Page 40 of Wreckage of Us
“It’s a house, fucker,” I point out the obvious, but then realize that it’s not that bad of an idea. “It could actually work.”
“Yeah, rework plan for the first floor, then we’ll still have the bedrooms upstairs,” Sully explains. “And we’ll have more room now that your ass is moving out,” he points out, and I don’t correct him. Because Becca may not understand where I’m going just yet, but she will. I’m not leaving.
“Hey, Becca,” Colt calls to his sister when he spots her coming down the stairs. “Do you mind if I go to a bonfire down by the lake? Everyone in my class is going.”
“When is that?” Becca asks while rummaging through her giant bag that passes for a purse.
“Tonight,” Colton moves nervously from one foot to the other, almost as if he’s, I don’t know, lying.
“But I thought you had to leave for your trip early in the morning?” Becca brings her attention to him, eyeing him suspiciously.
“Not that early,” Colton waves her off.
“You said Ben would be here at five in the morning to take you to the airport,” she points out. “That’s early.”
“Not too bad,” he shrugs.
Sully elbows me. “The little fucker is hiding something,” he mutters in the corner of his mouth, never taking his eyes off the scene playing in front of us.
“For sure,” I agree.
“Why is Ben taking you to the airport again?” Becca inquires in a brisk tone.
“What?” Colton plays stupid.
“I know his father, Colt,” she throws her saddle bag-like purse over her shoulder, then puts her hands on her hips, watching her brother suspiciously again. “That man would not allow Ben to do anything that may harm him in any way. And him driving back and forth like that is a sure thing to annoy the shit out of him. What are you up to?”
Sully elbows me again. “Fifty bucks says this is about a chick.”
“Not taking that bet, it’s a sure way to waste fifty bucks,” I chuckle. The sound brings Becca’s attention to me.
“I am not going to work with you in tow,” she points a finger at me. “I can drive my damn self there.”
“What about me, Becca?” Sully puts his hand up like we’re in school. “Can I take you to work?”
“What?” she shakes her head at him in confusion. “If I don’t want him doing it,” she points at me, “why would I want you to?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I cut everybody off. “I’m taking you. And you’re off at nine tonight?” I ask for confirmation.
“What?”
“I’ll be there at eight fifteen,” I inform her. “We’ll go out to dinner after. It’ll be a late one.” I then turn to Colton. “Whenever you get home from this bonfire,” I warn him, “I better not hear that fuckin’ alarm going off. Got it?”
“Yes, sir,” he grins at me and stands up straight.
“Get to practicin’ then,” I give him a wink over Becca’s head, then start pushing her out the door. Before she knows what’s going on, she is already in the pickup truck I borrowed from Sully, all buckled in, and we’re on our way.
“What just happened?” she looks around her like she’s not understanding how we’re already moving.
“Nothing,” I tell her and rest my elbow on the large middle console, with the palm of my hand facing up. “Give me your hand.”
“What? No.” She gets closer to the door, refusing to even look at me.
“Give me your fuckin’ hand, Becca,” I growl at her.
“Why?” she puts her nose up in the air when she asks.
“Because I want to hold it, that’s why,” I snap at her.
