Page 41 of Phantom
Bullet shrugged. “Squared’s been like a chicken with his head cut off, but other than that.”
“Do you know where he is?”
He nodded his head off toward the end of the desert plot opposite the clubhouse, behind where the bathrooms were usually situated. “Last I saw him, he was over there. Been dragging Colin everywhere with him, too.”
Of course he was. It could be considered a good thing that my dad liked the guy I was into, but I didn’t want to have to fight with him for his attention. “Cool. Thank you.”
“No problem.” I’d started to walk away when Bullet started up again. “Hey.”
“Yeah?” Even Lockjaw seemed confused, standing next to me halfway between ready to attack and wanting to sit and be patient.
“Uh…” He rubbed the back of his head. “Can I ask you a question?”
If only I didn’t get struck by lightning first. “Sure.”
“There’s this… woman.”
There was no stopping the smile that immediately found my face. “Okay?”
“She’s a…” He opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to find words before finally settling on, “Challenge.”
I snickered. “The best women are.”
“How do I… I mean, what do I…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
Before I could stop him, he shuffled away from me and out of sight. I looked down at Lockjaw, my only nearby friend, with my jaw agape. “Did that just happen?”
Lockjaw just stared back at me, and all I could think about was getting to anyone who would listen to me. I made my way back toward the clubhouse with a pep in my step, knowing that Colin was okay. I figured it was probably best to just wait for them to come back. I joined up in a game of pool with Bucky as my partner and even stole a moment to tell him what happened with Bullet.
“Oh, yeah. Your dad didn’t tell you?” Bucky said. “Apparently, he’s, like, into her.”
My jaw fell open. “Hehateswomen.”
Bucky shrugged. “Evidently not this one.”
“That’s the power of breasts,” one of the Blazing Rebels’ members, Hector “Ink” Vicario, joked. I glared at him, and he held up his hands. “Or, maybe she has a great personality.”
Everyone laughed, and we continued to enjoy our game and pleasant conversation. Between what had happened with the prospects back at Hoppa’s, having a conversation that wasn’t scathing with Bullet, and actually mingling and feeling like one of the gang in the clubhouse, my feelings toward my role in the Steel Knights was slowly shifting. Maybe there was hope that things could change, after all.
The pounding bass of music from outside the clubhouse was the sign that the party was switching from kid-friendly to an all-out rager. One of the country’s most famous bands, an Arizona original, The Flying Cardinals, was the headlining act, and they were already getting the crowd going. The clubhouse slowly emptied as everyone went to enjoy the growing party outside, but I stayed behind with Lockjaw, Adrian, and the Blazing Rebels’ Sergeant at Arms, Elias “Iron” Serrano. We’d all be meeting once the party was in full swing, after which time I would hopefully be able to steal up to the loft with Colin and Lockjaw.
Over the next twenty or so minutes, the rest of those who would be present at the meeting turned up. Oliver “Tank” Ingram and Isaac “Wrench” McIntyre showed up together with their hands full of the gourmet hotdogs that one of Collinstown’s booths sold every year. They were the Blazing Rebels’ president and vice president, respectively, and their favorite thing to do was enjoy the cuisine that the other two cities had to offer.
Not long after they arrived, the Raging Vipers’ president, Dustin “Brewer” Johnson, and Alex “Gunner” Thomas arrived, both seeming a little tipsy, but nothing that would interfere with the meeting.
Last but not least, my dad entered the clubhouse with Colin at his side. A wide smile crossed my face when I saw Colin. Not only was it good to see him again after being apart for a few days, but he was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt, allowing the world to see the discoloration from the burns on his left arm. That level of acceptance was a subtle hint that he was dealing with it and that it wouldn’t be a stopgap between us anymore. The excitement that gave me was almost unparalleled, except for the fact that Lockjaw leaped up from where he was sitting on the floor and bolted over to Colin.
Colin crouched to meet Lockjaw, scratching behind his ears, and then his gaze slowly crawled up to me, deep with admiration and a hint of seduction that actually made me blush.
Adrian stood up and plopped down on the couch next to me. “Oh! You finally found one that likes you?” I raised an eyebrow at him, and he let out a barking laugh. “Atta girl. Now if we get the rest to not be stupid, we’re in good shape.”
“I’ll hold my breath while you work on it,” I huffed back, and Saddle laughed.
“Hey, baby,” my dad greeted.
I stood up and walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Hey.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Heard you’re making friends.”
