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“Can we talk?” I ask, glancing at the notorious drug king who graduated from Faulkner High, the public school across town. I’ve never had an actual conversation with the guy, but I know he’s a creep. Dawson used to buy from him, and now Rylan does, thanks to me getting him involved in Dolce business. Baron makes sure to control all the important people at Willow Heights, even the ones who aren’t in the popular crowd, so he’s damn sure got our school’s dealer under his thumb. Not to mention Baron’s a bit of a chemist himself.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Colin says in his Irish accent that would make me stupid if I didn’t know better. “What can I get for you?”
“Hey, Colin,” I say, forcing a smile. “I was actually talking to Rylan, but how are you?”
“Not too bad,” he says. “I heard about your brother. Shame about that.”
“What’s up?” Rylan asks, dragging on his cigarette.
“Since when do you smoke?” I ask.
He shrugs one shoulder and glances at Colin from the corner of his eye. “Since whenever.”
I roll my eyes at Rylan’s attempt to look cool. He’s obviously trying to impress the older boy, which isn’t surprising. Half the girls in town swoon over Colin’s accent, and he’s got the looks, money, and bad boy reputation to go with it. It’s a lethal combination not just for girls, apparently.
“I’m surprised you’re at a high school dance,” I say to Colin.
“I saw Royal Dolce inside,” he points out. “Guess I’m not the only pervert who likes to pick up high school chicks.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Royal is here with Harper, not creeping for dates.”
“I’m here with Amber,” Colin says with an easy grin.
I gape at Rylan. “You set your sister up with this guy?”
“Hey,” Colin says, smirking down at me. “I’m a nice guy.”
“Right,” I say, drawing out the word. “Even you know that’s not true.”
He laughs and claps Rylan on the back. “She’s straight shooter,” he says. “I can respect that. Go home with her. I’m going to find a freshman and ruin her life.”
Rylan startles and then gives me a belligerent look, as if daring me to confront him. Not only is Colin notorious for selling to street dealers, but he’s got a reputation for getting violent at the drop of a hat and sleeping with much younger girls. Which makes him a role model for half of Faulkner’s male population.
“Just leave Amber alone,” Rylan says.
“She left with your stepbrother ten minutes ago,” Colin says. “Haven’t you been watching?”
Rylan glowers at him. “You sell him anything?”
“That’s your job,” Colin says, holding up his hands. “I’m just here for the jailbait.”
“I still want to check out your uncle’s studio,” Rylan says, pushing off the car and tossing his cigarette on the ground. “Hit me up when you want to play together.”
They clasp hands and slap each other on the back in one of those bro-hugs, something I never thought I’d see Rylan do. He’s usually scornful of overly gendered gestures, but apparently Colin’s grooming him in the ways of toxic masculinity.
“You know that guy is a pedo in the making,” I say when I’m behind the wheel of my June Bug.
“Your date spent the first month of school fucking all the freshman at Willow Heights,” Rylan points out.
“Okay,” I say. “I just thought you should know, since you’re new to Faulkner and might not know about him. I’m the one who got you involved in that, so it seems like my job to warn you.”
“So you’re pissed that I have a friend you didn’t choose for me?”
“No,” I say, glancing at him as I pull out of the lot. “I’m just concerned for you. He’s not a very nice person, and I’d hate to see you or Amber get hurt.”
“Because your crowd is just brimming with good people,” he mutters.
“You’re right,” I say. “That was hypocritical. I’m sorry.”
