Page 6 of Slick Trip

“I—no.” His voice wobbled for a fraction of a second before he caught it. He lifted his chin. “I’m fine.”

His eyes were ridiculously blue—and I needed to get my shit together, fast, and stop noticing some random kid’s eye color.

I lit a cigarette and started walking, my heart hammering for no fucking reason. After a few steps, I slowed. “Come on. You were heading this way, right? I am too.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” he snapped, but I could hear the scuff of his sneakers. He was already hurrying after me.

“So, what was that?” he asked, sounding almost exhilarated. “You just go around punching people?”

“The ones who harass kids, yeah.”

“I’m not a kid. I told you, I’m fifteen.”

“Which makes you a kid.”

He shot me an offended look. “I can handle myself. I had the situation under control.”

“Yeah,” I said, unable to hide my amusement. “I saw your control from a block away.”

He fell into step beside me. He was . . . radiant. Expressive. He walked like he couldn’t decide between a strut and a bounce, like there was too much energy trapped in his skin. His rainbow bracelets caught the light every time he gestured, and he gestured a lot. Talked a lot too. He was explaining about a pair of sunglasses he almost stole.

“If you’re trying to impress me with that shit, cut it out,” I said. “Don’t steal.”

“I didn’t,” he said defensively. “And I wasn’t trying to impress you. Why would I want to do that? Anyway, why are you staring at me? I can dress however I want!”

“Didn’t say you couldn’t.”

“What’s your problem, then?” he asked, crossing his arms. I smirked as the tension in my gut gradually began to ease.

“You,” I teased.

“Wow. Rude.” He fell silent. Then, more uncertainly, “Really?”

“No.”

A bright smile lit up his face.

We turned the corner, and he slowed down. “You live around here too?”

“Nope. On my way to meet a friend.”

“Oh. What’s their name?”

“Jack.”

The kid stopped dead. “My brother’s name is Jack.”

I stilled, then forced myself to keep moving. “Yeah?”

I’d heard enough stories about Jack’s menace of a little brother to suspect exactly who this was.

“Yeah.” He blinked, the gears turning. “You play games?”

I nodded.

“Great. So you must be the mystery friend he’s been gaming with. The one he’s always talking about.”

“Looks like it.”