A tic appears at the back of his jaw, and I know he’s considering getting up and walking away.The old Ford would’ve.So, I do what Ford has always done with me.I wait.I don’t push.I don’t back down.I just…sit here.
Come on, Ford.You can do it.You can open up to me again.You’ve done it before.You can do it again.
“My brothers and I…” Ford sighs.He pinches the bridge of his nose, then lets his hand fall in defeat.“We need you to do us a favor.”
51
JUNE
Don’t puke.
Don’t puke, don’t puke, don’t puke.
I twist my fingers in my lap and wait for Bryan to join me.Because I asked him to join me here.Because Ford asked me to ask Bryan to join me here.I still can’t believe I said yes.That I agreed to this insane plan.Or maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.I’d do anything for that pain in the butt, and now here I am, sitting at a booth in the middle of a bar I’ve only been to a handful of times, all because Ford asked me to.I guess this is proof, even if it means lying out of my butt to protect him.
I repeat,don’t puke.
The Pelican is relatively quiet.It makes sense, considering it’s not even six o’clock on a Thursday evening.I asked to leave work an hour early so I could change into a cute outfit instead of coming straight from the office in a pair of baby blue scrubs.Maybe it’s a little manipulative, but considering the fact that this entire endeavor stems from Bryan still being interested in me, I’ll take all the help I can get.
I nibble the straw between my teeth and glance at the door.Again.Ford gave me free rein—as he put it—to handle everything in whatever way I see fit.Gracious?Sure.Way too much pressure in the big scheme of things?Definitely.
At least there isn’t a half-naked woman dancing on the stage like there would be if we were in Drift territory.If there was, I’d really be a mess.I twirl the straw in my lemonade and vodka, trying not to look at the opposite side of the bar where Roman’s sitting.
Did I really need the muscle-slash-secret-spy-slash-bodyguard for this mission?I’d like to say the answer is no, but after hearing what Bryan got himself wrapped up in, I’m not so sure.How could he help Ford’s father?Why would he do something so stupid?Deep down, I really think Bryan’s a good guy, but I guess his money troubles were even worse than I initially assumed.
I thumb the small wire tucked into my cleavage that Hawke gave to Ford earlier today.It makes me feel like an undercover cop.And a snitch, but I refuse to dwell on that part.My eyes wander to Roman despite my best effort.He gives me a reassuring smile before his gaze falls to his phone.To be fair, it’s probably smart.Act like we aren’t here together.Because we aren’t.I’m here for Bryan.
Bryan, Bryan, Bryan.
I glance toward the door and flinch back.
“Hey, you.”Bryan greets me.
“Hey!”I squeak, clutching at my chest.“Oh my gosh, you scared me.”
“Sorry.”He kisses my cheek.“You look nice.”
“Thanks.”I smooth down my white blouse, confirm the wire is still very much out of sight, and motion to the opposite side of the booth.“Take a seat.”
“Thanks.”Sliding in, he rests his hands on the table.“So, how’ve you been?”
“Good.”
“I was surprised you texted.”
“Me too.”I cringe.
Great start, June.
“I just mean, you know,” I mumble, reaching for my glass.“Uh, how’s work?”
“Good.”
“Any more fires you’ve put out?”
His mouth lifts.“A few.”
Was he always this hard to talk to?
