Page 95 of Hellbent

Exclamations crowded in on him.

“—not gonna buy you a toy every single time we go to the—”

“—I was already backing up! I saw the reverse lights before I was past the—”

“—not the kind your mom uses, thank God, or the powder room would smell like the potpourri Olympics—”

And then, mercifully, Joey was there. A few bags dangled from either arm. She was regarding his face with what seemed to be amusement.

“Let’s go,” Evan said.

“Aw. You’re all uncomfortable like. That’s so cute.”

“Joey.”

“Okay, okay.”

“You got the cable.”

She smacked her forehead with her palm. “Shoot. I knew I forgot something.”

He felt himself blanch. “Really?”

“No.” She smiled that luminous smile. “Of course I have it. Let’s get you away from the big, scary discount retailer.”

He gritted his teeth and turned for his truck.

That’s when he saw Mia and Peter climbing out of Mia’s Acura.

He stiffened. Turned back to Joey. Her face grew serious. “What’s wrong?” she said.

“Nothing. Someone I can’t see here. Now. With you. Go there. Pretend you’re … I don’t know, playing on the ride.”

Joey took in the coin-operated kiddie rides. “The choo-choo train?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sixteen.”

“I don’t care.”

“You don’t know much about kids, do you?”

He put a hand on her side, hustled her toward the front of the store.

“Lemme help you out,” Joey said. “I’ll just pretend I’m playing on my phone.”

“Okay. Fine. Good.”

From behind him he heard Peter’s raspy voice: “Evan Smoak!”

He turned as Mia and Peter approached.

Mia said, “Evan?”

“Hi.”

“Wait. I didn’t think you knew where Target was. Lemme guess—there’s a sale on vodka?”