Page 66 of The Fight for Forever
My best friend shakes his head. “Can’t believe you just said that.”
“Being careful with two weeks left to go before a fight this big? Yeah, I’m a real fucking pussy. Besides, I thought you two buried the hatchet this afternoon.”
“I’m not calling you a pussy. I’m surprised you’re finally taking your personal safety seriously. It’s gotta be a first.”
I meet his dark gaze. “I got a hell of a lot to look forward to now, and I’m not letting some fight promoter with a grudge take it away from me.”
He slaps me on the back. “Fair enough, man. Fair enough. Let’s go.”
Thirty-Six
Scarlett
An unknown numberflashes on the screen of my phone, and I don’t really want to answer it, but for some reason I do.
“Hello?” I say hesitantly, fearing that I’m going to be talking to the troll who’s been terrorizing me on social media. But I’m wrong. Totally and completely wrong.
“This is a collect call from the Manhattan Detention Complex. Do you accept the charges?”
What the hell? Did they arrest Chadwick?
My mouth drops open, and somehow I manage to get out the wordyes.
As soon as I do, there’s a click and a familiar voice comes on the line.“Oh, thank God you answered the phone. Shit, Scarlett, I didn’t know who else to call.”
“Flynn? What the hell are you doing in jail? Jesus Christ. Did you get arrested for—”
“It was all a misunderstanding,” she says, interrupting me before I can finish my thought. “And no, it’s not what you think. I went out with the wrong guy, and we ended up at a party ... anyway, that’s not important. Can you come bail me out? Please? I really don’t want to call my mom because she’ll never let me live this down.”
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” I ask as my mama-bear protective instincts shift into overdrive.
I’m getting concerned looks from Q’s family, but admittedly, it sounds bad.
“I’m fine. I promise. I just really need you to make bail for me. Jail is seriously gross. And dirty. Please get me out of here, Scarlett.”
“Okay, okay. Tell me exactly where I need to go and what I need to do, and I’ll be on my way.”
It’s a first for me, being called to bail someone out, but I suppose this should also fall under the heading of#LifeIsMessy. Also, possibly a new one—#FirstsForScarlett.
Flynn rattles off the information, and I commit it to memory before telling her I love her and hanging up. I flip open a note on my phone and am typing it all out in case I forget something, just as Big Mike comes over to the lawn chair where I’ve taken up residence while he watches yet another football game.
“Everything okay? You sounded upset.”
“My stepsister needs me to bail her out of jail, and I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.”
“Oh shit.” He whistles with a toothpick still hanging out of his mouth. “She must be a spitfire too.”
“She’s something, all right. I need to call Gabriel and tell him what’s going on, but I don’t want to distract him from finding Rolo.”
“You can call him on the way. I’ll take you. This ain’t my first rodeo with bailing punk kids out of jail.”
I stare up at the man, who looks like a bear compared to his much leaner son. “Really? Because I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
He shrugs. “The Jets lost. And the only ones winning this game are the refs. Besides, you’re family now. Shit like this is what we do.”
And just like that, this big burly man melts my heart. “Thank you, Mr. Quinterro. I really appreciate it.”
“Big Mike. Or Big Daddy, if Gabe’ll let you.” He scrunches his nose and winks at his wife, who is already reaching out to swat him on the arm.
