she’s gonna think I’m a freak.”
“Yeah, well, she’s not alone.” I drop her ass in a chair, and she looks around me.
“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’s the worst, Patrick. Save her.” Savvy yawns then repeats, “Save her.”
In the distance, I hear a voice warning, “Money man is here and coming in hard, too.”
I look back and see Harrison trying to feel Truth up. I sprint toward them, yelling her name.
Truth jumps up, stumbles, and instead of kicking his ass, I catch her.
“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.”
“You better get the fuck out of my line of sight now!”
From behind us, I hear Easton say, “Cops are on their way. Get the fuck out.”
“What the fuck are you bringing trouble to our lake for?” Savvy slurs from behind us.
Tobias points at Savvy. “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 and holds out his hand for Truth.
All hell breaks loose, and somehow, I am shoving Truth at Tobias. “Take her with you!”
“No!” she yells back.
“You’re so fucked up right now, Truth, I’m not cool with you getting in trouble.” I look at Tobias, and he nods.
“I wanna stay with you!” Truth yells as Tobias throws her 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 her inside.
I run over and grab her phone. “You’ll be fine, T. No one will know. Just sleep it off until I can get there.”
I look at Tobias as T starts to cry. “I’m fucking trusting you with part of my family.”
“Get Savvy out of here.”
“Truth, I’ll see you soon.” I turn then head to where Savvy is stumbling and call over my shoulder to Truth, “Love you! You’re fine.”
I sprint to Savvy and scoop her up, not slowing down at all. As we hit the edge of the woods, I see lights behind me. “Put your head into my neck to shield your eyes and don’t fucking move.”
“Where’s Truth?”
“Tobias got her out,” I say as I blindingly push past branches.
She makes some sort of bird noise, and I’m about to ask her if she has a mental health diagnosis when someone else makes a similar one.
“Follow that noise,” she whispers.
As soon as we get to them, she slides down, and then we see flashlights and hear the cops using a bull horn or some shit. “Come out with your hands up.”
“Fuck,” Roach whispers.
Everyone here is fucked up. I’ve had a couple of drinks and am pretty sure they’ve worn off.
“Anyone else sober?” I whisper.
“Ant, Flea, and—”
“Tick?” Savvy asks. Serious as shit, too.
“No, but we should have thought of that,” someone says.
“Always time to change it,” one of them suggests.
“Okay, shut up. Who’s sober and who’s legal?”
“We’re sober and legal.”
I want to ask them why the fuck they’re here then.
“I’m gonna cut you, Roach,” Savvy hisses.
“You’re going to shut the hell up,” I snap, because I’ve had enough shit for one night.
“Rude,” she whispers.
“Just my vehicle, Savvy’s, and the three sober dudes with insect names rode together?” I ask.
“Sounds right,” someone says.
“Chloe, call Heather as soon as the four of us walk out. Have her cover for Savvy. Tell her that the van broke down, and that’s why it’s here. You guys stay put until the cops are here, then either have Heather get someone to give you a ride or wait a couple hours till one of you sobers up then get your asses back to the dorms.”
“I’m sober,” Chloe says.
“Then we can just get ticketed and—”
“You can’t do shit,” I cut Savvy off. “Easton was adamant. So, could you possibly do what I said and fucking trust me?”
“Possibly.”
“Not fucking good enough, Savvy.”
The lights get closer, and the cops call out again.
“Fine,” she hisses.
“Good,” I hiss back.
I look around the cell and try to decide whether to just stand here or take the chance of catching some shit and try to get some sleep.
I decide to stand.
“You change your mind about calling your folks or your uncle?” one of the cops asks a-fucking-gain.
“No need to