I didn’t.

Don’t.

I don’t.

She’s my sweet little vengeance, nothing else.

She is little, but I wonder just how sweet she is?

No.

Fuck, man... I gotta go.

I meet her eyes once more, and the fucking girl gives a small, side smile.

“Thank you for the cake, Royce Brayshaw.”

Right, cake she said.

I pop a shoulder, smoothing my shirt out with my left hand. “Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, Brielle Bishop.”

“Right.” She nods.

My phone rings in my pocket, so I use it as an excuse to turn away from her.

“What up, Cap?”

“We were right, Enoch’s involved.”

I stop in my tracks. “We found proof?”

There’s a shuffle and then I hear Cap shout, “Zo, don’t put your hands in the cage, or you’ll be monkey meat.”

I laugh. “That girl would live at the zoo if you let her.”

“Yeah, I know.” He chuckles. “Here, talk to Beauty, Zoey wants me to feed these fucking things.”

Victoria comes on the line a second later. “Hey.”

“VicVee, how’d you find hard ties?”

“Enoch got fucked-up last night, like we hoped.”

“Thank fuck he showed up.”

“They always do.”

“So, what happened, you heard him spill his shit or what?”

“Mm, not exactly me.” She laughs. “But we’ll save that explanation for later. First, guess what his order was?”

I grin, thinking back to the broken shards of green Mac found all over the field. “Mickey’s with a lime.”

“All night long,” she sings. “Maddoc talked to Will behind the bar, and he took a look at the orders. He said he’s never restocked Mickey’s, and Enoch’s the first to ever order.”

“‘Cause it tastes like warm piss. I didn’t even know we carried the shit.”

“That’s what Captain said, but back to spilling his business. So Enoch’s whole getting fresh with the girl in the cafeteria, and approaching the fresh meat, aka Brielle, on sight yesterday?”

I frown.

“Seems he’s on the heartbreak rebound.”

“So long-time girlfriend Taylor Simms is now the ex-girlfriend.” I slow. “We thinkin’ she fucked with the coach?”

“It makes the most sense.”

“Pissed off boyfriend, 101.”

“Yep.” She runs through it. “Enoch Cameron, feeling bad for himself, as he should, takes a twelve-pack of Mickey’s with lime to the field to drink away his sorrows, gets too wasted and busts out a bat.”

“Takes it to the board, and what? Coach shows up in the middle of it?”

“Or he called his once-loved coach to trick him into coming, punish him for touching what wasn’t his?”

“So why rob us, and why’s Coach Von lie and say he doesn’t know how it was? The seasons over and Enoch’s a senior, not like he’d have lost his starting player?”

“And why the tears from Taylor?”

I nod. “So there’s more, but we know enough to know Enoch’s guilty of something.”

“Exactly. He for sure smashed the board in, but the rest is still in the air.” She sighs. “You’ll call Maddoc?”

“Yup.”

“K. Bye.”

She hangs up, and I dial Maddoc. He answers on the first ring, and I run through everything with him.

“Break two fingers on Enoch’s left hand,” he says instantly.

“He pitches right.”

“I know, but it’s a solid fucking warning. You don’t fuck with our shit, and you sure as fuck don’t put panic in our school. People think an outsider came onto our campus, that was on purpose. He should know better.”

“He should have come to us if there was a fucking problem.”

“That’s the fuckin’ thing. He went about it wrong. He knows that shit ain’t allowed and we’ll be forced to handle it.”

“We gonna give him a little batting lesson?”

“You know it, but we’ll let him think he’s in the clear for a minute so we can catch him off guard.” Maddoc chuckles.

“That’s the best way to play, brother.” I laugh. “Aye, have fun buying diapers.”

Maddoc scoffs. “I will, dickhead, and Raven said since you didn’t come with us today you’re making your lasagna tonight.”

I grin. “Anything for my baby.”

“I’ll fuck you up.”

I laugh, my eyes sliding across the yard when Micah appears again. I frown. “Gotta go, brother. I got plans to ruin.”

I hang up the line, tapping my phone against my leg, and figure, fuck it.

Saturdays are the best days to party, and clearly, I’ve still got a shitload of tension to release.

Last night wasn’t enough.

I send two texts as I walk back to my house, the first to Micah and the second to Brielle.

Me: be ready to leave in ten minutes. I’ll pick you up.

Me: be ready at ten. Mac will pick you up.

I grin.

Sorry little Bishop, but consider your plans canceled.

I’m taking Micah for the day and putting you both to work tonight.

Brielle

“Try this one.” Valine hands me a fudge ball covered in white powder.

I pop it into my mouth and gag, quickly spitting it out.

She smirks, shaking her head in faux disappointment. “You’re a pansy.”

“No, you’re just trying to kill me,” I tease. “What is that? Chile flavored vanilla?”

“Something like that, yeah.” She tosses the rest in the garbage and hops up. “All right, I’m out. I’ve had enough human contact for one day. I’m ready to flip some people off or something.”

I laugh and stand with her. “Okay.”

I’m almost positive Royce was hoping I’d be upset that he took over my afternoon as I’m sure he believes he did, but honestly, I don’t even care. I still had Valine, even if it did take some bribery to get her to come out with me in the end.

“So don’t look.” She digs into her bag, pulling out some ChapStick. “But the weirdo over by the bathrooms keeps looking this way.”

“What makes him a weirdo?”

Her hand pauses at her lips. “He’s standing outside the men’s bathroom, peeping on two girls on a park bench.”

I grab a piece of garbage off the ground so I can turn to throw it away.

Valine scoffs. “Real subtle, chick. Remind me never to do recon with you.”

“Shut up.” I look over and squint. “Wait, I know that guy.”

“Ugh,” she grumbles. “Of course you do. Well, I’m out. See you at the house later tonight.”

I nod and start walking forward.

His eyes lift, shifting right this way but when he realizes I’m headed to him, they widen.

He quickly straightens and puts on a small grin. “Hey, Brielle, right?”

I laugh. “Yeah, August, right?” I tease.