Page 61 of Defend Me

“Your hair is cool. I think it’s one of those good things about you. Plus, Tilian talks about it, so you should have it down.”

He smiled at me, showing his teeth. With a silent nod, I took out my hair tie. I itched to put it back up immediately.

Even though I loved my long hair, I was so used to keeping it tied back that I usually wore it that way. Back home, whenever we left the house, my mom would insist that I put it up. It needed to be ‘tidy’ instead of ‘wild.’

Professional. Perfectly tailored.

Dean grabbed a beanie and settled it on my head. I no doubt looked like my mom’s worst nightmare.

He whistled and nodded appreciatively. “Look at that. You’re a degenerate like the rest of us.”

My lips twitched, but I just rolled my eyes. “Come on. I might have to buy all the candy the theater has so that I can deal with you.”

He shook his head. “Nah. We’re doing things my way tonight.”

That sounded exhilarating. After I silenced my inner demon, I raised a questioning brow. He just flashed me a smile that made me wonder what the hell I’d gotten myself into tonight.

I didn’t have a good feeling about this.

Why did that make me excited?

Chapter 18

“But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass.”

Brooks

Where I discover the Dollar Tree is full of lies

The expression on Dean’s face was kind of annoying. I was tempted to slap him until he stopped smiling like a mischievous middle schooler.

I leaned forward, peering out of the windshield and wondering if I’d been coerced into driving straight through the gates of hell.

“Why are we here?” I asked.

“You don’t know about the Dollar Tree?”

“I know what it is, dipshit. I’ve never been here.”

“This, my friend-ish person, is where we stop before a movie.”

“That doesn’t help me understand.”

“Okay, let me break it down for you.” He turned in his seat and folded his hands in his lap as if he was about to drop some dope wisdom. “Candy at the movie theater is expensive as fuck. Some of us can’t afford tickets, candy, popcorn, et cetera. So, what us peasants do is stop at the Dollar Tree to buy that shit for cheap.”

“They let you bring it into the theater? That seems like a bad business model.”

He snorted a laugh. “We’re smuggling.”

My eyes widened at the idea. “That sounds illegal.”

“It’s not illegal. Just frowned upon. They won’t even know. Trust me, my mom had this shit down to a science.”

With a groan, I knocked my forehead on the steering wheel. “Fine.”

I got out of the car, then looked around like the police were going to show up and arrest us for our audacity. I knew it wasn’t that big of a deal, but it made me nervous. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I headed toward the building. It needed a makeover.

“You have cash?” he asked.

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