Page 95 of Riot Rules
I frown. “What do you mean,it’s done?”
Alderman tuts. “And here I was, under the impression that you were an astute seventeen-year-old.”
“Eighteen.”
“Congratulations,” Alderman says. “You made it to another birthday without accidentally killing yourself.”
“Is there a purpose to any of this, or did you just wanna call to hurl abuse at me?”
“I called because I wanted to make sure we’re still on the same page, now that Carina’s circumstances have changed.”
Alderman doesn’t say anything. I wait. After a long, tense silence filled with huffing, he speaks. “I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about. I just got off the phone with Carrie. I told her that her name was cleared. The problem in Alabama is no longer an issue for her. Her record’s sealed. She’ll be in no trouble if she gets pulled over by the cops—”
I lean forward, ignoring Pax’s nosy ass expression. “Wait,what?”
“Why are you even bothering?” Alderman growls. “She just told me she was at a party with a boy. Do you expect me to believe that the boy wasn’t you?”
“I’ve been in Boston all evening at a charity event. Carrie and I—” I cut myself off when I remember that Pax is sitting right next to me. He knew we were together at the end, though, and he’s astute enough to have pieced together the fact that we broke up shortly after that. “Carrie and I stopped seeing each other just like I promised. That’s all there is to it.”
Alderman laughs dryly down the phone. “Yeah. Alright, kid.” His voice drips with sarcasm; I think he suspects that I’m lying to him to avoid a beat-down. “Anyway. I wanted to thank you for giving me the space to figure things out for her when she needed it. Now that things have changed for Carrie, I suppose I wouldn’t have much to say if you were to start seeing her again.”
You havegotto be kidding me. I wish I knew where this fucker lived. I’d show up on his doorstep and kick his fucking teeth out. “Nowit’s okay for me to see her?”
He grunts. “I’ve met you. I know what kind of kid you are. Better the devil you know. Plus, you’ve metme, too. You know what’ll happen to you if you treat her badly.”
I’m about to have an embolism. “I’vealreadytreated her badly! You had me,‘thoroughly and irrevocably break her heart.’ That’s what you said, remember?”
On the other end of the phone, Alderman laughs. “That’s right. I did, didn’t I. Make it up to her. Buy her flowers. Take her on a weekend away. You’re a resourceful guy, Lovett. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
Why do people keep saying that! I’mnota resourceful guy. I’m a pissed off guy with a splitting headache and the overwhelming urge to causing lasting physical harm. I clench my jaw, exhaling harshly down my nose.
“Don’t call me again.” When I hang up the phone, Pax stares at me, waiting for an explanation. “What?” I snap.
“Jesus fucking Christ, man. What did you do to Mendoza? I’ve been wondering why she’s been giving you stink eye for the better part of a year.”
“None of your fucking business.”
“Who was that?”
“Alsonone of your fucking business.”
Pax scowls, giving me a dangerous look. “Fine, fucker. As soon as we get back to the house, I’ll beat it out of you.”
“We’re not going back to the house.”
“Hell yes, we are. I have to get out of this suit.”
I pull the school directory up on my phone. I’m already looking for the contact number of someone who’ll be able to give me the information that I need. I select Presley Whitton Chase, hit the call button, and then I hold the phone to Pax’s mouth. He flinches away from it, swatting it away. “What the fuck, man!”
“Play nice and ask the pretty redhead where she is, Davis. We’re going to another party.”
* * *
The concept of murder isn’t so abhorrent. Not when you’ve had an hour to stew over something and you’ve really let your imagination take over. We pull up to the bro-infested party and I’m ready to kill. I’ve pictured the scene we’ll find inside: Carrie, wearing next to nothing, grinding up against some frat boy’s dick. Carrie, straddling some dude with a bad haircut, making out with him like she hasn’t gotten laid in months. Carrie, pinned to a bed while some jock and his friends take turns on her.
The fictional scenarios grow darker with each new rendition. I have a very loose grip on myself when Pax kills the Charger’s engine and I burst out of the car.
“Whoa! Slow down, fuckhead.” Pax grabs my arm, yanking me back. “I get the feeling that we’re about to break a few bones over here. Normally I’m okay with that, but I’m gonna need some more information this time, asshole. Who are we beating? And why did I just have to flirt with the redhead to find this place?”
