Page 149 of The Reluctant Hero

Her shoulders shake as she takes it all in, a wheezing sound escaping her. I guess that’s her laugh. I never imagined her being capable of it.

She stabilizes faster than I do. I wander back to her truck as she knives the tires. The gloves come off as I watch the vehicles sink to their rims. My hands are tingling and red.

I’m still sweating with the AC on full blast and gasping for air as we leave. South is now calm and collected. The only sign she exerted any effort is her mussed hair. Her phone goes off, and she checks it quickly.

“Shade’s getting concerned,” she tells me and changes directions with a quick U-turn.

She obviously doesn’t text and drive so I offer to do it for her.

The innocent offer gets a sly look and a smirk. “Sure. Be sure to tell him that it’s you, and I gave you permission without a game.”

I raise an eyebrow at that and text him back after she gives me the code.

Seconds after the read notification comes up, her phone starts ringing with an emo song. I put it on speaker when I see Shade’s name on the screen.

“What the fuck do you mean she didn’t have to play a game?” His enraged voice blasts from the speakers as South’s shoulders shake in laughter.

“Tone it down, you sappy fuck!” I snap back. “She’s driving, and she didn’t want to text. I figured you’d freak out if you didn’t hear back, so I answered.You’re welcome.”

“Is that her? Oh my gosh, you have her Southie?” An excited and breathless female voice squeals out.

“I do,” South answers placidly, the humor no longer in sight.

“I can’t wait to meet her,” the happy voice celebrates.

I glance at South with a frown.

“Amanda, this is Tera. Tera, this is Amanda. She was a baton twirler. I’m impressed with her skills.” She says the last word with as much emphasis as she can manage, surprising me.

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, that’sperfect! I can’t wait to meet you, Amanda!”

“Uh, ok? Me too? And thank you for helping me.” Her innocent demeanor takes me back about forty-five steps in confusion. This isSouth’sbestie? How?

“We’re playing a game,” South says in a bland tone that cracks my composure.

“This is not a fuckinggame,South!” I yell in her ear.

There’s complete silence on the other side of the phone call for a second.

“Hello?” I demand angrily. “Did you call just to be a dick? We’re on our way to you. I’m hanging up.”

I need to shout at South some more.

“Stop yelling at my fiancé, Amanda,” Shade says in a deadly voice.

I lean towards the dashboard to scoff. “Come off it. You’re just happy you get to call her yourfiancé. The vague threat is window dressing, you fucking sap.”

Innocent giggling starts up as Shade curses quietly.

“Bye!” I punch a finger into the disconnect button.

“Rude,” South eyes me as I lean back.

“I can’t be around your pregnant bestie or your fiancé, South,” I tell her solemnly. The turnaround in my tone makes her look at me with a mini frown. “They want me dead, remember? It isn’t safe for them.”

Her eyes snap back to the road, and her brows furrow deeper.

“I don’t think it’s safe foryoueither.” I sigh in frustration and lean my temple against the cold window. “Drop me off somewhere.”

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