“She good?” Holler asks finally.
I don’t answer right away, because the real answer ain’t a yes or a no. The real answer is that she is good right now, in this moment, and I don’t know how long I can keep the world from touching her again.
“Yeah,” I say eventually. “She’s good.”
That ain’t the question he asked.
Holler watches me another second, raises his eyebrows, then lets it go, because Holler is a good man. He knows when pushing will turn into a fight I’m already looking for excuses to have.
Legend’s voice carries from the main fire pit.
“Church. Ten.”
My stomach drops.
Church at a lake feels like pressure. It feels like we are about to pretend we are calm while we decide how ugly we are willing to get.
I head toward the clearing without looking back at the cabin. If I look back, I’ll go back in. If I go back in, I’ll not want to leave again.
Legend stands in front of us, like the wall of muscle he is, arms folded. Royal is to his right, tall where Legend’s wide, both imposing. He looks darker than usual, like somebody wound him too tight overnight and left him to simmer. He’s claimed Becki Crowley now. Formally known as Crazy Becki and once obsessed with Legend. Already knocked her up from what I hear.
The brothers gather in a loose half-circle. Some of the ol’ ladies hover near cabins, pretending they ain’t listening. Bethany ain’t hovering. Bethany is planted like a threat, lipstick already perfect, like she crawled out of bed with a full face of makeup.
Her eyes flash with the kind of anger that likes an audience. Seen the look too many times before. Ain’t got time to dwell on it as Legend’s gaze finds mine immediately.
“VP,” he says. “Walk with me.”
We step off from the group. I feel all eyes on my back. Especially Bethany's evil stare.
Legend does not waste time.
“You need to watch yourself.”
There it is.
“Watch what?” I ask, even though I know.
“You know what,” he says.
He stops and faces me. His expression ain’t cruel. It’s tired. It’s the face of a man who has had to clean up otherpeople’s messes for too damn long. But it’s also one that’s decided to not fail.
“You made your choice with Bethany years ago. You made it for this patch. That don’t change because you found something shiny at a lake.”
My face contorts. “She ain’t shiny.”
Legend’s eyebrow lifts. “That’s worse.”
I drag a hand over my face.
“She’s in danger,” I say. “Girls are going missing. Pearly Gates’s sniffing around her. Bethany’s unstable.”
“And you think climbing into bed with her makes that safer?” Legend asks.
His voice ain’t mocking. It’s disappointed in a way that hits harder than anger.
“I ain’t climbing into anything,” I snap. “I’m protecting what’s mine.”
Legend goes still.
