Page 76 of Justice

“—the time?” Justice interjected. “The answer is a painful, yes. All. The. Time.”

Liberty scoffed. “You are just a clever boy, aren't you? Anyways, Belle insisted on coffee. So as usual, I made the best of it.”

“Coffee and donuts?” Justice grinned. “You do have brief moments of cleverness yourself. Hand one over.”

“Well, only if you're a good boy,” Liberty teased.

Justice paused to look over at me with a raised brow.

I lowered my head as my cheeks went hot.

“Oh and Belle got you a tshirt,” Liberty added.

Belle nodded as she carried a cardboard tray of styrofoam cups. “Just a second,” she said as she turned to hand them to Liberty. He took it as she unlooped a bag from her wrist and gave it to me.

I grabbed the bag and opened it. Taking it out, I shook it to straighten it.

Justice stared at it and scowled.

Peering down at it, I saw it was a bright yellow and had writing on it. “I went to Ramton General and all I got was this tshirt,” I read it aloud.

Justice raised his stunned gaze up to look at Belle.

She shook her head as Liberty handed the tray to her again. “He picked it out.” She motioned her head at Liberty.

Liberty shrugged while attempting to look innocent as he explained, “It was all they had at the gift shop.”

“Yes, but they had white ones too,” Belle said. “But he said you loved yellow.”

Justice shook his head. “Yeah, right…yellow.”

Liberty chuckled. “It’s better than the crimson tie dyed piece of shit you’re wearing.”

“Ok, nut ball. I will remember this.” Justice kept glaring at Liberty. “Put me in and hand me a glazed one.”

Liberty gave him a mock pout. “Fine, be that way. See if I buy you any more ‘get well’ gifts.”

Justice snorted as he flipped him off with his good hand.

Tank and Ranger transferred him into the backseat of the cab and when they moved away, I climbed in next to him.

Belle handed me a cup of coffee in a styrofoam cup then turned to get into the front of the cab.

Liberty moved in closer to give us two donuts in wax paper wrappers and then he stepped over to climb into the cab.

In the front, Belle passed Ranger a cup of the to-go coffee.

He popped the little pour slot open and took a whiff. “Damn, that smells good.”

“Not as good as this,” Liberty said as he passed Ranger a donut.

I took a sip of the nowwarmcoffee and turned to hand the cup to Justice.

He shook his head as he had a mouthful of glazed donut. Wearing a grin, he handed the second one to me.

We all sat for a few minutes as we soaked in the peace, sugar and caffeine.

Ranger broke the silence as he announced, “They rode through town and yes, one of the satellites was tracking them.”