CHAPTER ELEVEN
Blake
A cab had picked us up from the half-court and dropped Josh at his house before taking me home. Josh hadn’t said a word after the cops took Chloe away. I knew he felt guilty and that it was all his fault. I hadn’t even thought twice about taking the fall for him. He was my best friend, and had a shit ton more to lose than I did. Chloe, though—she hadn’t needed to do any of it. In the grand scheme of things, we were nothing to her. Like she’d said, she’d known me a week.
I’d gotten in my car and driven to the station. I’d panicked when they’d started asking questions about my relationship with her. I didn’t know shit. I didn’t even know how old she was. So I’d done the only thing I could think of: I’d called that seedy place she had taken me to a week ago and asked for Clayton. He’d shown up fifteen minutes later. That was seven hours ago. Seven hours with nothing more than a single nod of acknowledgment when he’d walked in. He’d spoken to the cops about her and then had taken a seat opposite me—his long legs kicked out in front of him. A few officers had greeted him by name, and I wondered how they knew him.
His loud sigh cut through the silence. My head jerked up. Slowly, he stood up and walked over to me. I didn’t know what it was about him that was intimidating. I was short for a baller but tall among average people. He stood over me and glared down. “Who are you to her?” His words weren’t laced with anger or confusion—it was just a question. I noticed he still looked as tired as the first time I’d seen him.
I didn’t respond.
He sighed again and took the seat next to mine. “Are you seeing her? I mean, are you her boyfriend?”
“No.”
“You want to be?”
I stared straight ahead. “I have a girlfriend.” Though Hannah wasn’t really relevant, I didn’t know what else to say.
“Really? Could’ve fooled me. Where was she last night?”
I shrugged.
“I don’t really think it’s appropriate—”
I turned to face him, cutting him off. “Are you okay with her and The Road?”
His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“I dunno,” I spat out. I didn’t need him telling me what was appropriate and what wasn’t. “Just kind of makes you look like an asshole if you’re letting her get in her piece-of-shit car on an endless fucking road trip. You can tell me what’s appropriate all you like, but you know her better than I do. I’m sure you might even care about her more than I do. Just seems like a dick move, is all.”
He laughed. It was loud enough that the cop at the front desk stopped what he was doing and looked up at us. Once Clayton had settled down, he leaned back in his seat and drawled, “I like you, kid.”
I fucking hated being called kid.
“But here’s the thing you may not know about Chloe . . . yet. She does what she wants. She lives her life the way she wants, and nothing and no one can stop her.” He paused for a beat. “You guys go to the same school, right?”
I nodded, my eyes fixed on the floor.
“When did you start noticing her?”
My body went rigid, and my breath caught.
He must’ve sensed it, because he laughed again. “I thought so.”
“Thought what?”
“Chloe—she likes to remain invisible. The fact that she’s hanging out with you—or whatever it is you guys are doing—it means something. But just don’t fall in love with her.”
My eyes snapped to his. “Whoa. Who said anything about love?”
His hands went up in surrender. “All I’m saying is that you’re gonna get hurt. She’s not gonna be around, and she’s not gonna let you in. You might as well give up now.”
Maybe his words should’ve surprised me, but they didn’t. I’d worked out enough about Chloe to know what he meant. Just as I opened my mouth to ask why she was like that, the cop at the desk interrupted me. “I’ll tell you what, Hunter.” He pointed a pen at me and smirked. “You give me the exclusive of where you plan on playing college ball, and I’ll let your little girlfriend go.”
I dropped my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. I was pissed and so fucking tired. I wanted her out of there. I wanted to thank her. And I wanted my goddamn bed. “Are you charging her or just keeping her for shits and giggles?”
And, right on cue, the door behind the desk opened and she stepped out. Her eyes widened when she saw the two of us waiting for her. We stood at the same time, but her eyes fixed on me. “What are you doing here?” She sounded pissed.
“Waiting for you,” I answered with equal attitude.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I just wasn’t expecting you.” She turned her attention to Clayton. “Or you.”
He shrugged. “What am I gonna do? Let my little sis sit in the slammer?”
Her face lit up with her smile. “I wasn’t in the slammer, you asshole.”
“Close enough.” He yanked on her arm and pulled her in for a hug. “Don’t do this shit again,” he said into her ear.
She nodded as they pulled apart.
“What are you doing now?” he asked her.
“Get my car, go home, and crash.”
“You won’t be able to sleep. The kids will be up soon.”
She shrugged.
“I’d offer you stay at mine, but Lisa’s home this weekend. That could be awkward.”
I cleared my throat.
They both turned to me.
“Um, I know you’re tired . . . and there’s no one home at my house. We have lots of space . . . You can always crash there for a few hours. It’s the least I could do.”
Chloe
“Are you sure your parents aren’t going to care?” I asked as he opened his front door.
“They won’t know. Mom lives in the guesthouse, and Dad’s not home.” He waited for me to step inside.