Page 84 of Always Love You More

“I have a job tonight I want you on.”

I let out a breath, realizing he just didn’t want to send the details over text.

He runs through the plan, telling me who’s involved and where we’ll meet. Apparently, there’s some safe in the back of a pawn shop that one of our guys knows about. It’s supposed to be full of cash and some old shit that’s worth a lot.

“Need you ready at seven,” he says. Before I can respond, he tells me, “Hold on,” and shouts something at someone I can’t make out. “We’re gonna be gone for the day, but I’ll have Johnny come by and grab you from the garage,” he tells me.

“Got it.”

“I’ve gotta go.” He sighs. “I swear these idiots can’t do shit without me having to spell it out for them.” He shouts something else then mutters, “See you tonight.”

He hangs up, and my shoulders drop. That wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Shoving my phone into my pocket, I push through the bathroom door and head back to class.

When I slip inside, Mr. Collins is droning on about the syllabus, but when he sees me, he motions to the sign-out sheet. I crouch over it and scribble down my name before making my way back to my seat.

Billy catches my eye on the way there, and I give him a nod, letting him know I’m fine.

The rest of the class passes by slowly, and I try to make myself listen to the teacher, but my thoughts are all over the place. Instead, I watch the clock tick by until, finally, the bell rings.

Billy intercepts me at the door. “What was that about?”

“Nothing,” I tell him.

He catches my arm. “Come on; don’t bullshit me.”

I lower my eyes to his hand, and he drops it, taking a step back.

“Just details for a job tonight.”

His expression turns hard. “Oh.”

“It’s fine,” I reassure him. “Should be easy.”

“Uh-huh,” he says skeptically.

“We should get to class,” I mutter, wanting to change the subject.

“What have you got next?”

“Uh …” I uncrumple my schedule. “Communication and Public Speaking.”

He snickers.

“What?”

“Nothing, just think you’ll learn a lot in that one.”

I roll my eyes.

“You know, like how to communicate in ways other than just grunts and one syllable words.”

When I only stare back at him, he laughs and says, “See you at lunch.”

I’m slumped back at my desk, listening to everyone talk around me as I wait for class to start.

There’s a kid sitting next to me, laughing loudly. The guy in front of him is turned around in his seat with a grin on his face.