Page 49 of The Freshman

“Stop flirting withFreshman, Queenie.”

Queenie tutted. “I’m only saying, itwould be nice to see Alfie on day shift.”

“Leave off. He’smine.”

Alfie hugged his clipboard and dartedlooks at both cells. “I’m not yours, thanks.”

“Sure you are. Youaccepted my date.”

“Doesn’t mean I’mexclusive.”

Nate made a throttle noise, more of agrowl than a purr, and Alfie’s skin reacted immediately. Heshivered and rolled his shoulders to fight the reaction, but itdidn’t stop the tingles roaming down to his toes and up to hisscalp.

“I don’t dosharing.”

Alfie forced himself to swallow.“Shame, guess it’s just me and Queenie then.”

Nate breathed heavily at the door.“Not funny, Freshman.”

“I agree,” Queenie said.“Don’t bring me into this—”

“You started it,” Nategrowled. “Saying you wanted to see Alfie’s face.”

“I do, but not in thatway. Everyone knows you’ll go crazy if someone even mentions he’scute.”

“What did you just say?”Nate asked.

Queenie groaned, then laughed. “Seeyou’re impossible.”

“I’m happy that Freshmanworks the nights. He’s away from all the animals in here, and I’mthe only one that gets to see his pretty face once a month, and oneday, I might even convince him to open my door and joinme.”

Alfie ticked off their names andbacked away. “Not gonna happen. Besides, you wouldn’t want to seemy face right now.”

“Why’s that? You all illand gross?” Queenie asked.

Nate huffed. “I’d still wanna see you,even with snot down to your lips. I’d play doctor, might tie yourhands up with a stethoscope though. I’d feed you, but it wouldn’tbe medicine, it would be my c—”

“I’m not ill. Let’s justsay my nose got acquainted with an inmate’s forehead.”

Queenie sucked in a breath. “He’sclearly suicidal.”

Alfie frowned, but before he could askQueenie why that meant he was suicidal, Nate answered his unspokenquestion and battered the door.

“Who? Who hit you,” heshouted.

The outrage in his voice made Alfieshiver and clutch the railing behind for support. “It doesn’tmatter who,” he mumbled.

“Yes, it does. I wannaknow who I’m gonna kill for laying a hand on you.”

Alfie gawped at the door. “Just a newprisoner on G-wing—”

“Open the hatch!” Thevoice wasn’t the tempting siren. It was savage andcommanding.

Alfie swallowed and shook his head.“You know I can’t do that.”

“I wanna see what thatbastard did to you!” Nate thumped the cell again, both fiststogether. The metal clanged and vibrated the walkway.

Alfie looked over the railing, butMarie and Glen had already gone, and Henry was asleep in theoffice. “Stop it. Calm down.” He gasped.

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