My stomach clenched as my gaze fell on my friends, the three guys that a few years ago, would have taken a bullet for me. I’d hidden everything from them, the sickness of my mind, and the torture from my father. Returning to Elite was a shit idea, but I had no choice.
The girls, or wives as I liked to call them, all filed out of the car. First Mo, Nixon’s sister and Tex’s wife, her long dark hair pulled into a high ponytail. She waved at me. I didn’t wave back. Didn’t feel the need to release Bee’s hand, and my other arm was busy twitching with the insane need to grab her other. Right, so I was preoccupied.
Trace followed Mo and launched herself into Nixon’s arms. I fought a smile. Ever since our little training session, things hadn’t been as strained between us. I could almost view her as a friend instead of a victim. But sometimes at night, her face still came to me as a nightmare, and for that reason alone, I kept a healthy amount of space between us.
Mil, my stepsister, performed an elaborate fake gag as she followed Trace and then kissed Chase so aggressively I almost reached for my gun. I kept forgetting they were married, and I still had a hard time when he mauled her in front of me. As usual, his eyes found mine after he kissed her, and a mocking grin spread across his face.
All in all, a great start to the day. Super great shitty start.
Nixon walked slowly toward me. Hands in pockets, check. Aviators, check. Large gun bulging from the holster against his back, check. Pissed off look, check. Damn. It.
“You guys good?” he asked, directing the question more to Bee than myself.
She nodded and moved closer to me, just as Tex approached, his eyes focused in on our clenched hands. When I tried to pull mine away, Bee stomped on my foot. I winced and looked heavenward while Tex choked on his laughter.
“We’re awesome!” Bee said a bit too forced, if you asked me. “And Phoenix taught me all about how to make friends last night, so I’m good to go!”
“He did?” Nixon asked dryly. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope!” Bee just kept on talking even when I communicated with her via telepathy to shut the hell up.
Tex shoved his hands in his pockets and tilted his head in what I could only assume was amusement at my expense. “And what great wisdom did Phoenix impose on you, little sis?”
“Well…” Her grin was evil.
Please God, let the drugs or whatever mood she’d woken up in be out of her system. Mute. Let her be mute. Amen.
“When I want to get a guy’s attention, all I have to do is smile and wave.”
I drew a cautious breath. So far, so good.
“And if that doesn’t work, I unbutton a few buttons and wink!”
Tex growled. Out loud. Like a dog. His cold gaze flickered from the blouse to me, the threat evident in his icy, dark blue eyes.
“Oh, and he also said that if someone offers me a drink, I should always take it and drink the whole thing so I don’t offend them.”
I closed my eyes, willing an asteroid to hit the earth.
“He also said a lot of stuff about shaking my ass and jumping on tables, but I kind of tuned out after he turned on the stripper music. I mean, I think we were both pretty distracted by that point, hmm, Phoenix?”
I opened one eye then the other.
Tex looked ready to rip my body in half… at least three times for good measure, and Nixon looked like he was only too willing to help just in case Tex had a problem pulling my skin from my bones.
“And when that didn’t work…” Bee huffed. “…he said to look up Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
Both Tex and Nixon burst out laughing.
I didn’t.
I’d been serious! In my opinion, there was nothing better than watching Daniel the Tiger tell a little kid how to make a friend and not be shy. But whatever; her loss. That shit had gotten me through elementary school when I was too small to beat anyone up… when I was too small to defend myself against my dad’s wrath.
Bee finally dropped my hand. “I’ll be fine, brother. You worry too much. And Nixon, stop frowning. You look possessed.”
“He is.” Tex coughed the words into his hand.
“Hilarious.” Nixon elbowed him. “You sure you’re going to be okay? I know things haven’t been easy.”
“I have Phoenix,” Bee said simply, making me feel about two feet tall because I wasn’t prideful enough to think that would be enough to get her through. I would never be enough.
The guys fell silent for a minute.
Bee challenged them all with a look, sticking up for me and making me feel like I’d been castrated all at the same time.
“You’re right,” Nixon said finally, nodding. “Just keep him close.”
I could have really done without that last part.
Closeness wasn’t going to help the situation. Distance. That was what I needed.
“And call us…” Tex added. “…if anything happens, like you get scared or… something.” He shifted on his feet awkwardly.
Bee slapped him on the shoulder. “I promise that if the big bad bullies chase me down the hall and call me stupid, I’ll text you to pick me up, but Phoenix brought his gun, so I think we’re good.”
“You do know that’s illegal, right?” Tex asked.
I released Bee’s hand and crossed my arms. “You do know that’s your sister… right?”
“And that’s our cue.” Nixon’s eyebrows shot up as he pulled Tex away from us. “Have fun, Bee, and remember the girls are all upperclassmen, but you can always hang with them in between classes.”