Page 67 of Only You
Demir rolled his eyes and unlocked the bolt. ‘It’s open,’ he yelled over his shoulder.
‘I need a favour,’ Jack said as he came in, eyes landing on the bat as he stepped into the kitchen. ‘Put the damn bat away! You’re not gonna hurt anybody.’
‘I might hurt you for disturbing my peace for a favour I probably won’t like.’
‘That’s why I need you to put the bat down ’cause I know you won’t.’ Demir narrowed his eyes at him. ‘What are you getting at?’
‘I swear I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t have to. I know you and Selene aren’t close, but I need you to do this for me.’
This was truly an understatement. It had only been a couple of weeks but Selene and Demir had already had a routine of bickering before ignoring each other before going back at it. It was almost like her and Jack’s relationship but without the affection and twice the animosity.
Demir stared at Jack for a solid minute, unnerving the fidgeting man. ‘Double my money next fight.’
‘What? You don’t even know the favour yet! I don’t have that kind of cash lying around.’
‘Then promote so you can get it,’ he replied. ‘That girl is a pain in my ass, so if I have to deal with her, I want it to be worth it.’
‘Fine, okay. Fuck, I don’t have time to argue with you,’ Jack said quickly. ‘I’m already late. I need you to pick her up at two. She’s taking classes at Wayne State University. Ask anyone on campus, and they’ll tell you where it is.’
‘Wait, you’ve picked up Selene from Wayne State without any problem?’
‘In the beginning they gave us hell, but now no one bats an eye. They think she works for me,’ Jack told him as he dug around his pocket. He dropped his keys and a piece of paper on the kitchen counter. ‘She’s yours for the day. Call that number when you’ve picked her up. I gotta go. Thanks!’
Jack was out the door before Demir could say anything else.
He shook his head. ‘Damn it,’ he muttered, ignoring the keys in favour of his breakfast. Scarfing down his eggs with a scowl, Demir pushed the empty plate aside. It was tempting to go back outside for another smoke, but he decided against it. He had things to do today, especially now that his afternoon would be full. He tapped his fingers on the table while staring at Jack’s keys.
Old man Eddie was always trying to pass him some work, something he could do until he picked up Selene, and the pay was decent. The man hardly cared when Demir showed up; he was just ecstatic he had an extra set of hands for his bar. With that thought, Demir got ready to leave.
He would never admit the small thrill he felt sitting in the driver’s seat of Jack’s car, watching the world around him moving faster than it normally did. That was a piece of happiness he would keep for himself.
There was only one feeling Selene had when she saw Demir waiting for her outside of her school, leaning on the hood of Jack’s car: horror.
She rushed down the school stairs over to him. ‘What are you doing here?’ she hissed. ‘Where the hell is Jack?’
‘He asked me to pick you up today. He’s got something to do.’
‘Do what?’ she demanded. What was so important that he wouldn’t tell her this morning before he left?
‘I don’t know. Didn’t care to say,’ Demir replied, dismissing her as he stood. Her hands balled into fists at the attitude. She couldn’t stand this man. ‘You gonna get in the car?’
She looked over her shoulder as more students walked their way and she could already imagine the rumours that would start if they saw her with Demir. She could take the taunts of going ‘back to black’, but she didn’t need them connecting the dots to her side hustle. Placing her hand on his arm, she pushed him towards the driver’s side. ‘You first.’
Demir looked at her hands on his arm, barely budging. She groaned. ‘Hurry up, will you?’
He grabbed her wrists and tossed them aside, unhurriedly getting in the car while she stared at him offended. Regaining her composure, she ducked inside, hiding her face from her gawking classmates and slumping down in her seat until they were far from the campus, barely holding back a grumble.
Class was going to be hell tomorrow. ‘Where does Jack usually drop you off?’
‘Oh, he didn’t bother telling you mywholeschedule?’ she snipped. Brows furrowed, he pulled over and parked.
A nervous jolt went through Selene. ‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m not riding around in circles all afternoon because you have an attitude. I can find other things to do so…’ He reached across her and opened the door, leaning back in his seat as Selene gawked at him.
‘You can’t be serious,’ she said. ‘We barely got off the campus!’
‘Not my problem. You got two feet. Do what you used to do before Jack came along.’
