“It wasn’t,” I say. “But I don’t want this to be about who I’m dating. I don’t want people to think Gideon’s only joining our cause because we’re together.”
She gives me a sly grin. “I’m just saying. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”
forty
Harper Apple
I’ve never been so happy to see Colt. He falls in beside us in the hall, and Dixie drops the line of conversation about Gideon.
“Haven’t seen you on a Friday night in a while,” Colt drawls as we make our way to my locker. “Looks like you’re back to your old shenanigans. Does that mean we’ll see you tonight?”
“Got anything good for me?”
“Only the best,” he says.
I groan. “Merciless? No way. Not for my first time back. I’m out of practice. She’ll kill me.”
He shrugs. “Maybe. It’ll be good money, though.”
“For you,” I point out. “And for her. Not for me. I’ll be in the hospital, and there goes my savings.”
Speaking of, I do need to get back out there, though. I can’t rely on Preston, especially if he’s back to being a demanding dick. And even if he wasn’t, I already know what the DNA test will say. I can’t expect him to support me forever. One day, I’ve got to have enough money to get out of this town, and for most girls like me, that would mean selling myself. Lucky for me, I have a skill. Fighting is my jam.
But overconfidence nearly got me killed by the Dolces, and I have zero interest in making that mistake in a fight. I’m not an even match for Merciless at my best, and I haven’t fought in months.
“Actually, I thought I might go to the game,” I say, arching a brow at Colt and opening my locker. “You in?”
He laughs, leaning against the locker beside mine, looking totally relaxed and sexy with his tattoos on display, since we can wear WHPA t-shirts on Fridays. “Nah, babe,” he says. “But you go watch out for my girl here. Word on the street is that there will be Faulkner kids at the afterparty.”
“And they’re so much worse than Willow Heights kids,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“She might meet some emo dude with a matching dog collar and fall head over heels.”
“I would never,” Dixie squeals.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” I say. “But I’ll intervene if I see her with any bad boys who smoke under the bleachers.”
I give him a wink, but that little phrase I used to describe him must have disappeared with so many of his other memories. He doesn’t smile or anything, just shrugs. “I’m more worried about the football players.”
“I thought you had immunity because of the blog?” I say to Dixie.
“I do,” she says, sliding her hand through Colt’s arm and cuddling up to him. “They wouldn’t risk it.”
“I’m not worried they’ll try to hurt you,” he says, smiling down at her. “I’m worried they’ll try to steal you.”
“Aww, your jealous streak is so cute,” she teases, leaning up to kiss him.
“God, get a room,” Gloria snaps, appearing at my side. “Nobody wants to see bulldogs tongue wrestling in the hall. This is a good school.”
In response, Colt moans and wraps his arms around Dixie, and they start full-on making out.
“What’s up?” I ask Lo, closing my locker.
“Are you going to the game?”
“I was thinking about it,” I say, meeting her eye, lifting my chin in a challenge.
“Ugh, I can’t even concentrate with these slobber goblins sucking the plaque off each other’s teeth right beside us,” she says. “Can we walk?”