Page 35 of The Fire Walker
Both Zoe and I stopped playing at the same time, our fingers sliding over the strings. She looked at me, and then I looked at the security guard who was storming toward us, hands on a walkie-talkie.
“Ready?” she whispered in myear.
I grabbed her hand, and we bolted in the opposite direction, scattering people in our wake. A grin began splitting my face as we darted through the scores of pedestrians as the security guard chased us. I don’t know why he bothered—maybe he wanted to look like a tough guy—but he was hot on ourtail.
Bumping shoulders and shouting apologies, we darted across the street, and when we realized we weren’t being followed anymore, Zoe pulled me into an alley off the maindrag.
Laughing, I let go of her hand and leaned back against the wall. Not exactly the episode of COPS she’d planted in my brain but as close as I wanted toget.
Zoe stooped forward with her hands on her knees. “I think he chased us for, like, a block and a half before he gaveup.”
“I didn’t think he would last thatlong.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s like four hundredmeters.”
“I didn’t think he would get pastone.”
“Wasn’t exactly living on the edge, more like making a nuisance of ourselves, but it did thetrick.”
“What’s the trick?” I asked, already knowing theanswer.
She tapped her temple andsmiled.
A few minutes later, Will appeared around the corner. “Guys, that wasgold.”
“Got some good stuff?” Zoeasked.
“This shit’s gonna go viral.” He gave the camera to Zoe, and she turned her back, watching the footage with a stupid grin on herface.
“Can I say something?” Will asked, eyeingZoe.
“Sure.” My thoughts were still plastered on our stupid little stunt, or otherwise, I would’ve told him to dropit.
“Anyone with eyes in their head can see how messed up you are about this Jessiething.”
I narrowed my eyes. In a way, I kinda expected him to say something about that, but right at that moment?Hell,no.
“Mate, all I’m saying is that if you want her that much, more than just a onetime thing, then you should do something aboutit.”
He had no idea what she’d done. Of course, he didn’t. I’d said absolutely zilch about it. “Ican’t.”
“Perseverance and balls,” he said, looking back at Zoe. “If she’s who you want, then that’s what ittakes.”
I didn’t want someone who didn’t want me. Simple. You didn’t run off on someone you wanted to be with in the middle of the night after sex. “Will, I appreciate the advice and all, but it’s not going to work out. I’m not going after her.” I couldn’t, more like it. That kinda shit hurt a man’spride.
He grimaced and clapped me on the shoulder. “If you sayso.”
“I knowso.”
“Honey pie, sweet cheeks,” Zoe chortled, coming back toward us. “You amaze me everyday.”
“Nothin’ sweet about these cheeks,” Will said, taking the camera offher.
“Wanna go again?” Zoe asked me, shoving her hand in the back pocket of Will’sjeans.
“Once is enough,” I said. “I haven’t run that far since Year TenPE.”
“Okay, but I’m hungry,” Will grumbled, nodding back toward thestreet.
