Matt shook his head. “Someone has to stop Colton before he gets real power.” Matt did not want to imagine a world where Colton was a state senator or, worse, governor, both of which were in the plans.
He withdrew his hand from Ava’s, then polished off his coffee. He fished his debit card out of his pocket and slid it to her.
“You’re still okay with providing my alibi?” he whispered.
Ava nodded grimly. “I think you’re making a mistake, and you’ve got Molly involved as well. But, yes, I’ve got your back. You and I will be at Olive Garden tonight celebrating your election win. You’ll have shrimp carbonara.”
“You know I hate seafood.”
Ava laughed. “It’s not like you’ll be eating it anyway, silly! Molly likes it and probably won’t have time to eat tonight. I’ll get the shrimp boxed for takeaway and leave it in her dorm room. I’ll keep the receipt in case you need it later. Let’s hope you don’t.”
Matt thanked her and headed off to class.
10:50 a.m. Matt joined the herd clomping to Chapel. Spring was in the air. The temperature was in the low 50’s and was expected to reach a high of 70 that afternoon. Kids smiled at him, wished him luck in the election. Everyone called him Mustang now.
He smiled back, doled out hugs and shoulder squeezes and thanked them for their support.
Paul was at the Chapel entrance, pacing. “You’re late,” he said. “I was worried something had gone wrong.”
“Not yet anyway,” Matt said. “The day is still young.”
He handed Paul the spare key to his Jeep. “Get this to William. He’ll meet you in the library at 3:00. Remind him to reconnect the battery cable. The wrench is under the driver’s seat. Don’t forget to meet Todd at 5:00. You two are on securitydetail tonight.”
Paul frowned. “I liked it better when you and William were friends. I don’t like being middleman between you two.”
Matt glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot but whispered all the same. “You mean you’re not up for being pivot man in a 3-way with William and me?”
Paul frowned. “I’m not sure what a pivot man does, but if that’s what it takes to get you and William in the same room and talking again, fine.”
“That’s the spirit!” Matt grinned. “And just so you know, the pivot man bottoms for one guy while topping the other. You could top, right?”
Paul was not in a joking mood. Never was, really, and had expressed his aversion to topping on more than one occasion. It was a texture issue, he said.
“Don’t forget what I’ve taught you about chess,” Paul said. “With the queen sacrifice you can’t seem too eager. That will spook your opponent.”
Matt nodded. “And just for the record, William and I are still friends. We’re just in a rough patch.”
“That’s not how it looks to me.”
2:07 p.m. From the privacy of his dorm room, Matt called the Habana Inn and asked to be connected to Vince’s room.
“Bella Bottoms speaking.”
“It’s me,” Matt said. “Just confirming that you’ll be in the north parking lot at 5:30.”
“That’s the plan, unless I have a wardrobe malfunction.”
Matt took that as a yes. “Okay, look for a ’92 blue Jetta. The driver will be wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, exactly what you would expect from a deeply closeted guy.”
“That sounds like half my exes,” Vince quipped. “Let’s hope there’s only one blue Jetta in the lot.”
Matt forged ahead. “The driver’s name is Jake. He’ll roll down his window and greet you. Take your time and chat him up. The narrative doesn’t work if you just walk outside and jump in his car.”
“Got it. Don’t be slutty with Jake the closet case.”
Matt paced around his room. “The story you’re going to tell the police is that you left the Habana to go for a stroll. You’ve been there several times for performances but have never seen the Gayborhood. You stepped outside and this guy in a navy-blue Audi called you over—”
“I thought it’s a Jetta,” Vince interrupted.
