“He’s the closest thing to family I have.”
“Besides Jinx?”
I didn’t answer because it seemed rhetorical. I wasn’t sure whether she was trying to get a feel for my relationship with Jinx or merely working him into the conversation. Either way, she could learn the minutia from him. I’d already told her far more than I’d intended to divulge.
“Do you see this friend often?”
“As often as I can. We’re both busy.”
I noticed Laikyn’s eyes slide toward the kids at the next table. Occasionally, she would turn her head away from them as though shielding her face.
“What’s wrong?”
She cleared her throat. “Nothing.” With a smile, she leaned toward me. “I think they just figured out who I am, so we might want to jet while we can.”
I stood when one of the kids at the next table pointed. “That’s her. That’s Laikyn Quinn. Monica Quinn’s daughter.”
“Who’s she with?”
“Dunno. He looks familiar.”
“Dude, we need to get a pic.”
I watched as Laikyn’s expression shut down, and she seemed to turn inward on herself.
“Hey, Laikyn! Can we get a pic?”
She didn’t respond.
I took her hand and pulled her to her feet. Linking her fingers with mine, I walked with her into the restaurant in order to reach the parking lot.
The kids seeking her photo were behind us, getting louder and drawing attention from others inside. Before we were at the door, a couple more teenagers were moving our way.
“Holy shit, bro. That’s The Fixer.” The kid’s excitement level amped up. “LQ’s with The Fixer.”
I put my arm over Laikyn’s shoulder and shielded her against my side. I pretended not to notice how easily she put her arm around me or how fucking good it felt when she placed her palm on my chest as she ducked her head and allowed me to guide her to my car.
“Hey, man! Can we get a pic?”
I didn’t respond, and I didn’t look back. The kids weren’t a threat to her physical safety, but I sensed Laikyn’s need to escape them, so I pretended not to hear them. Even after I got her into the car and walked around to the other side. A couple of phones were out, camera flashes on as they snapped photos and videos, likely to share on social media or sell to someone who gave a shit.
“By tomorrow, the paparazzi will have caught wind of me having dinner with the Hollywood Fixer,” she said when I got in the car. “Your life will be turned upside down until they get the story. I’m sorry about that.”
Before I could think about it, I reached over and took her hand, clasping it in mine. “Don’t worry about me. They won’t find anything I don’t want them to find.”
The feel of her soft, cool fingers against my hand was enough to set off sparks in my veins. I couldn’t remember a time when that had happened, and since I remembered every damn thing, I knew it hadn’t.
“You want me to take you home?” I asked, releasing her and placing both hands on the wheel.
“If you’re offering to keep this first date going, I wouldn’t mind going to the beach.”
I couldn’t tell her no, so I drove.
10
Laikyn
When Rule took my hand, something shiftedin my chest. It was the strangest feeling. Like falling from a high distance and not expecting the drop. My heart beat erratically for several pumps, then returned to a normal rhythm. When it did, I felt safe for the first time in my life.
