Page 44 of Catch Me

On Monday, Oscar and I give our presentation onThe Great Gatsby. Despite being unsure of our partnership in the beginning, we get an A, and that’s literally all I wanted from him. When the bell rings, he reaches across the aisle and tugs on my shirt. I glance up at him, but instead of seeing someone who’s about to say something cocky, I see a straight face. “I found him.”

“Good for you,” I say, having no idea what the hell he’s talking about.

Oscar leans back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. His foot comes to rest on the chair in front of him. “You’re not interested in what I’m saying?”

“We really don’t have a reason to talk anymore,” I say, watching as the other students leave the room. “In case you weren’t sure, that was us giving our presentation today. We got an A. Congratulations.”

“You’re cute when you’re trying to be funny.”

“Oh God, just stop talking.”

“Gladly. What else can we be doing?”

I stand, pulling my bookbag on. “Bye, Oscar.”

“Briar, wait,” he says, scrambling up to meet me at the end of the aisle. “I found the dick that hurt Reid on purpose. I know where he hangs out. I know his number. It wasn’t that hard to find, actually, so what I want to know is why you four haven’t done the same thing?”

My mouth dries. I swallow, trying to keep what Reid said in my head. About us not having control of Sasha’s crazy. But what if we can prove she paid this guy off to hurt Reid? Oscar was right about the pictures of me. No one cares. But this? They would both get into trouble. Lots of trouble.

“I can see the gleam in your eyes,” he says, gloating. His usual dark eyes spark fire. It’s unnerving how much this stuff excites him. “You want them to pay.”

“Of course I do,” I say through gritted teeth. “Who wouldn’t?”

“I think you and I should pay him a visit.”

“You and I?” I balk.

He gives me a look. “Call me crazy, but no one sees you as a threat, Briar. That guy would walk all over you. But me? I’m from the Heights. That posh fucker will probably piss his pants. Remember how the guys from my neighborhood rolled up to Spring Hill? I’ll do the same to him. I’ll make him talk.”

I chew on my lip. I don’t know if I fancy myself a detective or what, but just the thought of getting this guy to admit what he did to Reid gives me goosebumps. Actually, I think it’s the aftermath of what would come beyond the confession. Sasha would be in so much shit.Somuch shit. “Meet me after practice?”

A triumphant smile pulls Oscar’s lips apart. “You got it. Lose the squares, and I’ll take us there.”

I roll my eyes internally. “What’s Sasha going to think about this?”

“Fuck her,” he says, his cheeks growing red even though he tries not to show it. “Maybe her spies will see us together, and she’ll get raving jealous again. Jealous sex with her is fucking—”

I hold a hand up. “Right. Get it. Don’t care.”

“See you later, Page,” he says as we go our separate ways when we walk out the door.

* * *

After practice,I wait in the parking lot alone. It pays to have my mom trust Reid because my punishment has been all but lifted. All I have to do is text her back as soon as she texts me and keep her apprised of everything going on with Reid. It doesn’t hurt that he comes over for dinner at least once a week. My parents like having him there. It’s almost—almost—like having a Brady representative.

A whistle sounds at my back. I roll my eyes and turn, knowing I’ll see Oscar there. I don’t know how the hell he got away from Sasha for the evening, but I’m glad. He walks up to me, smirking.

“Tell me again why you’re trying to help us.”

His face falls. “Your boys helped me when I needed it. I’m just giving you a name, a location, and acting as the enforcer. You need to do all the talking.”

“Actually,” Cade says from behind him. “We’llbe doing the talking.”

Oscar turns, his shoulders sagging. He looks at me over his shoulder as Cade, Lex, and Reid approach. “Really?” The look on his face is actually hurt, like he wanted to spend some quality time alone with me roughing up some guy.

“We’ll be doing the driving too,” Lex says. He’s still sweaty from practice, which makes him look a lot more intimidating than usual. “And the enforcing.”

Reid flexes his fingers then tweaks them at Oscar in a “give me” sign. “We’ll be needing the info you have.” When I approached them at lunch with the information Oscar found, he was the last one on board. Actually, I’m not sure it’s the smartest thing for him to come either, but he has another doctor’s appointment tomorrow, and I know he’s trying to get his mind off that as much as possible. If this will help, I’m all for it. We don’t need another replay of the guys fighting after they’ve all made up again.

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