Page 69 of Crew
She sniffled, still gazing at her stuff.
Ah. Shiiit.
Cross and I looked at each other.
This wasn't really about getting a donation. I mean, it was, but there was more going on here. More with her, more with--I was guessing--Sunday Barnes and all the girls Taz was trying to impress. And if I dared wonder, maybe some of it was about us too.
I was going to regret this. I knew that, but I still heard myself saying, "Look, if you still need a donation from Tuesday Tits, I'll get it for you."
She looked up, her eyes wide and hopeful.
"But not now." I held my hand up. "And no one, I mean no one, can know I got it for you."
Cross glanced sideways at me.
I caught the small grin. He was wondering how their donation would even be approved. Those sponsored ads have huge posters printed out. Tuesday Tits? Not really a brand an educational place would embrace.
But that was a different problem for another day.
She looked ready to argue, so I added, "A rough crowd hangs out here."
"But... Okay. Fine." She bent back down to get everything scooped up and stood up with the tote in her arms. "I still would like help with sponsors. Race's dad is a big sponsor, but he admitted at the end that we might not be able to count on him."
What a shocker.
All this talk of sponsors and what that led to, for an event, with ads--it wasn't what I was used to.
She was talking like one of those girls, like a Sunday or a Monica, or... I had to admit, like a Taz. Because she was one of them, whether she was trying to forge her own path or not. She was normal. I was the outsider to that kind of life.
Jordan's truck roared up behind us, and Taz groaned. "Are you serious? Do they have to be here for this?"
I didn't trust Taz.
Even if I got her to leave now, if I didn't come through with the donation, I had a feeling she would come on her own--and that might be worse than things were in there now.
"Hold on." I pulled out my phone and leaned back in my seat, dialing the bar.
A moment later I heard, "Tuesday Tits! Tonight is $2 Friday Night Titquila Shots."
It was Moose this time. "Moose."
"Bren? You still here?" He didn't let me answer. "You want your big bro again?"
"No. Uh, can I talk to Scratch instead?"
"Hold on."
The line was quiet, then I heard a beep and my cousin's voice came over. "You forget something?"
"Hey." Taz was watching me intently, so I turned around. "Cross' sister showed up. She's asking for donations--"
"Sponsors," Taz corrected.
"Sponsors for some charity thing. I don't trust her to let me ask Channing later. I think she'll try again on her own."
"Hey!"
I ignored her. "I was wondering if you guys wanted to give some money, and if you do, can you come outside right now so we can get this done?"
