Page 160 of Devil's Bargain

TWENTY-SEVEN

Nina.

“Five fucking days!” I mutter, slamming my locker closed.

Ben is leaning on the one next to mine. “I’m grabbing Scott after school. He’s going to tell us where she is sooner or later!”

I flick my eyes between his. “What about Jared?”

“I don’t know where he is.”

“What?” I frown. “What do you mean?”

Ben looks over his shoulder for listening ears and then leans in close. “When was the last time you saw Jared at school?”

My eyes widen as it dawns on me. “Mr. Roberts is back.”

Ben nods. “He is. Jared was a substitute teacher.”

“Oh, shit!” I push off the locker and join the stream of students. “I have such a bad feeling about this!”

Ben is close on my heel. “We’ll figure it out. Scott is going to talk.”

I drag him over to an alcove. “Promise me, Ben!”

His brown eyes are fierce as he cups my jaw. “I promise you, Nina!”

“She’s my best friend!”

“I know!”

“I’m sure Emily would have a thing or two to say if she saw you two looking this cozy!” Steph teases as she joins us.

Ben rolls his eyes. “Fuck off, Steph!”

“Where’s the love?”

He drags a hand through his green hair. “I’m kidnapping Scott after school. It’s time to get answers.”

Steph stares at him as if lost for words. She looks at me next. “Okay.”

“Is that all you have to say?” I ask. “You’re usually the one with abut.”

“I am not!” She says as we start walking. When Josh joins us, she points to herself. “Am I the one with a ‘but,’ Josh?”

He looks confused. “What?”

She rolls her eyes, walking backward with no care in the world if she bumps into anyone. “The one with a ‘but.’ You know? It’s a great idea, but. Yes, I think we should do that, but.”

Josh, always the horndog, eyes a girl in a short skirt. “In that case, yes, you are!”

Steph’s mouth falls open. “Fuck off! I’m not!”

Josh reluctantly looks away from the girl when he can’t possibly bend his neck any further. “This morning, you said, ‘Josh, you should try kickboxing,butyou cry when you stub your toe.’ Notice the but?”

She goes to object, but he holds his hand up. “How about last night? ‘Josh, I think you would look great with pink hair, but—”

“Okay, fine!” she concedes.

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