Page 22 of Trigger

I kepteating, trying not to listen to his conversation.

“Jevais bien.You know… new city, new friends. But everyone’s nice.”

Heglanced at me, but I pretended not to notice it.

“Yeah,you might say that. He’s alright.”

Laughter.What the hell was he laughing about?

“Tall,dark, and brooding, yeah.”

Briefsilence.

“To aT. So what?”

Longsilence.

“Yeah,but… No, of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not stupid.”

Hegrinned and looked at me.

“Besides,I like Shelly more.”

At themention of Shelly’s name, I tensed up as Thorsen said goodbye to his friend andturned on the radio.

“Whatwas that about?”

Helooked at me in confusion. “What?”

“Youmentioned Shelly.”

“Yeah,so?”

Somethingin his eyes told me he knew exactly what I meant.

“Look,”I said, trying to curb my homicidal tendencies. “Shelly is a good girl. Way toogood for you. She just got rid of one asshole, and she doesn’t need anotherone. No offense.”

“Nonetaken. What about you?”

“Whatabout me?”

Helaughed, reaching for the hair tie wrapped around his wrist and tying his hairwith it. “Oh, come on, Carter. She likes you. I’m sure you noticed it, being acop and all.”

“You’rewrong,” I said, watching him tuck a loose strand of hair behind his ear. “We’relike brother and sister. Besides, I have a girlfriend, remember?”

Herolled his eyes. “How could I forget?”

“Whateveryou’re thinking of doing, Thorsen, don’t. I mean it. Shelly is off-limits.Don’t make me say it twice.”

Helooked at me incredulously. “Or what?”

“Oryou will get to know the real me, and you won’t like it.”

“Ialready know you, and I don’t like you, Carter.”

Irubbed my forehead in frustration. “Is there a way of shutting you up?”

“Well,now that you mention it, you can always suck my… Bob!”

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