Midnight Toxicity

14.

Jack was high when he picked me up. His teeth ground together, and he wouldn't stop fiddling with the stereo. I asked if he wanted to talk before we arrived at whatever party we were headed to. He remained silent, allowing me to spill my guilty conscience all over the interior of the car.

"Dave Pine, hmm?" I questioned, "Why would you keep the fact I earned a spanking new stalker a secret?"

A passing streetlight briefly highlighted his grimace. "I handled it."

"Handled it?"

"Yes, I let him into your bed because I thought he was a lamb. He wasn't. I dealt with him."

"I never fucked him!"

"Exactly."

What? I turned in my seat to glare at his profile. "Are you under the illusion you're my pimp? Because I will dick punch you if that's the case."

He chuckled, wiping at the sweat on his brow, but didn't comment. After a few quiet minutes, I realized he had no intention of filling me in about what went down with Dave. Whatever happened, Jack deemed it over — and that was that.

He drove me crazy!

Overtired and feeling guilty, I tried to accept his selflessness. However, the closer we grew to Sunrise Mountain, the more I struggled with how close I was to losing Jack.

He hasn't heard Derry is hitting me again, or that he sent me to work for Andy Golding. Does he know who he is? Most bangers stay in their own lane, but we weaved through the mess, gathering information to benefit our pockets. Golding's name came up often this year, mostly involving people who never returned home after encountering him.

When we neared our destination, I lashed out like I'm prone to do when faced with unwanted emotions. I had allowed violence and an unknown future to poison my thoughts. If I didn't explain why I dropped out of school and planned on leaving, the rift between us would grow until we became enemies. As dysfunctional and codependent as we were, there was no other outcome.

"I get you're unhappy with my choices lately, but I don't react well to ultimatums." I ranted. "Or secrets. We're both harboring some serious trust issues, but school is out."

"Technically, there are a few weeks left. Ugh, I am not looking forward to the test," he mumbled, missing my point.

"Derry took care of all that. Not that it matters. But I have to look after myself. Survive. You understand, right?"

He rolled his tense shoulders, driving past a manned guard shack with a curt wave. We then turned towards a house with a lawn so large it must cost a fortune to maintain. He hadn't been kidding when he said the guy was loaded. We bypassed a tennis court and what appeared to be a greenhouse before he entered the circular drive to park beside a sleek yellow Corvette. Other shiny cars with gleaming paint jobs winked under the parking lights, hinting that those inside had money. I bet the grounds looked amazing in the daytime.

"If you say so," he muttered, distracted by two women who dashed out of the mansion in racy outfits. Laughing, they climbed into a black Mercedes at the same time we exited his vehicle. "Can you play nice and not steal from this chump? He's hyper, but also on a bender. If you ask, I'm sure he'd throw some cash your way."

"No handouts," I grumbled. "Since when do you care what these idiots think?"

He adjusted his cap, grinning at me as we strolled over to the open doorway. "I don't, but his connections could benefit us later."

"Hey." I grabbed his hand, running my thumb over his scar, reminding him of our pact. "Are you okay? If anything happened to you..."

He smirked, squeezing my wrist. "You will what? Not fuck my brother?"