Page 209 of Scatter the Bones

He steps closer, eyes dropping to my chest. “Sexiest threat I’ve ever seen—stretched across the most perfect breasts.”

“Oh, you’re just full of compliments tonight, aren’t you?”

“Yup.” He holds out a small white box. “I saw this today and thought of you.”

“Really?” I squeal, not even caring what’s inside. I pry the lid off and find a glossy red enamel pin—heart-shaped lollipop, devil horns, smug little face, tail curled sweetly around the stick like it’s not planning to stab anyone. A ribbon banner across the middle reads:Sweet as Hell.

“This is so cute. I love it.” I work the clasp loose and poke the sharp end of the post through my sweater, right over my heart. “I needed one to replace my fuckboy repellent pin.”

Jigsaw scowls as he helps me fasten the back of the pin. “Why are you replacing it?”

Puzzled, I frown up at him. “I don’t need it anymore.”

He stares at me.

Heat rushes over my cheeks. “I only bought it to express my frustration withyou.” I cough and glance away to cover my embarrassment.

“Oh.” He lets out a short huff of laughter. “Yeah, but you still need it to repelotherfuckboys.”

I reach up and press my hand to his cheek, smiling sweetly. “Why, when you’re mean-mugging at every man we run into is so much more effective?”

He scrunches his face into a silly version of his get-away-from-my-woman expression. “Excellent point.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” I say, not sure if he deliberately avoided it or didn’t hear me. Jezzie said she wanted to stay at Cain’s place last night, instead of here. “Do you think Jezzie and Cain stayed up all night, catching up?”

He shrugs, the levity in his expressing vanishing.

“Are you upset she wanted to stay with him?”

“Not really. I get it.” He hesitates, his gaze flicking away for a second. “I was more worried she might’ve hurt your feelings. Not wanting to stay here, I mean.”

“Oh!” I step closer and wrap my arms around him. “You’re so sweet for worrying about that. But I’m fine. It crossed my mind for a second, yeah—but even if that was the reason, it’s okay.” I pull back and look up at him. “But honestly? I really think it was more about wanting to spend time with him.”

He nods slowly. “You’re probably right.”

“Well then,” I smile, “are we going to pick them up?”

“I think he wanted to ride his bike there,” Jigsaw says. “But yeah—we’re going to get Jezzie.”

The scent of gasoline,scorched rubber, and fried food hits my nose the moment I step down from Jigsaw’s SUV.

Cain’s bike glides to a stop beside us, sleek and nimble, the neon accents gleaming under the overhead lights.

“That’s looks so much more nimble than his Harley,” I say, nodding at Jigsaw.

Cain unleashes a grin as he climbs off the bike. “That’s ’cause Harleys are sluggish and built for old dudes.” He rests his helmet on the seat and pulls up his baggy pants.

Jigsaw laughs, sharp and amused. “Careful where you speak such blasphemy, kid.”

He loops an arm around my shoulders, dragging me close, his heat searing through my sweater and jeans. “Why you out here startin’ trouble?”

“I didn’t realize I was,” I laugh.

Jezzie pulls Cain toward the track, and we fall in behind them.

Near the bleachers, a tall figure lifts a hand in greeting.

“That’s Rooster.” Jigsaw picks up the pace.

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