Page 34 of His Pretty Little Lies
“Then think about it. If you want to go, we’ll go. If you don’t, we can have a slumber party together.”
“A slumber party?” Where does he come up with this shit?
“Food, movies, and a bed.”
“That does sound better than a dance,” I admit. “But slumber parties aren’t about making out and such. No matter what porn you’ve watched before.”
“I don’t know about any slumber parties, but you’re sure as fuck never calling a plumber.”
“Ahh!” I elbow him in his side. Jax throws his arm over my shoulder, tucking me into him. It's his go-to move today. I can't say that I hate it.
In fact, I don't think there is anything I could ever hate about Jax Marino. The man who seems to think I now belong to him. The craziest part of all of this is that I think he might be right.
Chapter Seventeen
JAX
It’s hard to get a read on Kinsley. We haven’t talked about the plans for tonight, and I might be feeling her out by not bringing them up and driving toward her parents' place. It’s not far from school. She used to walk, "used to" being the key word. I hated that shit. I know it’s a crazy safe area, but I still didn’t like it. Too many risks.
I, more than most teens, know the dark parts of life, and some of the darkest people live in high-rise penthouses. Their money is protecting them, but most know better than to pluck a pretty girl off the streets. That would draw attention. Which circles me right back to one of the bigger issues at hand. The missing girl. Still not a fucking clue who it was, and there isn’t any buzz.
“You know I could have walked home, and then you wouldn’t have had to leave practice early.”
“I wanted to leave practice early.” We run the same drills over and over again. I’m ready for the game. I’m not the one who needs to be out there. That’s not me being cocky either. I know my shit. I put in the work that I need to, but it’s all becoming wearing.
In fact, I’m ready for the game to be over. The patience that I once had for shit is wavering. I guess that happens when there are more interesting things to tend to. Now football is really fucking mundane, but I have to remember that some things are motions we must do to move through life. Those are my father’s words, not mine.
“To check into more things than Jim McIntyre?”
“One of many. Did you check the attendance for today?” I’d gotten her a login. Kinsley has free rein at this point. She can go poking around whenever and wherever she wants, and I’m sure she will.
“I did, but nothing stood out.”
“It’s only been a day,” I point out. “And because a person doesn’t get marked as absent doesn’t mean they weren’t.”
“That’s true!” Kinsley lets out a small gasp. “I mean, I could change them in the system.” That’s what I had been thinking. I know it’s what my cousins and I would do, but I don’t know if others have those means. But a lot of means come down to money, and there is plenty of that to go around at Golden Prep.
“Stay put,” I tell her.
“You can’t park—” Kinsley stops herself. “Never mind.” Not sure if she’s saying never mind because she believes I’m dropping her off or because you can’t park here, but she knows I don’t give a shit. A cop in this city isn’t going to run my tags and then tow me.
I pull my keys out of the ignition before hopping out and coming around to open her door. I offer her my hand. She takes it.
“You don’t have to walk me up.”
“First off, never dropping my girl at the door, and second, I’m coming up.” I close the car door behind her.
“Like up up?” Kinsley tentatively points up toward the sky, but I know she means the building.
“Is that a problem?”
“You’re supposed to be invited.” She lets out a laugh meant to be playful, but it’s nervous. Yeah, my girl can’t act for shit.
“We’re only here to pack you a bag.”
“Whoa, now hold on.” I already got her hand and head inside the building.
“Nothing has changed from yesterday, Bunny,” I remind her. “And your parents aren’t home,” I add, knowing that will lessen her anxiety a bit.
