Want me to come get you?

Quinn stopped and stared at the phone. Was this dangerous? It didn’t feel dangerous. Tyler had had ample opportunity to hurt her last night and he hadn’t.

When Becca had first told her about finding Chris in the middle of a fight with Tyler and Seth in the parking lot, Quinn’s first question had been, “Why?”

She’d never gotten a good answer.

She slid her thumbs across the face of her phone.

Are more taquitos in my future?

Play your cards right and there might be a soda, too.

His texts were teasing, so she wasn’t sure if his offer to come get her was genuine. She didn’t want to get off the bus until she knew for sure.

Then her phone lit up with a new message.

Don’t make me ride the bus all night. Where should I pick you up?

“Excuse me,” she called to the driver. “What’s the next stop?”

“Annapolis Mall. West side.”

Next stop is Annapolis Mall. West side.

Well look at that. You just got upgraded to a soft pretzel. See you in 10.

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 12

Nick swore at his cell phone for the third time. Or maybe the tenth. He’d lost track.

“Enough.” Adam reached across his tiny kitchen table and took the phone. He put it behind him on the counter, next to where the coffeemaker was choking out a pot.

“I’m sorry,” Nick said.

“It’s all right. I care about her, too.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t get to rehearse.”

Adam shrugged. “I’ll make do.”

But it bothered him. Nick could tell. Adam had less than two weeks until his audition, and Quinn’s temper tantrum might not be for tonight only. “I shouldn’t have set her off in the truck.”

Adam frowned. “That’s not your fault.”

Nick blew out a long rush of breath and ran a hand through his hair. He glanced at his phone on the counter. “I just wish she’d answer.”

“She did answer.”

Nick gave him a look—but he was right. Quinn had answered. She’d told him she was fine. Then she’d told him to fuck off.

“I’m worried she’s going to hang out with Tyler, just to piss me off.”

The coffeemaker beeped, signaling it was done, and Adam stood. “And would that piss you off?”

His tone was easy, but there was the tiniest bit of an edge hiding there. Nick blinked and realized he was being an idiot.

“Yeah,” he said. “But not like that. I want Quinn to be happy. But Tyler is not a good guy.”

“You think he’ll hurt her?”

He’d hurt her once already—but Nick couldn’t explain that without explaining everything. “I hope not. I don’t know.”