“Bee…” I crossed my arms. “…how was your night?”
“Uneventful,” Phoenix answered for her. “Are you packed, Bee?”
Their exchange was different than usual; she stood a good distance away from him. Normally she was all over him, taunting like a puppy with a chew toy.
She nodded. “Yup.”
Phoenix grabbed another cup, poured some coffee, and took a large sip.
“I even packed condoms just in case.”
Coffee spewed out of his mouth and onto the counter.
“Hmm… whatever did I say?” She shrugged, her eyes dancing with laughter.
“Bee…” Phoenix set his coffee down and wiped his face with a nearby towel. “Stop screwing around. Remember what we discussed.”
“You mean last night?” She tilted her head again.
And shit just got interesting. “Last night?” I repeated.
“In bed.” Bee winked in my direction.
“Before bed,” Phoenix corrected.
“Or was it after?” Bee added with a wink.
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” Phoenix asked, his voice low. “You have to push and push and push until—”
“Boom.” Bee’s eyes widened. “Until you break, yes, yes I do.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Bee.” I cleared my throat. “This one’s already broken, been that way for quite some time.”
“I’m good with a hammer.” She winked. “Phoenix, you good with nailing things?”
“Shit…” I whistled under my breath. “Bee, take it easy on him, I hate the guy, and even I feel sorry for him if this is what he puts up with every day. Your brother’s going to murder him before the year’s out if you keep it up.”
“Maybe that’s her plan.” Phoenix looked heavenward. “Have her brother kill me so I don’t have to fall on my own knife and all that.”
“Don’t be dramatic.” Bee sighed. “I was kidding… at least about the condoms. Lighten up, boys!” She floated out of the room, carrying her laughter with her.
“Damn.” I whistled. “She’s getting worse.”
“Day Four.” Phoenix braced himself against the counter. “I’m on Day Four.”
“Killing never looked so easy, am I right?” I teased.
Phoenix returned my smile with one of his own. “Too right. Hold the fort down while we’re gone this weekend. I’ll take my cell and make sure to tail Pike for anything suspicious.”
“Good.”
Phoenix was just about to step out of earshot when I yelled, “Hey, can you look out for a girl named Andi too? You know, just in case.”
Phoenix would be wise not to read into that. He simply paused and then asked, “Last name?”
“Smith.”
“Typical.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Any reason I’m tailing a freshman girl?”
“Let’s call it a feeling…”
“Yeah, I don’t know what those are.” Phoenix barked out a laugh. “But I’ll take your word for it.”
“Do that.”
He left.
I sat and felt more relaxed than I had all evening. I might not like Phoenix, but I trusted him to get the job done; he’d do whatever it took to protect family, and I counted on him for that. So did everyone else.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Watching Phoenix drink hot coffee? Nothing sexier.
Bee
“HOW’S THE STARBUCKS, PHOENIX? Is it everything you ever dreamed and more? Do you want to take a dive into the danger zone and dedicate your body to coffee when you die?”
“I’m curious.” He set his latte down in the cup holder. “Do you come up with this stuff on the spot? Or is it hours of deciding the best way to push my buttons.”
“I like buttons.”
“Bee…”
“And pushing.”
“No shit.” He rolled his eyes. “Drink your coffee, play nice, remember the deal.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I sighed and took a sip of my macchiato. “Are we there yet?”
“I could always drug you.”
“I took a no-drugs pledge when I was six. Thanks anyway.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“Ha!” I slapped my knee. “Someone’s got jokes this morning. I think you’re chipper because you woke up on the right side of the bed… with me on the left. That’s what I think.”
“And you’re delusional.” He sighed and took a left. The sign above the road said Starving Creek Rock, and right next to it a white banner fluttered with the words Welcome Elite Freshman scrawled across it in electric blue.
“They’re going to make us do icebreakers, aren’t they?”
“Oh, yeah.” Phoenix let out a low chuckle. “Make sure you have your favorite color and pizza ready at any given time… oh, and it helps to know your potential major and who your parents are.”
My stomach sank.
“If they ask just say you spontaneously burst onto the scene via a miracle and leave it at that.” He reached his hand across the console and tapped my leg then jerked it back as though it were on fire.
“Were you just trying to comfort me?” I asked boldly, taking in his rigid profile. The dark long-sleeved shirt hugged his body so well that it should have been illegal. It didn’t help that his jeans were tight or that he wore aviators like they were created for him.