Page 107 of Scoring Lessons

Never too early to be scarred.

Anderson

Keep reading. Everything turns out okay.

Anderson

Have you finished it, Hayes?

Me

No. I’ve been busy.

Donovan:

With what?

Parker

….or with who?

I let out a groan and opened a private text message.

Me

Knock it off.

Parker

Knock what off?

Me

Seriously?

Parker

It was a joke.

Me

Your jokes can get me killed.

Parker’s photo contact appeared on my screen as my phone rang.

I got inside my car and picked up the call. “What?”

“You’ve actually been spending time with Olivia? Is that why you’re so MIA?”

“Kind of.” I turned my car on, and my phone connected to the car’s Bluetooth.

He let out a short, amused breath. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Considering you’re hiding it from Anderson, I’d say, yeah, it’s complicated. Captain fucking Obvious.”

I drove out of the garage into the busy downtown Chicago traffic. “I already feel bad about it as it is. I don’t need you to pile shit on.”