Page 17 of Body Count

Rory laughed.Between the vape and the ibuprofen, he looked like he was definitely starting to feel better.“What things?”

“I was under the impression they were in a relationship.”

“Let me guess: Jordan told you that.”

“They aren’t?”

Rory hit his vape.When he breathed out, it smelled like a shot of Fireball.The air coming through the open window was warm and humid, and the combination was unexpectedly pleasant.“I don’t know.Tip doesn’t know.The only one who seems to know is Jordan.”He tapped the vape against his mouth.That downturned mouth of his made him look grave.“Jordan’s the kind of guy who has to have a boyfriend, know what I mean?And Tip—”

When he didn’t continue, I said, “Does Tip want a boyfriend?”

“Tip wants to have fun,” Rory said.“Come on, I don’t want to talk shit about anybody.He just had something awful happen to him.He’s twenty.He finally got away from his parents—kind of—and he wants to live his life.What’s wrong with wanting to have a little fun?”

“Nothing,” I said.“Does Jordan know Tip wants to have fun?”

“You know who Jordan is?Jordan is the guy who thinks if he puts up with enough shit, he’ll finally get what he wants.Jordan is everybody that’s ever stayed in a failing marriage because they think they can make it work if they’re loyal enough or patient enough or understanding enough.Jordan is everybody who stays at a fucking dead-end job thinking that someday, somebody’s going to recognize what they did for this faceless, soulless megacorp, and they’ll finally get what they deserve.”He shut the window and leaned against the glass, crossing his legs again, the fabric of the cut-offs pulling tight across his dick again.“Jordan’s a chump.”

“Pretty cynical for a twenty-year-old.”

“If you ever go to Joplin, say hi to my mom and dad.”

That made me smile.The frustration and contempt in Rory’s voice tinged his answering smile, but it bled away.

“Has Tip been involved in any conflicts recently?”

“With Jordan?”

I didn’t answer.

“No way.”Rory shook his head.“I mean, the usual stuff.It’s not even arguments, really.Jordan gets butt-hurt when we go out sometimes.He tries to give Tip the cold shoulder.Eventually, he decides he wants to suck Tip’s dick more than he wants to give him the cold shoulder.”He smiled again.“Whoops.”

“What about with anyone else?”

“I don’t know.Like, he got in a fight with someone, and that’s why they did this to him?That’s crazy.Tip’s just a normal guy.This—what happened to him—it’s crazy.”

“No fights at a party?A disagreement at the club?An ex who wouldn’t leave him alone?”

Rory stared at me like I was out of my mind.

“Where were you last night?”I asked.

He shot his eyebrows again.“What?”

“It’s a simple question.”

“I was at the party.With Tip and Jordan.”

“But you weren’twiththem, were you?”

“No.We split up.”

“When was the last time you saw Tip?”

“Honestly?When we got there, I guess.I ran into a couple of guys from school I knew.I found somebody to hook up with.”His smile was crooked now.“Want the details?”

“And what about Jordan?”

“Same—when we got there.I knew he was going to be butt-hurt all night, following Tip, trying to make him feel bad.”

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