Page 192 of Fighting Chance

An hour later, monkey heads securely covering our faces and the ring clutched in a non-descript bag in Grayson’s hand, a kid runs up to me, holding his hand up in the air for a high five.

“Fuck yeah, dude! Getting ready for Fright Night?”

“Yeah, bro!”

Grayson chuckles at my blatant lie but as the kid runs off, my eyes catch on the haunted house posters tacked up around the mall and his words from the jeweler replay in my mind.

Then it hits me.

“Holy shit, I think I know what to do.”

“What?”

Pointing at Grayson, I laugh. “You owe me a favor, right?”

“Uh, no? But I can help.”

I clasp his shoulders, leading us to the car quickly. “Good, because I’m going to need all the help I can get with this one.” Grinning, I slide into Grayson’s car, not even bothering to take off the monkey costume as I dial Layla’s number.

Grayson immediately rips off his monkey head and frowns at me. “What the hell is going on?”

“Taking your advice,” I say as explanation but that only makes his frown deepen.

Layla picks up on the third ring, out of breath. “Hey, is everything okay?”

“Better than okay. Is Bella there?”

There’s some rustling on the line before Layla says, “You’re on speaker. What’s up?”

“Your mom’s been hounding you to see Emmy, right?”

Grayson looks as perplexed as Layla sounds. “Um, yes, why?”

“Call her and see if she’s free.”

“It’s a Sunday, she will be. Why, what’s happening?”

“Ask her if she wants to look after Emmy.”

Bella and Layla snort at the same time.

“Of course she will say yes,” I hear Bella murmur, the sound of her voice making my best friend’s eyes turn all goo-goo.

Rolling mine beneath the monkey mask, I go on. “Good, tell her to watch Emmy and then meet us at the address I text you.”

“What the hell is going on? Why do you sound so muffled, and where is my boyfriend?” Bella calls over the line.

Grayson’s eyes are shining, his cheeks tinting. “Hi, Blaze,” he pipes up.

“Hi, Grayson.” She sounds like she’s smiling.

“Yeah, why are you muffled?” Layla asks suddenly.

I whip off the monkey head. “Jesus, I can breathe now. Thank fuck.”

Grayson slaps my chest.

“Ow!”