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He says nothing as he expertly pinches the clasp between his fingers and fastens it to the other end. I allow him to do it, even as I pray he doesn’t notice the way my breath catches when his fingertips brush my skin.
“Thanks,” I mumble and move my hand behind my back as if it has betrayed me.
A brief smirk skims across his face and then he shifts his weight with a sigh.
“I shouldn’t have yelled at you yesterday.”
It’s not exactly an apology but at least it’s pretty close.
“You didn’t yell. You were being your usual bad-mannered self but you didn’t yell.”
He doesn’t fire back an answer. The look on his face is now troubled, as if he’s struggling with the thought that I might dislike him.
“I don’t understand you, Beltran.”
I told him that last night and it’s true. Most of the guys I know, whether they are from Black Mountain or Devil Valley, are fairly easy to decipher. They are driven by sex or sports or ambition or cruelty or fear. Most times a combination of these. But Ben is different. The more I watch him the less I can figure out what drives him.
A shadow falls across the door and I look over to see the McGill brothers are standing just on the other side of the glass. Alex gestures and appears to be arguing with his brother Damian, who shakes his head, spits on the concrete and stalks away. Alex glowers for a few seconds and finally follows.
When I look over at Ben his eyes are narrowed and his right hand is balled into a fist as he watches the McGills retreat.
“They’ve always been a pair of shit stains,” I tell him. “Believe me, I’ve known them since elementary school. Alex has got to be nearly twenty now. I think he was left back twice.”
Ben’s fist relaxes and he snorts out a laugh. “Shit stains, huh?”
I grin. “Yup. See? I can be vulgar when I choose to be.”
His expression changes and his eyes conduct a quick scan of my body in a way that makes my cheeks grow hot. “That’s good to know.”
I clear my throat to chase away the sudden shift in mood. “Uh, you never did tell me exactly what happened the day the McGills followed me in here.”
Ben scratches his head and acts like he’s thinking. “Not sure I remember.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m positive you remember, Ben.”
“Maybe.”
“So?”
“So what?”
“Cut it out. What did you do to get them to leave me alone?”
“What did I tell you I did to get them to leave you alone?”
“You said you gave them free potato chips. Quit being evasive.”
“Evasive. Ha!”
“Don’t you know what it means?”
“Of course I know what it means. It’s just a snotty bullshit word to use.”
“Why don’t you answer the question?”
“I already forgot the question.”
I’m losing my patience. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO GET THE MCGILLS TO LEAVE ME ALONE?”
