Page 149 of Challenge Me

“That’s where you’re wrong. If you want to be partners, you have to embrace the ‘partners’ part of it.”

I thought about what he’d said. Amir wasn’t as defiant as Trav. The latter seemed to have no fear, whereas Amir liked to play it safe. He had a family to think about, plus he didn’t have the same sort of backing online. There were at least a million people who would go to war for Trav.

Resting the spoon in the carton, I got to my feet. “How does my hair look?”

“Gallantly messy. Where are we going?”

“To document this little shindig. We have to give the people want they want.”

“Did you say shindig? You’re a weird guy.”

“You said gallantly.”

“It’s a good word.”

“So is shindig. You should fix your hair.”

He ran a hand through it. “What’s wrong with it?”

I shrugged. “Imagine being the ugliest one in the video.”

When he scoffed, I turned around and flung open the door, taking a breath as I prepared for another episode of this damn circus. With a little bit of bread, the populace might remain blissfully unaware of the dismal state of the world around them.

Until the barbarians came, but that was a problem for another day.

Chapter 40

Amir

“You ready?” I asked, looking at Mal in the rearview mirror.

Without a word, she opened the door and stepped onto the curb. I hurried to join her, making sure there were no cars coming.

“I know how to cross,” she said.

“But people don’t always know how to drive.”

She ignored my outstretched hand, which triggered a pang in my chest. In two short months, she’d be ten, and I guess that meant I had to start accepting her growing independence. Still, there would always be a part of me that saw the quiet but strong-willed little girl who used to run to the door when I got home and hug me around the knees.

I stretched my arm in front of her before she could open the door. Stepping off to the side, I put my phone to my ear and called Remi.

“What happened?” he answered.

“Why’d you start off with that?”

“Why else would you call me if not for some tragedy?”

“It’s your birthday, dumbass.” Before Mal could scold me, I put my finger to my lips.

“Oh. We talked this morning before your game.”

“I want to talk again. And maybe I have a surprise for you.”

“You’re kidding.”

The upward lilt of his voice made my chest swell. “It’s in your office.” I waited a second. “Are you going?”

“Yeah, I’m here. What am I looking for?”