but I won’t correct them. My reputation is more important than clearing up a rumor. Anyway, jail isn’t as half as bad as the endless reruns ofCopsmake it out to be.

To be fair, the severity of the jail might be a little more harsh in theory than reality, given this is more like a metal box with bars than an actual cell. Or maybe my last name has me receiving the royal treatment. It doesn’t matter.

The silence here eats away at my insides like an infection.

If only my brain were this quiet.

With a sigh, I roll onto my side to face the bullpen. They’ve stashed me away in a tiny-ass holding cell, but in a way, I should be thankful the police station is the next town over from the college and not the one we’ve been fighting against for the past year for Ely’s sake. I’m sure tonight would’ve had a very different outcome if that were the case.

As it is, the young officer who arrested me keeps casting looks my way. He’s acting like I’m about to strip my clothes offagainand run around the station until he catches me. It doesn’t sound half bad; my only real worry is that he’ll like it. I give him a little wink and smile, and satisfaction builds as a red flush creeps up his pale cheeks.

What can I say … I have a habit of making people nervous. The door in the other room opens, then slams, and one of my best friends, Sebastian, comes marching in, his tie undone. His very pregnant wife, Ely, trails him. They are unamused.

“What the fuck?” Sebastian gripes as he approaches the lone officer.

His comment is directed at me, but the cute officer leans away as if that will protect him from Sebastian’s wrath.

I sit up, my vision blurring slightly as I reach my arms above my head and stretch out my back. “Took you long enough.”

“Is it really that difficult to behave? Why do you always have to do something that gets you in trouble?” Sebastian snaps, not even acknowledging the police officer.

“Are you kidding me? If I wanted to be scolded, I would’ve called my mother. I didn’t do anything wrong. I was having a couple of drinks at the bar and kissed a guy.” I toss him a grin. “And I liked it. So fucking what? It’s not my fault the homophobic owner got pissy and called the cops.”

Sebastian lets out a loaded breath through his nose. “Don’t play the innocent victim here. I know you, Lee. Instigation is your MO.”

“I didn’t instigate shit. There wouldn’t have been a problem if he hadn’t started one.”

Seb merely shakes his head. “At some point, you have to learn when to shut your mouth. Not every disagreement has to end with blood drawn.”

I ignore him because I don’t want his opinion. I want out of this fucking cell.

I peer over at Ely, who has thrown herself into a chair nearby. “Looking very round there, Ely. You okay?” She leans her head off the back of the chair and flips me off. Naturally, that makes me smile.

I look back at Sebastian, who is still staring at me like a disappointed father, and huff. “Can you save the lecture for later and get me out of here? I’m missing the party.”

His gaze scans my shredded jeans and vintage Lynyrd SkynyrdT-shirt. “You aren’t even dressed for the party. Besides, it will likely be over by the time we get back.”

I roll my eyes. “Not a Mill party. Never. If it ends before sunrise, I didn’t plan the thing properly.”

Ely groans, either from exhaustion or from my mentioning dawn, and I cock my head in her direction. “Actually, you can just drop me off and take your wife home so she can put her feet up. She’s super pregnant, for fuck’s sake.”

“I didn’t notice,” Seb snaps, then turns to the officer. “Can you get him out, please? I’ll send his lawyer to handle the paperwork.”

The adorable officer nods, grabs a ring of keys from his desk, and comes over to the cell. I stand, slip my Converse back on, and meet him at the door.

“Thank you for the hospitality.” I keep my voice low and husky, making the officer blush even more. God, I love making them nervous.

“Where’s the other guy?” Seb snaps.

I tear my attention away from the officer. “Huh?”

“The other guy. The one you made out with in the bar?”

I keep my expression blank, tucking away the anger and pain at the reminder that the man had split the second the bartender called the cops. “Fuck if I know. He was just some rando. I don’t even remember his name.”

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