Page 37 of Switch
“And they were fucking with your late wife,” PJ adds.
I shake my head.“I don’t…” What I mean to say is “understand,” but it doesn’t come out.Because I’m not an idiot.I used to be a mystery writer, for God’s sake.My series protagonist, Betty, probably would’ve marched straight out the door and started investigating by now.
I’m not Betty, though.What I want is to pretend this isn’t happening.
PJ’s expression softens.Somehow, he seems to get what I’m thinking without my having to say it out loud.“Can you think of someone who’s got beef with you?”
Eric Leslie.If he were still alive.I shake my head.
“Did you call the police?”
“They’ll probably say it’s a harmless greeting card.There’s just this weird feeling I can’t shake, like it’s some kind of warning.”
Because it is.
“Sure looks like one.If there’s one thing I’ve learned from foster care, it’s to listen to your weird feelings.They can save your ass or someone else’s.”
“I didn’t know you were in foster care.”
PJ lifts one shoulder.“When I was fifteen, my mom went to jail for selling drugs to a cop.”When I open my mouth to speak, he shakes away the words of sympathy he seems to know are coming.“It is what it is,” he says.“I’m fine.”
So instead, I pick up the top card on the stack.“Marina was getting these for years and didn’t tell me.Why the hell wouldn’t she?”
What else didn’t she tell me?
“Maybe she didn’t think it was a serious threat.Do you have security cameras or an alarm?”
“There used to be a doorbell cam, but it runs on battery.It’s a big house.”Too much for one person.“There’s a lot I haven’t kept up with.”
PJ’s hand lands on mine, and our fingers thread together.It’s oddly natural to touch him this way.It’s as if our bodies know each other.
“Nobody I know trusts the police, but if you decide you want to go, I’ll go with you,” he says.“Either way, we’ll see about beefing up your security.If anything else gives you a bad vibe, call me.I won’t let anything happen to you.Got it?”
Why the hell are my eyes burning?“I’m a grown-ass man, PJ.I don’t need you to protect me.”
“No reason to deal with it alone.I look out for the people who matter to me, understand?”
I’m not a hundred percent sure I do, but I nod.I want to ask how he can seem so sure, but the creak of the bottom step announces my brother’s return.
“I considered Uno or Monopoly, but I decided on Clue instead.Figured we’d all have fun solving a mystery.”
ChapterEleven
PJ
For the second time,I spent the night at Fallon’s, not sleeping.This time, I didn’t stay awake to watch him sleep.I stayed awake for the same reason I used to sit outside of my foster sister June’s bedroom at night.
If someone’s coming to hurt Fallon, I’ll be here to stop it.
Right now, I’ve got a brunch to get to.The group chat with my fellow escorts is already buzzing, and they’ll give me hell if I don’t show.Fallon and his brother are still sleeping upstairs.Wes, who stuck around like a persistent STD or a purity chaperone, insisted on taking the guest room.
I stuff my feet into my shoes and hustle for the door.I’m picturing Fallon up there in his big bed all alone, wishing I could give him a goodbye kiss.It’s too much drama, though, with Wes in the house.
I’m nearly out the door when a noise comes from the stairs.“Didn’t think you’d still be here.”
Fucking Wes.If this dipshit weren’t Fallon’s brother, I’d pop him in the face.“Well, I’m leaving now,friend, so you don’t need to worry.Maybe after I go, you can work on getting whatever’s lodged in your ass unstuck.You look constipated.”
“You were supposed to take him on one damn date, not worm your way into his life.He’s vulnerable, and you’re taking advantage.He doesn’t need complications right now.He sure as fuck doesn’t need some kind of gold-digging whore messing with his head.”
