AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His gaze burrows into me. “See? I’m right. And it’s a good thing, too, considering our line of work can get intense.” He rotates back around in the seat as the line moves.
“So, I guess we’re eating here then,” Jax says as Zay drives forward with the line as it moves.
“As long as Hunter gets us all out of detention,” Zay replies as he stops with the line.
“You know I’m good for that.” Hunter fiddles with the leather band on his wrist. “But we need to make sure this one’s on board.” He looks at me. So do Zay and Hunter.
It’s kind of a lot to take in, all three of them looking at me. And I know they’re not just asking me if I’m good to be a little late for school. They want to know if I accept their job offer. I want to. Boy, do I want to. I’ve wanted to work and earn money for a very long time. I just don’t want this to be a favor to me.
“You promise you’ll make me work my butt off?” I double-check. “I have to feel like I’m earning my keep or it’s going to bother me.”
Hunter grins deviously. “I can definitely make sure you work your pretty ass off.”
Zay nudges him in the side. “Easy with the flirting.”
I’d probably be a bit embarrassed by his innuendo—I think that’s what it was anyway—but I’m good at hiding that particular emotion.
Hunter gives him an innocent look. “I wasn’t flirting. I was just answering her question.”
“You’re always flirting,” Jax mutters from beside me while staring out the window.
Hunter flicks a look in his direction, but Jax remains focused on the window.
“So, do we have a deal?” Zay interrupts, meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror.
I hesitate. Do I do it? Do I accept this job and just cross my fingers that they won’t act like I owe them afterward? I’m not sure.
Then, as if fate decided to bitch-smack me in the face, I receive a text message, and it reminds me of the one I received earlier that I never checked, you know, the one that got this whole conversation about money started.
I quickly glance at it, wondering if it’s Harlow. Nope. One message is from my aunt and another is from Dixie May.
Aunt: You’ll be locked out of the house when you get home. I have to go to the city for the day, and I’m not going to just leave the door unlocked just because you need a place to stay. I won’t be home until late, and Dixie May will be home at about seven or so because she has cheerleader tryouts. You’ll have to hang out on the front porch until someone can let you in.
Me: Can’t you just leave me a key underneath the mat?
Aunt: Like I’m going to just let you be inside our house by yourself. You’ll probably steal everything.
Her words throw me off a bit. Does she know about the drugs I stole from my uncle? Because I always assumed she wasn’t even awarehewas stealing them.
Not knowing what else to do, I reply with a:Fine. Then I move on to the next message.
Dixie May: You must think you’re so special, but I promise you I’m going to get you back for embarrassing me in front of those guys this morning. Just you wait. I’m going to get you when you least expect it.
Jokes on her since I always expect that from her.
“Raven?”
Hunter’s questioning tone brings my attention back to him.
He’s looking at me expectantly, and I’m not sure why.
I pull an apologetic face. “Um … Sorry, I wasn’t listening. What did you say?”
His brows crease, his gaze flitting from the phone in my hand to me. “I asked if you were in or not.”
Oh. Yeah. Right. The job offer.
After reading those texts, I want to now more than ever. I want to end having to rely on that family so, so much. And these guys, they seem nice enough. At least nicer than my aunt, uncle, and bratty cousin. So, crossing my fingers that I won’t regret this decision, I nod. “Yeah, I’m in.”
