Page 148 of Driftwood Daffodil

“Chuck’s boyfriend…” the curl in his lip spread as he added, “is Memphis Blake.”

I paused with my hand on the gym door, “Really?”

Atlee nodded.

Now that was information we could use. In fact we almost already had everything set up. From what I’d seen Memphis and Novalee were pretty close. Not everyone would take on Atlee for a friend. Can’t imagine he’d be too happy when I got my hands on Novalee. Meaning once she offered me a deal for her brother – which she would – everything else would fall into place.

Maybe this day wasn’t so bad after all.

“Come on,” I pulled the gym door open. “It’s time to check out our star player.”

The game was in full swing and the bleachers were full of avid fans that cheered as players ran down the court. It didn’t take long to figure out which one was Chuck Neilson. The way he dodged and weaved around others, while not losing a beat of the ball bouncing in his hand was hard to miss. He was utterly destroying the other team.

Atlee leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. “He’s good.”

Good my ass. Chuck Neilson was a fucking predator on the court. No one could touch him. This game was like watchinga cat massacre a bunch of birds. The only question was how devoted was he to basketball? Could he be bribed to shave a few points, or would we have to press a few buttons to convince him?

I crossed my arms and leaned back against the wall, “Think we can get him to play ball?”

Atlee looked out at the court, “Depends.”

“On what?”

The look on his face when his eyes slid my way, sent a chill up my spine.

“How much he likes his boyfriend.”

Memphis made a mistake when he intercepted Atlee, but he fucked up when continued the fight after he’d already lost. In Atlee’s fucked up mind that made him a toy to play with. And he wouldn’t stop until it broke. Pain and misery were his drug of choice, but a true challenge… that’s what really got his blood singing.

“And there’s our leverage now.”

I followed Atlee’s glare to the side of the court where Memphis was shaking his hips while waving his hands in the air. Why the school decided our mascot needed to be a version of some nineties rap star called Cool Chirs was beyond me.

Though Memphis did pull it off. He didn’t look that bad, besides for the ridiculously large gold chains around his neck. And he appeared to be a good mascot. His cheer was infectious. Even righteous little Sutton Barlow was up there dancing with him.

“Look at him over there, smiling like he has something to be happy about.” Atlee’s eyes darkened as he growled out, “I’m gonna crush your soul boy.”

A part of me almost felt sorry for Memphis. Then again I was too busy grinding my own teeth at a face in the crowd to care.

Novalee was seated on the bleachers behind her dancing friend, looking bored as fuck. She was flopped to the side withher head resting against the wall. But it was what she was wearing that caused my fists to ball. Not only did she walk home in a fucking t-shirt, but she fucking showed up here in her goddamn work uniform. Did she enjoy testing my patience?

“What the fuck is she thinking?”

“I know,” Atlee agreed. “The guy’s gay. She can stop rubbing up against him.”

“What?”

“What?” He repeated.

My eyes narrowed, “Who the fuck are you talking about?”

“No one.”

Uh huh.

For a split second, Atlee looked like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. But that expression was quickly replaced with his normal charming sparkle. “Your girl’s getting some attention.”

I looked back over to where Nova was sitting and muttered out, “Motherfucker.”

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