“Jinx?”
I hadn’t heard that name in six years. To everyone else, I was Chester Mahoney, the poor kid who’d been taken away from his drug-addicted parents because they preferred to snort a line rather than feed their kid.
I nodded.
That was all it took because a smile pulled at Rule’s mouth, and his dark brown eyes glittered with recognition.
“I’ll be damned. You grew up.” His eyes raked downward, then slowly back up. “And shaved off all your hair.”
I jerked my chin in agreement, then gestured toward the car.
“You’re offerin’ me a ride?”
I nodded, then pulled a cell phone out of my pocket and passed it to him.
Rule frowned but took the phone. “What’s this for?”
I pulled out my phone and texted the number I’d entered in my address book.
The phone buzzed in Rule’s hand, and he stared at the screen.
“Thanks?” Rule said, then looked at me.
I nodded.
“Thanks for what?”
I typed a response.
“For savin’ your life.” Rule laughed, and I felt that strange buzz in my chest that I’d felt all those years ago when I first heard it.
So maybe I had a slight crush on the man. So what? Not like I was going to make shit weird for him or anything.
“Dude, seriously?”
I nodded, gesturing to the car once more.
The expression on his face said he was contemplating the idea of getting in. It was obvious to both of us that he didn’t have any other options, but he wouldn’t be Rule if he didn’t pretend otherwise. Which was why his next question didn’t surprise me.
“What’s in it for me?” he prompted, moving closer to the car.
I was about to text a response, but he stopped me with another laugh.
“I’m kidding, Jinx.”
I wouldn’t pretend my insides didn’t warm simply from hearing that name. While Rule didn’t know what his actions had done for me, I did. And as far as I was concerned, he was the only person in the world who’d ever stood up for me. For that, I owed him.
“If you really want to thank me for savin’ your life, I’ll take the car.”
When the punchline didn’t come, I figured I had two options. I could get in the car and leave him, or I could pass over the keys.
In all fairness, there really was only one option.
I held up the keyring.
Rule’s eyes widened, but then that heart-stopping smile appeared. “You always were too fucking soft.”
Oh, if he only knew. There wasn’t anything soft about me. At the moment, I meant that literally.
