Page 64 of The Price of Love

“What did she say about her feud with Wiz?”

I chuckle. “She didn’t. And I wasn’t stupid enough to ask again.”

“Smart. So that’s it? Nobody knows?”

“Some old-timers claim it was over money. Aces lived in Cinder Ridge, while Wiz came from money. Word was they became friends, but Wiz’s family didn’t approve of the poor scholarship girl, so Wiz stopped hanging out with her.”

“Is it true?”

I shrug. “It could be. Aces came from nothing and made something of herself, and I’m guessing Wiz was born with a silver spoon.”

Shadow stiffens. “Just ’cause her family has money doesn’t make her a bad person. She’s been good to me. Helped me out when I hit bottom.”

I squeeze her hands. “Sorry. I’m not here to diss her. I don’t know what happened between them. Dimples guesses it was because Wiz stole Aces’ girlfriend when they were in college.” I chuckle. “That was just Dimples being an idiot.”

“Yeah, wow.” Shadow laughs. “I’m sure Kent would love to hear that one.”

“Kent?”

“Her husband. They were high school sweethearts and married right after Wiz graduated college.”

I wiggle my eyebrows. “You never know. Some girls go wild when they get to college.”

“Stop.” Shadow laughs and closes her eyes. “I don’t want to imagine Wiz getting it on with some girl.”

“Homophobic?” I tease.

“Yeah, that’s it.” Shadow wrinkles her nose. “It’s like thinking about my parents having sex. Ew.”

I put on a serious face. “Oh, my parents never did.”

Shadow studies me. “Are you adopted?”

“No, but my parents never had sex.” I break into a grin.

“Jerk.”

“I had you going.”

She smiles, but then her face drops. “Back to our complicated situation.”

“Hey, maybe we should talk about our parents having sex.”

She laughs. “Nice try, but we need to talk about it.”

I sigh. “I know. But if you’re gonna tell me this won’t work, I don’t wanna hear it. The Thorns and Graces will just have to deal.”

“Just like the Montagues and Capulets?”

“Who?”

She lets go of my hand and slaps her hand against her chest. “We might’ve overcome our clubs, but I’m not sure I can get past this.”

Now she has me confused, although the name Capulet dings in my head like I should know them.

“Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare,” she says.

“Are you telling me that the motorcycle-riding babe is a Shakespeare fan?”