Page 56 of Justice for Radar

“That means that whatever he’s done is bad – you can’t bullshit me. I’ve been around you too long. Just be careful, okay?” she asked.

“As a virgin on her wedding night, scouts honor,” I said.

“Ew, gross,” she muttered.

I chuckled.

“Talk to you later, baby.”

“Later, Dad.”

We hung up. I sighed and looked over my pack and nodded, ticking everything off in my head again.

Honestly, I couldn’t wait to get on the road.

18

Justice…

I sighed and straightened up trying to stretch my back, palming the back of my neck and wishing Radar were here to knead sore muscles.

As though merely thinking of him conjured him out of thin air, my music cut, my phone lit up, and his face crossed the screen.

“I was just thinking about you,” I said, smiling.

“Aw, yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I murmured softly.

“What were you thinking about?” His voice held an edge of teasing.

I giggled, shaking my head, and told him the truth.

“Actually, I was just thinking that I wish you were here to rub my back.”

“Aw, again?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said, and I didn’t bother to hide the fact that I was bummed in my voice.

“Mm,” he murmured. “I wish I was there to take care of it.”

I changed the subject and said, “Me, too.” I asked, “Where are you now, anyway?”

“Somewhere in bumfuck Alabama,” he said, and it sounded like he stretched.

“Any closer to finding your guy?” she asked.

“Not yet, we need to keep heading north by northwest.”

“That Justice?” I heard Atlas in the background.

“Yeah.” Radar’s voice dimmed as he held the phone away from his mouth.

“Hi, Jussy!” I heard called out in the background.

I smiled and said, “Hi Atlas.”

“She says ‘hi,’” Radar told him.

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