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“What the hell does that mean? There’s still Josie and Adam. I’m not done here.” I squeeze her thin fingers. “Go or you’ll miss your bus. I’ll be joining you before you know it.”
She sighs, nods. “I’ll be waiting for you.”
“You do that. Who else will watch weird TV shows with you, huh?”
She smiles, a watery smile, and nods again. “Where will you sleep when it gets too cold on the street? Josie and Adam have a roof over their heads, at least.”
Yeah, I’ve tried not to think about that. “Oh, you know. Here and there. The Club.”
She’ll be fine, that’s what counts. Josie and Adam, too.
“Come here.” She tugs on my hand, then throws her arms around me, surprising me with a hug. “You’re the best, Jay-bug. And my friend. Don’t let yourself get hurt, okay?”
A little too late for that, I think as she pulls back and grabs her suitcase again. The other, heavier one is already inside the coach. She waves and smiles. “Bye, Jay-Bug! See you soon!”
I lift my hand to wave back, the weight on my chest preventing me from drawing breath. God, my eyes burn. This sucks.
I’ll see her again. Soon. I just have to… take care of everyone. And everything. And somehow find a way out for myself, too.
A fucking miracle, maybe. Because after I’ve sent everyone off, then… Then what should I do?
The weight on my chest grows as I watch the coach roll out of the parking lot, and pass my arm over my eyes, just in case, but there are no tears.
Good. So now…
“Jason!” The familiar voice has me jerking around with its urgency. “Jason!”
“Right here. What’s up, Josie?”
A welcome distraction.
She comes jogging up to me, her short dark hair glinting with streaks of silver and metallic blue. Her long coat is blue, too, covering what I know is a sexy outfit—silver shorts over fishnet tights, boots, and a tiny top.
She stops and bends over, panting. “Your friend,” she manages.
“What friend?”
Mayleen’s gone. Josie and Adam are good kids, but we’re not as close. I don’t have any friends left.
Stop it. Mayleen will be happy. She’ll probabl
y forget about you in a few days, too.
I rub a hand over my face.
“You okay?” Josie finally straightens. “Your eyes are red.”
“It’s the wind.” I wave a hand at her. “What was the urgency?”
“It’s that guy you wanted me to tail.”
Raine? “Not to tail, Jos, just to keep an eye on.”
“Whatever. The tall, blue-eyed hottie. That one.”
I reluctantly nod. So he’s hot. So what. “What about him?”
“I think he’s in trouble.”
