Thirty-Three
“ Absolutamente no. (Absolutely not) . You are not getting involved.” Oh fuck yes I am.
“Like hell I’m not. Call your cousin up, Ed.” We can handle this shit right the fuck now.
“I don’t have his number anymore. That was like ten burner phones ago.” What?
“I’m not playing.”
“Neither am I. What do you think? Every time a new iPhone dropped, I was waiting in line at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store, and they transferred all of my contacts over for me? As if, cabrón , that’s not what happened. I have no idea what his number is now.” She’s talking fast and moving even faster.
Since Payton walked off a minute ago, she’s managed to pack up all of her shit and power walk toward a different exit. If I got this girl on skates, she’d be the fastest one on the fucking ice.
“Ed, slow the fuck down. Where are we going? We need to figure this shit out. And give me your fucking bag, you demon.”
“I’m going back to the shop. I need to hole up in that office and start calling to see if he’s still locked up or if he's paroled out. And if he did get out, I need to know where he is. I also need to figure out when and why she’s here.
De todas las malditas escuelas, ?Cómo terminamos en la misma?
Of all the fucking schools, how’d we end up at the same one? ”
“Let’s go back to the house, let me help you,” I say while I grab onto the loop of her bag. “Fucking gimme this.” She stops walking and looks at me like she’s considering my offer as she relaxes, letting me take some of the weight off her shoulders.
“Come on, Ed, let me fucking take care of you.” I throw her bag on my back and can tell it’s heavier with the laptop inside.
This shit is getting cleaned out as soon as I get her in my room.
I’ll give her my fucking closet if it means that she doesn’t carry around all of her belongings anymore. Her stuff belongs with me.
“You can shower, and I’ll stand out on the sidewalk until you’re done if that’s what you want. Then we can talk this all out.”
“Are you sure?” Her voice is small, and I know this isn’t fucking easy for her. It fucking tears me apart when I look into her wide and questioning eyes. I know she’s only giving in to me because that cunt bitch just drained the fight outta her body. My little demon’s all tapped out.
It’s seriously like this girl has never known kindness, and that makes me feel fucking sad to think that no one has gone out of their way to care about her needs. Until me. I’m here now.
“Yeah, hermosa , I’m sure.” I touch her pretty face with the back of my hand, and my knuckles drift down her soft cheek. “Let me take you home.”