“What?”
“I’ll do it.”
“You will?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Because I thought you’d make me beg. Agree to a list of humiliating conditions. Offer up my firstborn. You realize I am actually, literally, whoring you out, offering your body in exchange for her services?”
Wagner chuckles. The unfamiliar rumble fills the car and puts me on edge. “My sweet, stupid little brother.” He tilts his head, and for a brief moment, I get a glimpse of Sammy in the shape of his face and especially in those bright-blue eyes. “Remember getting that call from a distressed lady about a wild horse that led to you and Jackson being trapped together for the weekend?”
“How could I forget?”
“Who do you think the lady was?”
It takes a few moments for it to click into place. “No way.Candice?”
The fucker nods, grinning triumphantly. “So yeah, offer to whore me out all you want, little brother. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when you do.”
26
Jackson
My phone buzzes as I enter my cabin and shuck off my jacket, tossing it over the back of the couch.
It’s late August. Summer is winding down. The mornings are getting crisp, but by lunchtime, it hits that perfect warm spot.
I fish my phone out of the front pocket of my work pants and bring it nice and close up to my face. The last text thread opens up, and I grit my teeth, recalling the message exchange without reading them.
Unknown number: Jackson. This is Ridge Duporth. We need to talk.
Me: How did you get my number?
Unknown number: That doesn’t matter. Can we meet?
Me: I don’t know what you want from me, but LEAVE ME ALONE!
Unknown number: I just need ten minutes.
Unknown number: Please?
I leave Ridge on read, add him to my contacts as “Fuckface,” smiling proudly when the microphone picks it up on the first try, and open the message I just received.
Maverick: This morning’s note was supremely offensive. Coffee was on point though.
I can’t text anymore since the keyboard is nothing but a blur, so I’ve switched to voice-to-text for both sending and receiving messages.
Me: Why though? It’s true.
Maverick: Picnic #4 was the best one ever
Maverick: Really? Have you totally forgotten about picnic #1?
As if. Picnic number one willalwaysbe my favorite. But over the past few weeks, I’ve tagged along on a few more picnics with him and Sammy. Afterward, I like to tease him by saying the latest picnic was my favorite one ever.
It’s very important to keep rich dudes’ egos in check. I’m performing an essential public service.
Maverick: Rich pricks have egos too. You know that, right?
