Page 41
No thanks.
“It’s not so bad.” She laughed, making me realize my every thought was probably painted across my face. “I mean, I couldn’t do the stuff in the back. I definitely couldn’t do the killing, like they’re going to do in the morning, but I suppose packaging food is no different than opening meat to cook at a restaurant job… And this way, I don’t have to interact with the public.”
“Right. That’s always a bonus.” I sighed, shivering at the topic.
She swatted my shoulder with the back of her fingers, “Kennedy Kohl, are you gonna tell me where you’re going so soon, after a morning in the hospital? I came over here to check on you.”
I shook my head, tapping my fingers on the wheel.
“It was just a migraine. You know the drill.”
She gave a reluctant nod.
“And, the outfit?” She folded her arms looking me up and down.
“Kingston.”
Her eyes widened, she licked her lips and silently nodded.
“What?”
She locked eyes with me but didn’t immediately speak.
“Just be careful, Ken. Please?”
“Always.”
“I’m serious. I don’t like him, and I don’t trust his decisions. I don’t want you ending up in court with him over something foolish or impulsive.”
“You think I’d do foolish or impulsive things with him?”
“No.” She didn’t hesitate to answer, “But anyone can end up in the wrong place, at the wrong time.”
It was sound enough advice, so I didn’t take any offense. A few minutes later, I gave her a side hug and watched her pull away, before I backed out of the driveway.
She was right. I shouldn’t trust myself with him on that bike. I didn’t know how much he’d drank today, or if something would trigger his temper and lead to reckless driving. I decided it was his turn to ride as a passenger, and pointed my car toward Birdman and Kate’s house.
The curtain of one of the trailer windows shifted when I killed the engine, and someone stared out at me. I didn’t even have time to open my door, before Kingston was hurrying down the sidewalk.
“You ready?” he asked, nodding toward his bike.
“I am, but we’re taking this tonight.” I called, stopping him in his tracks at the foot of my car.
He stared back at me, and for a minute, I thought he was going to make a thing of it.
Instead, his lips flipped up in a smile, and he returned, taking a seat on the passenger side. He smiled at me, his lips tight, and his silence thick as I backed the car up.
“You good?” I asked, sparing a glance his way.
“Good? Are you good?” He reached over, teasing the back of his fingers along my arm, until he circled my wrist and his fingers slid between mine.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
He raised my hand and kissed the back of my fingers, drawing my attention to him once more.
His teeth grazed my knuckle and he nodded toward the stop sign ahead, “Turn right and take it out of town.”
“Okay,” I stretched the word, waiting on some clue of where we were going.
