Page 24 of Insurgent

I stare at the flower shop she’s been at since she was in high school. It bothers me that she stayed there. She had so much talent with her photography. She could still be doing it for all I know, but no one has mentioned it. The lights go out in the shop, and moments later she steps out with keys in her hand and locks the door behind her.

Bexley has transformed into a gorgeous woman. She wears a pencil skirt, with a navy blouse and cream-colored heels. Her dark hair falls down her back, and I can’t help but look at her ass when she walks to her SUV.

She climbs inside safely and heads home to another man. I sit in my car longer than I should before I head to my bar where I know Trig and Sweep will be.

The bar is lightly crowded tonight, and Mae, my bartender, gives me a smile when I walk in. I notice Trig and Sweep sitting at the bar watching a game. “Whiskey,” I say as I take a seat beside them.

“She get home okay?” Trig asks.

I look over at him as Mae slides me my drink.

“Come on, Bones. You’ve got to stop doing this shit, man.”

“Mind your business,” I reply, taking a sip of my drink. “Everything get cleaned up?” I look at Sweep, referring to a dead Yaps.

He nods, not taking his eyes off the TV. “Got a problem at the warehouse, though.”

“What’s that?” I ask.

“We think one of the girls is stealing.”

“How?”

“Not sure yet. But there’s been word about some overdoses. Someone’s got to be cutting it with too much fentanyl and trying to sell it on the side.”

“I’ll pay a visit tonight. We can’t let this shit slide.”

He nods, grabbing a smoke from the bar as the door opens behind us. Samuel wears worn jeans and the same work boots he had on this morning.

“Haven’t showered yet?” I ask him.

He laughs. “Long day. Can I get a drink, Mae?” he asks.

She nods, tapping her ringed fingers on the bar top. “Beer?”

“Please,” he says.

“What brings you by?” I ask, taking a sip of my own drink.

“Got some news,” he says, reaching for the beer when she places it down. He takes a big gulp and rubs his hands over his thighs.

I smirk. “Okay. Tell me this news.”

He looks over at Sweep. “Johnny, you mind giving us a minute?”

Sweep exhales, clearly annoyed he’s gotta take his eyes from the game. “Come on, Trig. Let’s shoot a round.” They get up and I watch my little brother as he bounces his knee. There was a time we couldn’t even be in the same room without tension, but things have changed. I’ve accepted how life is now, even if it fucking kills me sometimes. And believe me, it does. My mind strays as I recall a time at Paul’s house. It was a birthday party for one of his kids. Bexley was there and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was in a sundress and her legs were tan. I wanted her so bad, I followed her out of the house when she slipped outside. I touched her thigh and I whispered in her ear. She wanted me, too, I could feel it.

“You talked to Paul?” Samuel asks, snapping me from my thoughts.

I nod, clearing my throat as I reach over, grabbing my smokes from the bar. “This morning, just like you did.” I slide a cigarillo out. I stopped smoking cigarettes. Lost the taste for them years ago, but these right here are nice. I enjoy the flavor.

“Oh, right,” Samuel says. “Still can’t believe he’s the mayor of Postings. He always said he would be. Surprised he still hangs around us.”

I chuckle, slightly shaking my head as I hit my smoke. “Paul won’t forget where he came from. We’re all street kids. No matter where we go in life, that’ll follow us.”

My big brother has submerged himself into the political world. The college graduate moved to the nicer part of town and started hanging out with the bigwigs. He ran for mayor last year and won.

Of course, I threatened every motherfucker in this town, making sure they knew who they needed to vote for. Still, a win’s a win in my book.

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