Playing with Fire

I finished Max’s Cheetos and cracked open his can of Coke, taking a gulp and running my tongue over my teeth.

“I’m gonna have to set some ground rules.”

“Such as?”

“Record the whole thing, so the asshole won’t make excuses when I obliterate him.”

“That’s fair. I’ll pass on the message.”

“And winner takes all.”

“All the money?”

I crushed the empty Coke can in my fist, tossing it into the trash without aiming. “You’ll get your bookie cut.”

I’d done some digging after my fight with Appleton and found out just how much of a shady jackass he was. Blackmail, dog fighting, stalking, and domestic assault took a huge chunk of his internet presence. But the money was too good to pass up. I didn’t mind breaking a rib or two. Hell, dying wouldn’t be so awful either. It wasn’t like anyone around truly gave a crap.

“One last thing—no funny business this time. If I catch him trying to shove fingers into my eye sockets, mouth, or ass, I’m breaking every bone in his body. No exceptions.” I pointed at Max.

He nodded, his tongue almost lapping out. A rabid dog after a meaty bone.

“Sure thing. So, can I tell Shaun it’s on?”

Shaun. I remembered the useless sack of muscles. He looked like every murderer in an eighties movie. A flashback of the moment I got out of the Plaza and heard murmurs from the bushes assaulted my memory. I pushed it away.

And so what if I was being followed? The outcome of the fight didn’t make much difference to me. If they killed me before the fight, tough luck. If not, at least I’d be able to detonate his ass, take the money, give it to my parents and throw them out of my life for good.

“Make it happen.” I rapped the table between us, getting up to leave.

I had a feeling this was going to implode.

Luckily, I didn’t care.

I showed up to work fifteen minutes early. Karlie was there, standing in Texas’ station, filling the bar with sour cream, guacamole, and fajitas. I slouched off my backpack, scowling at her ass.

“What’re you doing here?”

What I’d meant to ask was, where in God’s name was Texas? Had she stopped taking shifts with me now?

I’d apologized. What more did she need? Chocolate and flowers?

Chocolate and flowers. My brain had officially left the building. My dick, however, was in the house and calling all the shots. I wasn’t buying anyone chocolate. Or flowers. Or matching purity rings, goddammit. Tex was just a friend. All I wanted was to have her back as one and, if possible, not get asked by Easton to be the best man at their wedding. Unless he wanted his bride stolen.

Karlie looked up from the sour cream she was pouring, sweeping her intelligent eyes over me. “Grace got the day off.”

“I can see that. Why?”

She set the empty sour cream container aside, wiping her hands over her turquoise That Taco Truck apron.

“I’m sorry, how is it any of your business?” She elevated a manicured eyebrow. That was a good question. I wasn’t entirely sure how to answer that. I just knew it was.

“I’m guessing she shared details about our last hang out with you,” I quipped.

“You’re guessing correctly. A few days late, but I’m now in the loop.”

“And I’m guessing you are not deeply impressed with me at the moment.”

“Also correct. Wow. It’s your lucky day. You should be buying lottery tickets right about now.” She blew a raspberry.

“You’re fucking hilarious, Contreras.”

“And you’re a fucking douchebag,” she quipped back.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Are you sure?” She smiled tauntingly. “’Cause I got a few things I know that might be of interest to you and will spoil your mood.”

I immediately saw what she was getting at.

I turned around, locked the door, then folded my arms and leaned against it, staring her down.

“Is this supposed to scare me?”

“Only if you don’t tell me where she is.”

I had an inkling Grace had gone out with Easton. I also had an inkling Easton was getting murdered tonight by yours truly.

“Get comfortable. Because I ain’t gonna do that.”

“I’ll give you free tickets to the fight next Friday.”

“Oh my God, really?” Karlie put her hands on her heart, squeaking. Her smile dropped immediately. “Hard pass. The beer is gross and you’re not that important.”

I racked my brain to figure out what a girl like Karlie might want in return for information. The answer was obvious. Dick. She wanted to hook up, like everyone else in college. She was with Texas’ crowd. Meaning, she hung out with Bible-thumping virgins who treated the other sex like they were mythical creatures, only to be admired from afar.

Of course. A Bible-thumping girl would go for the whitest, most middle-class guy on campus. I remembered the night Karlie and Grace came to see me fight.

“I’ll throw in a good word with Miles Covington.”

“You don’t know Miles Covington.”

“He’s my errand boy.”

He wasn’t, but I knew him well enough to get him to take her out if need be. Hell, for the right price, I’d have him marry Little Einstein.

She rolled her eyes, her shoulders dropping with a sigh.

“Well, it’s not really a secret, anyway. I just wanted to mess with you.” She excused herself.

I leaned forward, giving her my full attention.

“She went to the movies.” Karlie jutted her chin out. “With Easton Braun.”

There was only one movie theater in this godforsaken town.

I turned around and dashed out, bailing on my shift.

“Hey! Where are you going?” she hollered after me. “I can’t do this on my own!”

“Have a little faith,” I yelled back.

I was getting the fucking girl.

Whether I deserved her or not.

When the teenager with the retainer and unfortunate dad bod asked me what movie I wanted to see behind the box office glass, I pointed at the one with Kate Hudson on the poster.

“M—Mona Lisa a—and the Blood Moon?” he sputtered, pushing his thick glasses up the bridge of his nose.