“Okay,” Owen finally says. “But it’s already pretty late, so let’s make it quick. I have plans this evening.”
Nate forces a smile, knowing what those plans are. “Sure thing, buddy.”
*
Nate has been sitting in his car for over an hour, waiting in the usual spot for Owen to return. He knows it’s a good sign that it’s taking him time to buy drugs, but he’s still anxious. He slides his hand into his pocket, feelingthe small bag where he’s keeping the cocaine Owen brought last time. Making him take some won’t be easy, but Nate has a plan for that, and based on the way Owen is walking toward the car, the guy is already somewhat high.
Nate smiles and nods to himself. He can always count on drug addicts—even supposedly former ones—to say yes to free drugs. He reaches for the water bottle on the back seat.
Owen enters the car, looking pale. “I can’t go there anymore. Joe always wants me to try the stuff I’m buying, and he talks so much. His brother scares me.”
“What did you take?”
“Just weed, but it’s strong. They offered me coke, but I didn’t want to. Here.” Owen reaches for his pocket and pulls out a bag of weed, which Nate shoves into the glove compartment.
“Can I have some water?”
“Sure thing.” He watches as Owen drinks, the same way that Will drank that spiked beer at Rodie’s. The stuff he used this time is not as strong. He doesn’t want Owen to turn into a vegetable, just more relaxed and less sharp.
“Ready to head back?”
Owen nods and puts the bottle down. “They asked me questions about Van Buren and if I had friends there.”
“They’ve been trying to get someone to work therefor a long time, but the sheriff managed to put a stop to it. You’re doing a hell of a job.”
“I’m not going to sell drugs to anyone.”
Nate rolls his eyes as he begins to drive. “You don’t need to sell drugs; just make them believe you’re willing to.”
“Okay. Are we going to talk now?”
“Soon.”
“Why not now?”
Nate turns on the radio. “It’s going to be a serious conversation, and I have the right spot in mind for us to have it. Just relax until we get there.”
As expected, Owen dozes off during the drive. When they reach a traffic light, Nate turns to watch Owen’s pretty face. His lips are parted as he sleeps, and Nate thinks of how good they must feel to Will when they’re wrapped around his cock. He’s tempted to slip his fingers between those lips to check how deep down his throat he can reach before Owen gags.
Focus on the job at hand.
The closer they get to Van Buren, the more Nate begins to have doubts. If he pulls off his plan, he’ll be a world-class asshole. He doesn’t mind the title, but he does have reservations about hurting Owen.
He’ll be better off without Will. The man has too many scars and skeletons in his closet.
Hell, Nate might turn out to be the hero of this story.
They arrive back in town in the late afternoon. SinceNate needs to wait for a specific time for his plan to succeed, he drives around with a sleeping Owen until he notices theclosedsign on Town Square Cuts, the only barber shop in town. He parks close to the shop and nudges Owen. “Morning.”
Owen looks around with a frown, his pupils dilated. “Where are we?”
“Back in town. Ready to have that talk?”
Owen watches Nate as if he’s not sure why he’s here. “I feel strange.”
“You smoked weed.”
Owen shakes his head. “It’s not like weed.”
