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“Get your phone out and text Duke. Tell him to meet us at O’Reilly’s.”
“We’re going to O’Reilly’s?” she asked, her eyes lit with excitement.
“A champion fighter needs a meal fit for a champ, and I know how you love their corned beef and cabbage.”
Her shoulders slumped and her lips quivered. “You’re not mad at me?”
“For defending yourself against a horrible shit bag? No. I’m not mad at you for that.” I sighed. “I wish your grades weren’t in the shitter. I wish you weren’t suspended.”
“Tell me about it. Summer school is gonna blow.”
“Call it your penance.”
“I’ll take it,” she said quickly. “Just as long as we’re okay.”
“We’re okay. Though I gotta admit, I feel like I’m failing you.”
“You’re the only one who isn’t failing me. Well, you and Dylan. Jessica’s parents are definitely going to make us stop hanging out.”
“Can you blame them?” I asked. “Sneaking out. Parties. And now a second suspension. Actions have consequences.”
“But you said you understood!”
“I do understand. Doesn’t mean the systems already in place in the world care, though.” I exhaled. “Look, Waverly, there’s a lesson to be learned here.”
“Violence isn’t the answer?” she parroted.
“We don’t live by the same rules as the Cal Riskins of the world.”
I watched the light of understanding enter her eyes. “Oh.”
“Yeah. I hate that it’s that way, but it’s true.”
“So people like shitty Cal Riskin can say whatever they want? Why, because his daddy will protect him at all costs?”
“Cal is not better than you. But the world treats those of his echelon differently.”
“That’ssounfair.”
“That’s life. We were dealt a different hand.”
“You’re not even mad about what Cal said about you?” Waverly asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“What do you think I heard all through high school, Waverly? This isn’t new to me. This isn’t the first time someone said something stupid just because of how we grew up or because our mom isour mom.”
She noodled on that for a moment and then texted Duke. A few seconds later, her phone chimed back. “He said he’s with Savage and they’ll meet us there. Do those two ever do anything separately?”
“Infrequently,” I admitted.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard the story of how you guys met. I just remember them always being around. Like alley tomcats that won’t go away.”
I threw her a grin. “I’m glad they’re hard to shake.”
“Yeah,” she said, suddenly serious. “Me too.”
