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“Has it?”
“I’m out, man. Totally worthless. What would I do for you guys?”
“We take care of our own.”
Then why the hell had one of my so-calledbrothersbeaten me within an inch of my life? “I know that. I got you, but I can’t jump back in, man. Look at me.”
Please believe me. Please. Let things go.
The thought of him evenlookingat Lizzie that way. She’d been through some shit, she didn’t need anyone like Scott sniffing around. Or me for that matter. But for sure not Scott and his gang ties.
“True that. But—”
“But nothing. He doesn’t remember shit,” Drey said, his voice tight. “Tell Walker to back off. There’s nothing to worry about here.”
A long span of silence had my hackles up. Not that I could defend myself very well right now, but the tension rode the airwaves like a serrated knife.
“Stop eye-fucking me, man,” Drey said, then grunted. “Don’t think I won’t kick your ass right here.”
Scott laughed. “Walker said you were always a hothead.”
“Then you know not to light me up.” Shuffling followed, and I envisioned Drey pushing Scott.
“Take it easy man,” Scott said. “We’re good, for now.”
It was thatfor nowaddition to the sentence that told me we were totally screwed.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lizzie
“I’vemissedyou,Damon.Seeing you on Facetime isn’t the same,” I said, swinging our joined hands.
The summer sun warmed my exposed arms, but not too much yet. The humidity was coming, or so they told me.
“This is my first Minnesota summer. Any tips?” I asked.
“Watch out for the state bird, it’ll suck you dry.” Damon laughed as he tapped his walking stick lightly against the asphalt path.
“You’re getting good at that.”
“Been practicing.” His big sunglasses reflected my face. “Been kinda preoccupied with that these past couple of weeks.”
“That’s good, right? I mean, you’re doing well. That’s awesome.” But I wanted to be a part of it. Wanted to help. I hated that he’d been so distant these past few weeks.
Especially after that run-in with that Scott guy. It’d been almost three weeks, and I still got the creeps thinking about it.
“You know this lake, I used to hang out here a lot when I was a kid,” Damon said. “Drey and I. We’d play Frisbee, or basketball. Hang out with our buddies. Anything to pass the time. Or stay out of the house if Mom was home.”
“Was it bad? I mean, when she was home?”
“Depends on if she had a guy, which she usually did. And it depended on whether or not that guy liked to hit.” He shrugged. “Hey. Sun feels nice. What are you wearing?”
“White tank, tan shorts, and blue shoes.”
He smiled and gave me a little nod. No smart comment or joke about what I was wearing. There was something different with him. He was calmer.
“So, what made today the day to be with me? In person that is.”
