Page 3 of Property of Bones

She shrugs. “Cool. I do enough for both of us. Heck, I talk enough for the whole world.”

I let out a breath. Might be a laugh. Might be exhaustion. Could be gas. Either way, she beams like she won a prize.

“My name is Sunny,” she says, holding out a hand. “Well, it’s actually Suzannah, but nobody calls me that. Not even my mama when she’s mad. I’ve been Sunny since the second grade when I got detention for telling my teacher the clouds looked sad and I wanted to go outside and cheer them up.”

Bones.

That’s what I should say. That’s all she needs to know.

But instead, what comes out is, “…Jack.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “Like, a real name? Wow. I’m honored. Should I curtsy or something?”

I snort.Damn it.

She beams like I just handed her a winning lottery ticket.

“Jack,” she says, testing it out. “It suits you. Tough guy name but not like… serial killer tough. More like ‘rescues puppies when no one’s looking’ tough.”

I arch an eyebrow. “I don’t do puppies.”

“Oh, come on.” She leans on her cart like we’re old friends. “Even the Terminator probably liked golden retrievers.”

I shake my head, trying not to smile. And I fail. Just a little.

She sees it. Her grin gets smug like she just scored a point in a game I didn’t know we were playing.

“I should go,” I mumble, backing up.

“Right,” she says, pushing her cart aside to let me pass. “Well, it was nice chatting with you, Jack. Try not to brood so hard. You’ll get frown lines.”

“Too late.”

I walk away before I say something stupid. Like,I remembered your laugh.OrI bought damn Pop-Tarts because of you.Or worse…I want to hear you say my name again.

I make it outside, past the doors, into the cool air that still feels too hot after being near her. My bike is parked a block away. Didn’t want to be obvious. Didn’t want to be recognized.

Didn’t wantherto see it and ask me what kind of guy rides a machine built for violence and freedom.

The comm in my ear crackles. Spike. “Tracker’s active. Good work.”

“Copy,” I say, voice flat.

“Head back to the compound, brother. Foster has news.”

I twist the throttle and make my way back home. Sunny’s face pops into my head and I shove it right back out. The last thing I need in my life is someone like her. Someone who doesn’t know the cruelty of the world. Someone who could be ruined by my darkness.

I don’t belong in Sunny’s world and she sure as hell doesn’t belong in mine.

***

“Bones, do you want something to eat?”

I glance over at Riley and shake my head. “I’m good.”

“Let me know if you change your mind,” she says. “Everyone’s in the war room.”

With a nod, I head that way.

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