Page 26 of The Second Deal

Themorning sun stops beating down on the approach as dark clouds loom overhead.

IgrabBrandy’shand and yank her back. “Nope, nope, nope,”Irepeat under my breath, rushing us back down the gentle slope to get the fuck away.

Nothingelse is said until after we jump the fence and slowly approach our cars.

Brandygradually comes to a complete stop and bends over, heaving.

Herhair is already pulled back in a ponytail, butIreach over to pat her back.Shecan’t even handle on-screen animal deaths—this will definitely scar her for life.

“Whatthefuckwas that?”Brandyfinally shouts, tears welling in her big doe eyes. “Something’snot right with that thing!”

Igrimace, watching her straighten up. “Itold you it was a bad idea to go up there.”

Brandygasps for air, wiping the back of her hand across a sweaty forehead.She’sshaking.

“Thinkyou can make it home?”

Shenods, taking a few more deep breaths.Finally, she asks, “Whatdo we do?Whothe fuck do you call for something like this?”

“WouldaGhostbustersreference be in poor taste right now?”

Groaning, she rolls her eyes and slaps my arm. “That’snot even funny.”

“Everyoneknows to keep an eye out on the bridge,”Ioffer. “Weirdstuff happens once in a while.Thisisn’t exactly out of the ordinary.”

“It’sjust… it’s so scary.Whodoes that?Whobutchers an innocent animal like that?”Herbutton nose wrinkles. “Andwhat kind of owl eats dead deer in the daylight?”

Grimacing,Ilook around at the dead mesquite trees beneath a now bluish-gray sky, wondering what—who—the fuck is out there.

“Someonein serious need of therapy,”Irespond. “Andan owl that’s probably sick.”

Orsomething that’s not exactly an owl.

Brandyglances over her shoulder in the direction of the approach, shivering violently despite the heat already sweltering in the high humidity of the day, before looking over at me. “Momsaid you spent the night at the twins’?”

Igrunt. “Wordtravels fast.”

Sheflashes a smile. “I’mthe favorite daughter now.”

“Ha!NotuntilRobputs a ring on that bare finger of yours.”

Igrimace as soon as those biting words leave my mouth.

“Yeah, well.Supposekeeping a man is half the battle for you.”

Icover my mouth, but a snort still escapes me beforeIdevolve into chuckling. “Ouch.Damn, girl.”

Brandychortles, too, our laughter fading into the drone of cicadas. “Whathappened, anyway?”

“Nothinghappened.Icouldn’t sleep, went out for a drive, gaveZ’sdrunk ass a ride whenIsaw him walking home from the bar, and passed out at their place.Nothin’ to it.”

Brandybarks out a laugh, stopping at her car. “Idon’t believe that one bit.”Shelowers her head slightly and asks, “Didyou andZakhook up?”

Ilet out a long, loud groan, walking away. “No, we did not.”

Alifted pickup passes by, honking at us.Probablywarning us to move along since we parked in a no-parking zone.

Istop at my car, turning to findBrandystill eyeballing me suspiciously.

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