Eleven

The only thing that has been keeping me going is the thought of Teagan running away from me the other night. Deep down, I hoped she wanted to try something risky by moving to the school park. I would've bent her over the swing and fucked her in the open without a care.

Instead, I'm sitting in a stolen car, waiting for Leroy to show up. But classic Leroy, he's late as always, even though this is his job, not mine. I should've known this would happen. He pulls this shit all the time while my asshole puckers every time a vehicle passes, and I'm waiting for it to be a cop and bust my ass .

I'm the one to be blamed; I answered the phone and agreed to this. But all I want to do is get back to Holden. Small-town life wasn't in my books, but this seals the deal for me, I can't keep stealing cars and trying to make a living. It's not worth it. I don't think Leroy knows what is involved anymore; he's so far out of touch that it's unreal. All he sees at the end of the day is the dollar signs.

The knock on the driver's window has my skin jumping off my body; when I look over, it's Leroy with a shit-eating grin. I flip him the finger and roll the window down.

"You're an asshole. Get the fuck in before a cop comes by."

He punches me in the arm. "Loosen up, man. I swear you've grown into a stiff since you left. Live a little."

I roll the window up in his face; I'll loosen up when I'm back in Holden and see Teagan. I'm sounding like a pussy, for sure. So much for not wanting to get involved with her.

"Drive, Blackwell. I'll tell you where to turn, you need to get out of that head of yours, or we're fucked for sure."

"I'm not in my head, fuck off." I rev the engine and pull out onto the street. That's the thing about Leroy; he gets in my head more than anyone. He's one regret that I'll never forget, that one reminder of the many fuck ups that I can never take back.

"So, tell me about this town that you ditched me for. It's gotta be something spectacular because I thought you wouldn't leave me for anything."

"Well, if you weren't such an asshole last time, maybe I wouldn't have left."

He flicks his hand and points left. "Turn up here. And I wasn't an asshole. You didn't do your job. It wasn't my fault you pouted like a baby when I bitched you out."

I slam the brakes on, jolting us both forward. I turn to Leroy. "I didn't do my job because you fucked up in the first place. Don't act like it was my fault. Take the blame once in a while. Jesus Christ, Leroy, you could've had me killed, and you probably wouldn't care."

"Drive, Blackwell. We're late."

Deflecting. His fucking specialty.

The spot Leroy directed me to is literally a hole in a wall. The run-down garage is large enough to hide the 71' Bronco that I decided to borrow—without returning. Knowing Leroy, the Bronco won't be sporting its baby blue coat. I dig this colour more than whatever shade they will pick, guaranteed.

"Yo, Leroy. What the fuck is this?" Stan shakes his head when I step out.

"Don't start with me. You wanted a vehicle, so I brought you one. Now pay up." Leroy slaps Stan on the back. "And don't act like this won't sell like hotcakes."

Stan exhales, running his hand through his long greasy hair. "That's not what I'm worried about. These." He knocks on the hood. "Aren't popular. That means it's gonna be hot, and the cops will be watching for it. It's gonna take me forever to make this thing look unrecognizable."

Leave it to Leroy to fuck up again and blame others. This is what I mean by deflecting. God forbid he takes any blame. Give a few, and he'll turn on me since I jacked the stupid thing even though he told me to get something that no one drives.

"I don't care, Stan. Pay so I can get the fuck out of here."

Stan is just standing there, his overalls all gunked up with grease and snug around his belly as he takes each deep breath. "I'm only doing it, so you leave." He walks to his toolbox and pulls out a wad of twenties. "I suggest you don't spend it all in one place."

Once I get my cut, he won't have much to spend. You can't make a living doing this all the time. It's risky, but Leroy doesn't care. It's all about him. I can't do this again. All I know is that come tomorrow, I'll be on my way back to Holden, and I'll be stepping into The Dancing Goat and ready to work.

I unlock the door to my motel room when my burner phone rings. I instantly know it won't be good news if I answer it. It also means I won't be getting back to Holden in time.

"Leroy, this better be great news because I'm about to hit the hay." I step inside, closing the door with my foot. The motel has a hint of mildew and looks like it's straight out of the 60s.

"Don't be like that. It's a quick job, I promise. In and out."

I plop on the bed as gracefully as a sack of potatoes dropped from a roof. "Nothing with you is quick. Now tell me the details."

Tuesday. Fucking rolling back into Holden a day late, and I'm the asshole that never called Teagan to tell her that I wouldn't be showing up for work. I can only hope she forgives me when I walk into the shop.

Except this isn't the bookshop, I remember from last week. A construction crew is working within the small shop. I weave past a few of the workers stepping inside.

The floor is torn up, bookshelves empty, and a distraught Teagan standing in the back holding a clipboard, looking at the scene unfolding in front of her. When a douche walks up to her and says something, she frowns. The second he pulls her in for a hug, I see red. Why the fuck is someone touching her? I don't take my eyes off them as I stalk forward. When bitch boy sees me, he straightens up and whispers something to Teagan. She turns around, narrowing her eyes. She quickly blinks, and her green eyes widen with shock.

"Silas? Where have you been?" She moves away from fucktard and comes toward me.

I slowly relax my clenched fists, jerking my chin to the door. "Somethings came up, and I couldn't get out of them." That's not a complete lie. "What the fuck happened?" I eye nut tard when he steps closer to Teagan.

She shakes her head. "Silas, it's been a shitshow. Let me tell you. I need a goddamn vacation is what I need."

"I told you to take one," fucktard says.

My eye twitches with the way he talks. Who does he think he is? "Anyway. Continue." He glares at me, but he'll learn quickly that I'm not afraid .

"The hydrant exploded, and my shop was on its hit list. I'm thanking my lucky stars. The insurance company pulled their weight and covered it. I'm still footing the bill for the loss of books, but it's whatever."

"Fuck, girl. Is there anything I can do?" I don't wanna come off as needy, but I'm almost at bitch boys level here. I can feel it.

"Yeah, if you see Nancy coming, distract her. I don't have a building permit. The bitch never gave it to me again." She rolls her eyes.

Of course, she didn't. That doesn't surprise me, considering the last visit Nancy sprang on Teagan. Now that I'm here, I dare her to show her face around here.

"I told you before. I'm not afraid of Nancy."

Fucktard laughs. "You should be."

"Well, I'm not. And no one asked for your input, you abnormal shit goblin," I spit the words out; my jaw tightens when he smirks.

"Silas, don't start. Jace, that's enough. Don't you have work to get to?" She turns to Jace, crossing her arms.

Now it's my turn to smirk. That's what you get for being a dick. Except it's me who gets a smack in the face when he pulls her in for a hug. That should be me with her in my arms. But I came off too strong last time, and she wasn't ready for that.

I watch douchebag take off; a little too cocky if you ask me. Asshole.

"Silas, he's a friend. Check the ego at the door next time."

I turn in a circle. "Can't find this ego you are speaking of. Where is it?"

She shoves me, laughing. "Shut it, Sunshine. I'm glad you're back. It's been miserable without you."

I pull her in a hug, inhaling her citrus scent. "I'm here now. Whatever you need, lay it on me. You don't have to do anything alone."

"Thanks, Silas. But as you can tell, I'm not in need of your working skills today. You can head home unless you wanna fill me in on where you were?" She allows the final word to transform into a question casually.

That isn't something I want to share, not yet, anyway or at all. Teagan doesn't need to know I jack cars for a living. I give her one more hug, wrapping my arms around her as she rests her chin on my chest, her pleading green eyes looking up at me. I kiss her forehead before stepping back.

"I'll tell you one day. But if you want me to head out, I will. But call if Nancy shows up; I'll be here in a blink of an eye."

"Thank you." She gives me a small smile. "Maybe we can grab dinner later?"

She's tugging my heartstrings and throwing me for so many loops I'm unsure what direction to head. Do friends have dinner? I'm not sure how this works. Hump and dump, that's how I work, but Teagan is different, and I have to remind myself this constantly.

"Call when you wanna do it."

She shoots up an eyebrow.

"Dinner, you perv."

"I was thinking that. You are the perv, Sunshine." She points at me.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Dimples. Be safe here." I walk closer to the door, weaving amongst the mess. "See, ya."

I exit the shop and bump into a body.

"Sorry."

"You should be."

Elma. I'm surprised she talked back to me. She usually runs away with her tail between her legs. I stare down at her, watching her. Her grey eyes narrow at me, and her white eyebrow raises.

"Say what's on your mind, Elma."

"You don't belong here, Silas. How many times do I have to say it? And stop hanging around Teagan."

I move closer until I see every wrinkle on her forehead. "Didn't know this was your town, Elma. I have something for you if you want some gossip to spread." I watch her eyes sparkle, and if she were a dude, her dick would've grown. "There is no Teagan and I. I ditched her like a used condom. I dare you to spread that news."

Elma pulls away, eyes wide and her nose crinkled with disgust. "How dare you speak like that—you filthy animal," she stutters.

I shrug it off. She isn't wrong. I am an animal, alright; it's just not the way she's thinking. The further I push her away, the more she'll leave me alone. Why in the world anyone would want to be up someone's ass about their business is beyond me.

I give Elma a two-finger salute and take off down the street. Elma doesn't need to know the truth that Teagan and I are friends and may never be more. If you are only looking for rumours, I'll give you one to spread true or not. It's not my fault you believe everything you hear. I'll deal with the blonde bookkeeper's fury when she catches wind of this juicy rumour later on.

I'm not afraid of Teagan.