Page 114 of This Life and All the Rest
Lennon stirs when my fingertips brush her naked shoulder blade, and she hums, a sound that resonates deep in my stomach. Goosebumps raise on her skin, and I tug the comforter a little higher over her body. I don’t want her to be cold, and I don’t want to wake her.
My phone vibrates on the table beside the bed, and I roll my eyes when I see the Caller ID before hitting ignore.
Like I’m going to fucking answer for Chase Harper.
I told that dick last time he was in town to fuck off for good. I’m not running drugs for him anymore. I’m not playing candy man at parties. Not after the last time. He can find someone else. I’m out.
He rings through again, and I ignore him, again.
Then he sends a text. It’s a picture of Claire, Josh, and Eric. They’re in the clothes they wore to the dance, but they’re at some party by a bonfire. I scan the faces around them. Must be a high school party at Josh’s. The fuck is Chase doing there?
Then another text comes through.
Bet I can find your bitch before you do.
He’s talking about Lennon. A not-so-thinly veiled threat. Fuck, Chase is such a fucking dirtbag. He must not know I’m with her. I move to turn my phone off when another text buzzes through.
This one is a picture of Claire. Just Claire. No Eric or Josh. Just Claire standing by the bed of a truck, holding a can of beer and scrolling on her phone.
This one will work.
A chill creeps down my spine and I squeeze my eyes shut, then I turn my head and glance at Lennon.
I can be back before she wakes up.
I roll over and press a kiss to her forehead.
“Macon,” she mumbles, and I kiss her again.
“Shhh, baby. Sleep. I’ll be back soon.”
I stand and shoot Chase a text, telling him I’m on the way, and then I throw my clothes back on. I’m not afraid of this prick. It’s time I show him that.
I go to put my phone in my pocket when my fingers brush over something. I pull out the crumbled sticky note and smile, then set it down on my pillow. Just in case she wakes before I get back.
I park at the end of the gravel road, about a mile from Josh’s house. Chase is already leaning on the hood of his car when I turn off my engine. I leave my lights shining on him, though, because I don’t trust his pretentious ass.
“Harper,” I say as I take a seat on my own hood. “I told you I’m not runnin’ for you anymore.”
Chase smiles, looking just like his father, then shrugs.
“I know. Not why I called.”
I tilt my head to the side and cross my arms over my chest. I’ll give him a minute. He thinks he’s running the show, but I’ve got a warm bed to get back to, so my patience is wearing thin.
The back door of his car opens, and two more guys climb out. I tense. For the first time, I feel a little uneasy. I wasn’t expecting two more idiots, but I guess that was a rookie fucking mistake.
Casually, I slide my phone into my pocket and wrap my hand around it, just in case.
“You remember my friends, right, Davis?”
The two guys lean next to Chase, and I almost laugh at how back-alley mobster this feels. Chase Harper is a pretentious, spoiled, rich boy, not some mafia underboss. He probably still has a nanny to manicure his fingernails.
“Can’t say I do,” I say slowly. I don’t ask. He’s gonna tell me anyway.
“You met them at the party in Birchwood in December.”
The hairs on the back of my neck rise at the mention of that party. That’s the one where I overdosed while playin’ candy man.A favor, Chase said. He failed to mention I’d have to sample the product, too. I stay quiet. I know Chase wants to talk, so I’m going to let him.
