"Actually," Knix announced, "we were just stopping by to pick up Josh andHarlow."
"Harlow?” Erika frowned as she glanced over at me. "Have you met JCbefore?"
I glanced at him, taking in his worried expression and the sweat dotting his brow. "Only briefly," I answered with agrimace.
"Your boss?" she asked. I nodded. "Oh...I was hoping you could have stayedlonger."
I winced. "I'm sorry," I replied. "The guys were going to take me to the hospitallater."
"I understand," she said. "I'd offer, but...my dad has thetruck."
I hugged her. "It's noproblem."
"Here let me get your bag." Erika hurried towards the couch and I elbowed Josh. He looked at me with eyes so wide, the whites were practically oozing from hiseyeballs.
"Tell her goodbye and that you'll see her soon," Iwhispered.
"I-I..." hestuttered.
I sighed and grabbed his shirt, tugging him down so that I could whisper directly into his ear. "You're probably going to rehab," I assured him. "You don't have to tell her if you don't want to, but Grayson says that he'll pay for it. We're not the cops. If you give the stuff to Grayson to give back to the people you took it from, no one else has toknow."
He slowly leaned away and I waited patiently. His expression didn't ease, but he nodded as Erika grabbed my bag and returned with it in her outstretched hand. I took it and thanked her, stepping back to give her privacy with herboyfriend.
"Baby," he said, taking her hand. "I'm...uh...gonna go away for awhile."
"I know, silly, you already told me that," she chastisedhim.
"Right, yea, I did. But...ah...I didn't, I might not be able to call you very often. It's gonna be for a few weeks." He glanced at Grayson, who had lifted the duffel and held it under his arm. "Maybe a fewmonths."
"Oh." Erika's gaze strayed to the floor. "That's...uh...a longtime."
"I want you to wait for me," he said. "I don't want us to be over. I'll try to call as often as I can, but...I don't know when that mightbe."
Erika sighed and dropped his hand to cup his face. She lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed him soundly. "You're so stupid sometimes, Joshua Caruso," she said. "Of course, I'll wait foryou."
Josh ripped her up from the floor and kissed her again, holding her close to his chest. I grimaced. It was gross watching my best friend make out with someone that looked way too much like Grayson. I turned away and stepped out the door, leaving the guys to sort the rest out. At least I knew Grayson would make sure his brother was taken care of and Erika was happy. The rest could be dealt withtomorrow.
Marv swooped in and threw an arm over my shoulder. "Ready to head home?" heasked.
"Aren't you going to stay behind and figure stuff out?" Iasked.
He shrugged. "That's Knix's deal. I'm off for the rest of theday."
"I can see that," I said, smirking at his dress attire. His suit coat was gone, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and the top two buttons undone. He almost lookedcasual.
"What?" he asked as I shook myhead.
"Nothing, Marv," I laughed, opening the back door to theSUV.
He stopped me before I could get in. "Let's take the BMW," he suggested, nodding toward the dark BMW I had first met him in. "I'll drive you over to the hospital to check on your mom. Knix and the rest can catchup."
I shrugged and followed Marv to the BMW. He opened my door for me, and it felt like old times, sliding into the interior and smelling the clean car scent. I relaxed into the headrest and drifted as Marv got in and turned the ignition. As we pulled away from the curb, I watched Knix and Grayson lead Josh out into the yard. Knix opened the back door and ushered him inside, while Grayson went for the hunter green convertible that must have been his brothers. He looked up and caught me looking as we pulled away. I could have sworn he winked atme.
What a cockyasshole.