He definitely had a point, which is probably why an hour later, we were swapping more secrets than I'd anticipated.
Chapter 53
We were just finishing breakfast out on my back patio when Joel said, "I've gotta ask you something."
Soon after Derek's departure, I'd whipped up a batch of scrambled eggs and toast, and brought everything out here so we could enjoy the fresh air and view.
I'd been reaching for my juice glass, but stopped in mid-motion. "Sure, what?"
"Are you in some kind of trouble?"
Suddenly, I wasn't thirsty. I set down my glass. "No. Why would you ask?"
Joel gazed at me for a long moment. "Why won't you answer?"
"I just did." I summoned up a smile. "Everything's fine."
"Yeah? Except you're lying."
I drew back. I might've been angry, except it didn't sound like an accusation. Mostly, it sounded like a statement-of-fact, which sadly, it was. "So what if I am?" I straightened in my chair. "And that reminds me of something."
"What?"
"You never told meyoursecret."
"Mysecret? What's that?"
"Well, youdoremember the original deal, right? I was going to tellyouabout the estate, and you were going to tellmeabout the fights. But you never did. So now, I'm asking."
Joel stiffened in his chair. "Asking what?"
"See?" I said. "This is exactly what I’m talking about. You're acting all funny about it." I pushed back my chair and stood. "And you know what else? It's not fair, because I've told you a lot more than you've told me."
I froze.Not fair?Did I really just say that?
I knew all too well that life wasn't fair. Probably, I sounded like a kid objecting to her bedtime. I glanced around. And why on Earth was I standing? With a sigh, I sank back down.
Maybe he'd think I was just stretching my legs. I gave a mental eye-roll. More likely, he'd think I was crazy.
Lamely, I mumbled, "I’m just saying, it's your turn to tellmesomething."
"Fair enough. What do you want to know?"
I was so surprised that I almost fell out of my chair. Cripes, at this point, I'd need a safety strap or something. "Actually," I said, "I'm not sure where to start."
"Alright. I'll make it simple. You wanna know what I do?" His voice hardened. "I beat the hell out of people."
I tried not to flinch. After all, I'd suspected as much. "You mean like in regular fights? With an audience and stuff?"
"Notregularfights. Illegal fights. And yeah, there's an audience."
On some level, this was no surprise. I recalled Mike's star-struck reaction at seeing Joel along that lonely roadside. His words echoed in my brain.
I saw you fight at State.
You really slaughtered that guy.
Reluctantly, I asked, "Are youstilldoing that?"
