someone says.
“Fuck! That’s the cops, man.”
“Chill. There’s like three sets of headlights. If three cop cars are rolling in, I’m gonna guess we’re fucked anyway.”
Patrick. That was Patrick.
“Nah, man, that’s not the cops; that’s the boys. It’s fucking payday.”
“I wanna go home,” I groan as I push myself up.
Patrick sighs. “Yeah, that shit’s not happening, Sally Stoner.”
“Help me up,” I say, slapping at him, his voice—something.
“You’d be better off staying still, sleeping it off.”
“I don’t want the cops to catch me, Patrick. I don’t want them to,” I whine as everything spins.
“It’s not the cops; it’s those fucking assholes,” Savvy jumps in. “Who told them we were here?”
“Gotta get paid, Savvy. Been a fucking week.”
Who’s paying what? I wonder.
“Couldn’t you have waited one more fucking day? Jesus, this place is sacred. A paradise hidden from the capitalists. You assholes just invited the enemy here.”
“Calm down, Savvy.”
Harrison?
“Fuck you, Harry.”
“Harrison is here?” I try to push myself up.
Savvy snaps, “Yeah. Now this place is—”
“Savvy, your drama is daunting. Save it.”
I force my heavy eyes open to see Harrison crouch down beside me.
“What have we here?”
“Back off, buddy. I’m joining the revolution. Fuck capitalism.”
“Someone’s had a few too many libations.” He helps me sit up.
“I want more vi … viv … vibrations. Less brownies.”
“Never took you as a battery-operated boyfriend fan or a cannabis girl, Miss Steel.”
“Don’t judge me. I love THC.”
“It’s obviously an unrequited love,” he says, moving behind me then pulling me back. “Much like ours.”
“Tricks, he’s got your cousin between his legs!” Savvy yells.
“No need to worry, Patrick. She’s between mine; I’m not between hers.” He whispers in my ear, “Yet.”
“Probably not gonna happen.”
“I’ll take that over definitely.”
I lay my head back. “Can you stop the spinning?”
“We’re not spinning.”
“Everything is spinning. I hate it.”
He rests his chin on my shoulder. “Picture the world as your music box. You’re at its center, pirouetting.”
“With no talent and a messed-up ankle?”
“You’re extremely talented, and your ankle will heal.”
“You gave me mean stage notes.”
His chest rumbles against my back. “I gave you the most notes. Much different than mean.”
“Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” he asks, running his lips across my shoulder, pushing my shirt aside so his skin is touching mine. I like the feeling. The feeling of being touched in the darkness. “Miss Steel?”
“Shh …” I whisper as I close my eyes, trying to picture the face of the man whose lips I wish were on me.
He presses his lips against my skin. “This okay?”
“Mmmhmm.”
I feel his hand snake around my waist. “So fucking tight, just like I knew it was. You have a beautiful body, Miss Steel.”
“Say my name,” I whisper as I put my hand over his and slowly move it up.
In the distance, I hear a voice warning, “Money man is here and coming in hard, too.”
“What the fuck?”
Shit, Patrick.
I jump, expecting him to be looming over me—us—catching me in the act.
“Harrison, no.” I pull his hand away.
“At some point, I’m going to grow tired of this little cat and mouse chase you seem to enjoy, Miss Steel, and then it may be too late.”
It already is.
My eyes attempt to adjust to the headlights that are now a foot away from me and shining in my eyes when I hear a door slam.
“Cops are on their way. Get the fuck out.”
Tobias.
“What the fuck are you bringing trouble to our lake for?” Savvy yells.
“Jesus, Savvy. Someone get her the fuck out of here, or she’ll end up in jail again.”
“None of us can fucking drive, man!” someone yells.
“Then throw your illegal shit and take a trespass ticket.” He storms toward me.
“Don’t you fucking touch her,” Harrison says as Tobias grabs my hand.
I try to pull it away. “Fuck you. I hate—”
He yanks me up. “I’m aware.”
“Unhand her!” Harrison yells.
“Guessing you’ve got about thirty Gs in your vehicle and no withdrawal slip to explain why since no money has touched my account. You may want to get the fuck gone.”
“You threw a fight. You lost us money,” Harrison hisses at him.
Tobias laughs angrily. “I’m not getting arrested, so I’m out.”
“Take her with you!” Patrick yells.
“No!” I yell back.
“You’re so fucked up right now, Truth,” Patrick says as if his words hurt him.
“I wanna stay with you!” I yell as Tobias throws me over his shoulder. “Patrick! Dad, Mom, Justice are going to—”
“I’m not saying shit. Go to his place. Toss me your phone.”
“No!”
Tobias opens the door to an old Ford Bronco and drops me inside. I try to open the door as Patrick runs