Page 101 of Zero Chance

“Of course you do,” I humored her with a straight face.“Now, can I check this book out or not?Youcanmanage that while being high, right?”

“Oh!You are so…” Setting her jaw with irritation, she took a moment to control her temper before holding out her hand.“Just give me the damn book.”

“Sure.”

Except when I moved to set the hardback on the counter near the barcode reader, it had other ideas.It slid across the counter toward Waverly.

This time, she didn’t let it hit her; she dove out of the way at the last second, and the book skidded right off the other side of the counter and to the floor at her feet.

I winced as she blinked down at it because, apparently, the book did not want to be checked out.

Waverly lifted her face, her expression full of accusation.“Stopdoingthat,” she commanded through gritted teeth.

There was no way I could feign innocence any longer.I arched my eyebrows at her and muttered, “Fine.I’ll stop.But only if you explainthis.”

Taking the note from my pocket, I lifted it between two fingers and sent her a hard glare.

Recognition immediately sparked in Waverly’s eyes, and my gut knotted.Shit.Mom really had led me to the source of the note’s deliverer, hadn’t she?

Way to go, Mother.

But it still didn’t answer my most pressing question.

“Who the fuck asked you to put this on my backpack?”

Waverly’s gaze jerked from the note to my face in surprise.“What?”

“I saw you set this on my stuff,” I lied.“Now,whogave it to you and asked you to deliver it?”

Mouth falling open, she blinked a few times before saying, “I—” And then nothing else came out.

“Are you serious?”I gaped, feeling betrayed.“You’re not going to tell me?I thought we were friends.”

Her brow furrowed in confusion.“Weare?”

“Oh my God!”I tossed up my arms in aggravation.“Of course, we are.You think I just give money to little brothers of people who aren’t my friends?You’re my anchor, remember?Not to mention that whole get-off-my-counter bit we have going on.I amuse myself by annoying you.You amuse yourself by keeping me from checking books out.Why the fuck wouldn’t you think we’re friends?”

She blinked once before quietly mumbling, “I don’t know.Because I don’thavefriends.”

“Well, you do now,” I told her in no uncertain terms before stepping close and lowering my voice as I pressed a hand to my chest.“Now tell this friend where the notecame from, huh?”

When I lifted the envelope with the fancy M on it, her gaze tracked it briefly before she cringed and turned her attention back to me.“I’m sorry.I can’t.”

I blinked at her, thinking she was joking.But she continued to say nothing, and I realized she honestly planned on not telling me.

My mouth fell open.“Are you fucking serious?”Pointing at her nose, I commanded, “You’re going to tell me who wrote this noterightnow or else.Did you know her or not?What did she look like?Is she a student on campus?”

Apparently not a fan of being ordered around, Waverly tipped up her chin and sniffed stubbornly.“Well, now I’m definitely not telling you anything.”

“Frankie,” I growled in warning.“I’m not playing right now.”

Eyes narrowing, she snapped, “Neither am I.Go throw books at someone else and threatenthem.”

When she turned her back on me purposely and started messing with the books on the cart, sorting them into some order, I ground my teeth in supreme frustration and fisted my hands before pressing them to my brow.

“I will pay you,” I tried.“Anything.Come on, Waverly.I just need a name.”

When she continued to ignore me, I scowled.And as if responding to my feelings, theFollow Mebook lifted off the floor and poked Waverly directly in the center of the back.

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