Page 4 of The Art of Dying

She turned.

“You shouldn’t’ve done that, Mack. You just made an enemy of that entire club.”

She shrugged.

“You walked over here?” I asked. “I guess you heard the bikes?”

“I assumed they’d show up eventually. I live two houses down in that triple decker on the back side. It’s not far.”

“The Looper’s old place?”

She nodded again.

“You knew I lived here?”

“Your parents were T-boned by a dump truck and shoved over a cliff. You’ve been the main topic of conversation in Quincy since before I moved here.”

Her frank way of describing Mom and Dad’s death stung. “Oh.”

“Good night.”

“Wait,” I said, jogging down my steps and across the yard, stopping just a few feet from her.

She shifted her weight, already annoyed with what I was about to say. Her copper strands were pulled up into a messy bun, her face freshly scrubbed and lotioned.

“Thank you,” I said. “You likely just saved me from murder charges.”

“They’ll probably burn down your house or something.”

“Nah. It’s not the first time me and Cubby have traded punches. He’ll get over it. Besides, they know it’s not my house.”

“I don’t think they care. Things have changed around here since you left.”

“Is that so?” I asked.

“Yep,” she said.

“I can walk you home.”

“No, thanks.”

“You’re clearly able to take care of yourself, but I’d like to return the favor somehow.”

“Not necessary,” she called back as she walked away. Her fluffy boots shuffled across the asphalt as she crossed the street and passed between houses.

I stood in the middle of the road among potholes, staring at the dark space Mack had disappeared into. Neighborhood dogs barked, but not so loud that I missed her chain link gate clang as it opened and shut.

“Definitely in love,” I said, walking backward a few steps before heading back inside.

chapter two.

Mack

“So, let me get this straight,” Alecia said, trying not to laugh. “Cubby tried to defend my honor, got his ass kicked and then you shot at him when he bashed in Kitsch’s window?”

“I didn’t shootathim. I shot into the air. He had half the club with him and they weren’t going to stop.”

Alecia threw her head back, her body shaking with laughter, the straight strands in her short ponytail falling even farther down her back. Her sky-blue eyes twinkled when she righted herself and smiled at me.

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