Page 106 of Filthy Liar

I made my way towards the bathroom, pausing before my knuckles could tap on the door when I heard her sobbing on the other side. Then she cried out, relief filling me.

She wasn’t having a meltdown, Logan was just making up for lost time.

“Guys, we’re going to be late!” I called, opening the door and finding Raven bent over the sink, her eyes finding mine in the mirror.

“What time is it?” she panted, and Logan groaned as he slowed his thrusts.

“Why couldn’t your period finish yesterday? Do you think I’ll get fired if I skip my first day?”

“Yes. Be fucking quick,” I warned, closing the door to let them finish, grabbing my hoodie and wallet from the bedroom.

“You nervous?” Zavier asked, pulling his Psychos jacket on as Ander sprawled out on the mattress with his face in his phone. He’d been harassing the Thieves for updates on Dante, but so far, no one could find a trace of him.

I didn’t want to say it, but I was starting to think Stefano had either killed his own son, or sent him back to Italy with a broken jaw or something.

“A little. I’m not good at public speeches. What if no one shows up? Or if they don’t trust me now we’ve started staying in Ashburn and you’re a Psycho?” I asked, more panic filling me. “What if I can’t actually help people?”

“Those people don’t want a fancy speech, Barron. They want to know you hear them. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, and don’t make it seem like you’re better than them. Focus on the fact that you want better for the Heights as a whole,” Ander answered without looking over, and Zavier nodded his agreement.

“Exactly. Marco went over a bunch of questions they could ask you, right? You’ve got answers to a lot of wild things they could throw at you.”

“You’re right,” I sighed, trying to mentally shake off the nerves.

“Of course we are,” Zavier grinned. “Nothing’s going to ruin today. It’s a major step forward for the Heights, and having someone oversee it all who has lived that life will make people trust the system a little.”

I rolled my eyes and glanced at the time on my phone when I heard both Logan and Raven apparently finish, their lack of anxiety for today only making mine worse.

Maybe I should’ve been the one in there railing her to calm myself.

The shower kicked on and I pointed at Ander. “You can come with me. I’m not going to be late because of those two. Zav can wait for them and they can take Logan’s car.”

Having his car back made things so much easier. Ander’s car was fine if only one of us needed a ride, but the extra seats were usually needed.

Logan’s looked good as new, and they’d even fixed a dent that Logan had put in the back of it one night when reversing in the dark.

“You’ll do fine,” Zavier repeated, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “You guys go. I’ll hurry the other two up.”

“Liar. You’ll join them,” Ander grunted, getting to his feet and grabbing his things.

Zavier didn’t deny it, and I gave him a dirty look on the way out, really wishing they’d take today more seriously. If we were going to change our lives, that meant appearing more responsible.

Like showing up on fucking time.

I’d intended on driving, but Ander pointed to his car and jiggled his keys. “You’re going to crash with how freaked out you are. You’re a passenger princess today.”

“Thanks,” I said as I blew out a breath, not arguing with him.

“Want me to throw questions at you while I drive so you can prep more?” he offered, making me nod.

“Please. I swear my brain’s losing information.”

He started throwing random questions at me as we hit the road, some simple, some personal, and some stupid, just so I knew the best way to approach them all. I could do this, I was quick to answer and I sounded professional.

The drive didn’t feel long enough, my palms starting to sweat as we pulled up to find the place insanely busy. People wandered around outside, kids ran around laughing, and I could see the main doors had one of those fancy ribbons across it.

“Why does cutting that ribbon freak me out more than the speech?” I asked out loud, and Ander chuckled, patting my arm.

“This is the start of big things for the community, dude. That ribbon is just the beginning.”

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