“It is,” he responds to whatever they asked him. Scout falls silent, listening to whoever’s on the other end. “I’ll meet you there.” He’s already standing from the chair.
“What is it?” I ask him, standing myself.
“My sister was in an accident. I need to get to Evanridge. Now.” His voice is shaky, and I can feel the fear radiating off of him.
“Come on. I’ve got you,” I tell him, keys already in hand. There’s no way in hell I’d let him face this on his own. I don’t care if it has been years since we’ve seen each other. That’s not how friendship works.
We move fast, weaving through the crowded bar. Everything’s a blur. The clinking of glasses, the thrum of music—it all fadesunder the urgency to get out of here and make it to the hospital so Scout can check on his sister. God, I hope she’s okay.
I don't hesitate in making my way across the parking lot and pressing the unlock button on my key fob. Scout moves to the passenger side of the car, opening the door and getting inside at the same time I do.
I glance over, seeing Scout’s hands shaking.
“Fuck,” he whispers. “She was just… she was fine when she called me on the phone.”
I know that feeling so well. It was the same way with Nana. Fine one minute and not the next. I can see Scout spiraling, and I need to be here for him. To give him whatever comfort I can. To be an available shoulder if he needs one to lean on.
“She’s gonna be okay,” I tell him, as I put the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life. “We’ll be there soon.”
In my haste to leave the parking lot, the tires squeal, cutting through the tense quiet in the car.
I keep glancing over at Scout, his eyes staring out the window.
“Please be okay, Junie Boo,” he whispers. “Please, just… be okay.”
I press down on the gas pedal, not caring if I get a ticket. I just need to get him there.
I watch Scout go through the doors, silently praying that his sister will be okay. She has to be. We begged the nurse to let me stay, but she gave us a firm no.
“Call me if you need me!” I shout. Scout turns his head long enough to mouth the words ‘thank you’.
I make my way to the parking lot and get in my car. A small part of me is happy I couldn’t stay with Scout. I hate hospitals. Memories of going with my grandmother there to identify my parents hit me like a rock. My heart races and I have to count to calm down.
One. Two. Three. Breathe in. Breathe out. Four. Five. Six.
Over and over, I repeat the same steps until I’m back in control. I stick the key in the ignition and the car roars to life. I’m backing out of the parking spot in an instant, wanting to place as much distance as I can between myself and this place.
But going home to the empty house that still smells like Nana isn’t a better option.
Foxy’s.
Scout gave me the address so I can apply. He even said he’d put in a good word for me.
I plug in the address to the GPS, following each and every turn until I reach my destination.
When I pull up in front of the building I have to do a double take. This is it? I check the address that Scout gave me, comparing it to the one I entered in the GPS and the one on the building. It’s nothing spectacular. Just a black building that looks kind of like a bakery or a flower shop from the outside. The windows are dark, so you can’t see inside, and there’s nothing telling you what kind of business it is.
Foxy’s Rent-A-Date.
I can’t help but laugh. To me, it sounds more like Rent-A-Cock. Men and women hiring men to be their plus one. Foxy isn’tselling dick, just companionship, but I think it’s funny to think of it like that. Not that I’d ever tell her.
Shifting the car into gear, I pull away from the curb and head home. I need a good night’s rest if I want to make an impression tomorrow. It’s been one hell of a night. Tomorrow, I start over.
Chapter 4
Jefferson
Palemoonlightcreepsthroughthe curtains, casting shadows across the bed and across us. Malcolm and I lay tangled together, skin against skin, limbs wrapping around each other as our breaths sync. Both of us have just had the most mind blowing orgasms ever. My fingers trace a slow line along his bare chest, my touch light as a feather. Gently making an infinity sign that spans the width of his body, weaving around his pecs.
