Page 73 of Rectify

“And I’m trying not to love him. So, where does that leave us?”

“I had no idea it was so serious.”

“What does it matter?” I ask, throwing my hands in the air. “I forgave the unforgivable, it means you should too.”

18

Jay

Twelve Years Earlier

“To what do I owe this pleasure, Michaels?”

He stands against the brick wall, cigarette in hand, ball cap hiding his eyes.“I need a favour.”

I never thought I’d live to see the day Jagger Michaels asked me for anything. In our not so perfect world, I hate him, and he most definitely hates me.

“What is it?”

He takes the last drag of his cigarette and flicks it on the road. “You know Sasha and I got a kid, right?”

I don’t tell him that when I found out, I lost my shit, wishing it was mine. “I heard.”

Sasha Allman, will always be the one that got away. My weakness. A soft enough spot that I will talk to a guy I’ve hated for as long as I can remember, and give him anythingsheneeds

“I need money for my family. I need you to vouch for me with George so I can earn a bit on the side.”

For Sasha, and Sasha alone, I momentarily rid myself of the hate, and talk to him man to man.

“Listen, Jagger. That’s a bad idea.”

“I need the money,” he repeats.

“So just work a normal job .”

“I am, but what fucking job is going to give me enough money to rent a place within the next two months.”

He lights up another cigarette, and offers me one. I take the cancer stick and the lighter off him. Like old friends who smoke in the alleyways, and shoot shit.

“You can’t just switch that shit on and off.” I warn. “George will try and tie you to him for life.”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.” It’s naive of him, but I don’t bother worrying about where he’ll end up. Only Sasha.

“And what about Sasha? She okay with this?”

No chance in hell.

“Do you think I’m fucking stupid?” he scoffs

I bite my tongue, because the obvious answer is yes.

“She can’t ever know,” he adds.

“This is all well and good, but what do I get in return?”

As if the concept of favours is actually lost on him, he quips up a brow. “What do you want?”

I pretend to mull it over for effect. “I want Sasha.”

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