Page 58 of Into the Blue

Weird that she mentioned him.“What do you know about Redd?”

“Idon’tknow anything.” She dabs at her lipstick and she closes the mirror. It thunks against the roof of the car. Seems like I struck a nerve. “Well, besides the fact that he has the uncanny ability to pop up when I least expect…”

My eyes narrow as we get close to my brother’s house on Mason Ranch where he works as the ranch manager. She probably isn’t wrong about Redd, but I’m not gonna confirm anything. Him looking out for her, even in this creepy stalker way, benefits me. I like for my best friend to be safe. No one will keep her safer than that crazy motherfucker.

“Didn’t answer my question.”

She rolls her eyes, “Couple weeks.It’s new.He hit me up when he was in Clayton Terrace and we just got to talking.”

“That lil’ shit.”

“What?”

“He was in a pissy mood at the crib the other day. Didn’t tell me he was comin’ either, just showed up all late and shit. Come to find out, he was mackin’ on you while he was here.”

Her head tilts to the side. “Don’t do the big brother thing, okay? I like him and we’re just seeing how it goes.”

“So, you’re gettin’ off and gettin’ gone?”

“Do you have to be so crude?” She’s looking out the window at the mountains passing to our right. I’m in her line of sight so I shrug, waiting for her to answer the question. “No, I’m not. We—we haven’t had sex.”

My lips curl in disbelief. “At all?”

“No,” she says with no inflection in her tone to give anything away. I can’t believe this Boy Scout hasn’t even tried it. A couple weeks? God damn, he is definitely the better brother.

“On purpose?”

“Yes, on purpose. He was very upfront about that.”

Now what Redd said about him being tied up in Drea makes more sense. I don’t have the heart to tell Steph though.Not my business.Tony’s more gone for this woman that I think he even realizes. Maybe Steph will be the one to change that.

“You like it, I love it,” I say, as noncommittally as I can. It doesn’t matter to me whether those two are getting any. This is what I sacrificed for him to be able to do.Be a Boy Scout while I remain the monster.

“I do,” she responds and then adds, “What ever happened to your dancer?”

“Nothin’.” Though it’s far from the truth. She has had far too much happen to her since Steph and I last talked and it’s my fault. By keeping her at my place, I can keep her safe, but she’s also in more danger. If they only suspected before—it’s confirmed now.

Blue has someone he cares about.

A vulnerability to exploit.

“That’s not what I meant.” She bumps into my shoulder. “Did you ever hook up with her or something? I don’t know what you do…”

“What makes you think I do anythin’?” She lifts an eyebrow. I haven’t exactly been discreet or dishonest about not wanting to be in a relationship. “I could be a good little boy like Tony.”

“I actuallyknowboth of you. So that lie doesn’t even begin to fool me.”

“Sure you do, sweetheart.” I tell her a version of the truth of the situation. “She’s aight. I’m watchin’ her, makin’ sure she’s good.”

Her face scrunches up in a way that should be reserved for small fuzzy animals and not the grown ass man that I am. “That sounds really sweet, Blue.”

I mock her dumb face and add, “Don’t appreciate the surprise. I can be a gentleman.”

“Sure, sure. Glad you took my advice then,” she says distractedly since we’re pulling up to Tony’s place. I’m thankful that she’s not fully paying attention and grilling me more about Racquelle. She is not someone I’m ready to share anything about.

I want to keep her all for myself, even in friendly conversation with my best friend.

I park in front of his house and grab my bag and hers from the car. Tony’s dog, Milli, is already barking and jumping at the door before we get there.