Then, a moment later, I see him. AJ Callahan.
He cuts across the people in front of me, holding his own cue stick. I recognize that same slow and gentle swagger. He’s wearing a fitted light gray T-shirt with a single button open at the neck. My gaze is drawn to the way the ribbed cotton material, like his jeans, clings in all the right places. For a moment, I can’t bring myself to take in his face, in case it’s changed somehow from the one that I remember when I imagine myself back in that closet. But when I raise my eyes a fraction further, it feels like the air has been sucked from my lungs, because while he’s not changed, AJ’s certainly matured. His jawline is more defined. His lips are a touch fuller. He still has the dark, slightly messy hair that first drew me to him, the intense look in his eyes, like you wouldn’t dare cross him, and there’s an intricate tattoo that travels the circumference of his bicep.
I watch him position the cue stick before bending forward, his concentrated expression on the blue felt of the pool table. I notice that he’s chewing gum, like he always used to.
Balthazar elbows me in the ribs, like we’re best friends. ‘AJ makes these two shots, he wins the other guy’s jacket.’
I watch AJ, still considering the angle of his shot. Memories of my teenage self pining over him flood my brain.
‘That other dude rides a Turbine Streetfighter,’ Balthazar whispers excitedly. ‘But his jacket’s bespoke and is—’ He presses the tips of his fingers together and gives achef’s kissmotion.
‘Right,’ I say back, never more conscious of my innate Britishness. None of what he said means anything to me and this evening is growing crazier with every passing second. I wish I’d never offered to take out the trash at Sunset Pines.
Balthazar looks at me and shakes his head. I glance at him and feel like I’m in high school again.
It means I miss AJ’s shot, but he pockets the ball, leaving only the black 8-ball remaining. A hushed ripple goes through the small crowd.
He pockets the 8-ball with ease, and a cheer goes up. The other man doesn’t look very happy as he shakes AJ by the hand. Someone else passes AJ a black leather jacket. AJ turns his back and the man helps him into it. I note that the back has an intricately embroidered image of a human skull.
‘Reyes!’ a voice snaps behind me, and I turn. An older man stares me down, a look of menace on his face. He has thick brows, a handlebar mustache, bulging eyes and a rounded belly. His long, gray, curly hair is tied back into a low ponytail. He wears a black leather motorcycle vest over a white T-shirt.
‘Hey, Echo,’ Balthazar says over his shoulder, though I detect a note of uncertainty in his tone.
The older man, who I now know to be Echo Salinger, jabs a large finger at me.
‘What the hell you think you’re doing bringingherin here? You know who this is? This is the goddamn mayor’s daughter!’
Balthazar pales. ‘Sorry, Echo, I clean forgot.’
Echo is still thrusting his finger at me. ‘Well,shecan’t be in here.Sheneeds to go.’
I’m mortified. People are watching. I hold up my hands, as though in surrender. ‘She’s not my mother,’ I stutter. ‘She’s my, um, stepmother. I’m so sorry, I didn’t—’
In a blind panic, I turn to Balthazar. ‘Please tell AJ I need to talk to him. It’s about his brother…’
And without thinking, I run out of there as fast as I can.
Chapter Four
AJ
When I look over at Reyes, Echo’s chewing him out about something. Echo’s pissed, because he’s waving his hands in the air.
‘Hey,’ I say, going over there just as Echo storms off, back to serve drinks at the bar. I lift my arms. ‘How d’you like the new jacket?’
‘Sweet,’ Reyes responds, but I always know when there’s something up with him.
‘S’up with Echo?’
My best friend looks awkward. ‘Uh… do you remember Jenny English?’
A memory flashes through my mind. I’m eighteen years old again, blindfolded in a closet with the softest lips on mine. ‘High school Jenny English? Blond girl. Kinda timid. What about her?’
‘She, uh, she was here. Moment ago. Came with a message for you. Said it was about your brother.’
I bristle. ‘What? Which brother?’
‘She didn’t say. Echo… he, uh, he just kinda… he kicked her out the bar.’