“Do we look like a charity case to you?” West asks, glowering at me. What the hell is this guy’s problem?
The first word on the tip of my tongue is ‘yes’, but I hold back. I can see that they are a proud group. I like Maddox and Raven. I think Zale and Barrett are probably okay, too. I don’t want to offend anyone just because West is being a dick, so I bite my tongue. It takes everything in me to hold back a choice response.
4
Raven
I want to crawl into a hole in the ground. I feel my cheeks burn. I want to punch West in the mouth to shut him up. He can be an obnoxious jerk, but this is too much, even for him.
I watch anger flash in Stephan’s eyes. I see his jaw tic, and his hands clench into fists for a second before he relaxes. Make that, forces himself to relax. I respect his control. His patience. It takes more to back off from this kind of situation than it does to retaliate. From the looks of Stephan, I’m pretty sure he can take care of himself, so he’s not backing down because he can’t hold his own against West. It’s because he’s more mature than my ex.
“The answer to your question,” I say, looking pointedly at West, “would be yes, we are most definitely a charity case.”
“That’s bullshit!” West grinds out.
“Everyone needs help at some point in their lives,” Stephan says. “Two years ago, I was on my brother’s sofa mooching off of him. Struggling to figure out—”
“Boo-fucking-hoo!” West says. “We don’t want to hear your sob stories. Call up Rage and—”
“No,” both Stephan and I say in unison; our eyes lock for a moment before I look over at West. “That was a bad idea yesterday, and it’s still a bad idea today.”
“I can take him,” West says. “I want my money.”
I see Stephan look at the ground. He has a smile on his face, which he quickly schools. He gives a shake of his head.
“What’s that, Stephan? That is your name, right?” West spits out. “You have something to say…?” I think he’s about to call Stephan an asshole but holds back at the very last second. Thank god!
“Trust me, you don’t want to go up against Rage when he’s using his powers,” Stephan says. “You got in a couple of cheap shots yesterday, but I assure you, you’d lose in a hot minute. You may not even survive it.”
I see West’s hackles go up. He’s always had a short fuse, but lately, ever since…what happened…and then the last couple of months, it’s gotten worse. So much worse! “Let’s stop this conversation right here,” I say. “There isn’t going to be any fight…not today, and not ever. I’m getting sick of repeating myself.”
“Since when are you the group leader, Raven?” West asks, his eyes narrowing. “Just because you’re a year older than the rest of us. It might have worked when we were kids, but not anymore. You’re always out to prove something.”
“Do you blame me?” I wish he would shut up. “Don’t answer that.” We don’t know Stephan. He seems like a nice guy, but who is he really? Who are his friends?
What are they?
I’m reminded of our run-in with that group of centaurs a year ago when we first left our weyr. The five of us made it out alive. I feel pity well in me for West. I know that day was the tipping point for him. I understand why he has these anger issues. I still can’t condone his behavior. I won’t!
“No one here is the leader, West,” Maddox says, slowly and carefully. “We agreed on that when we left. We don’t have much of a choice in this situation.” My brother turns to Stephan. “Would you mind telling us what you are before we take this any further? That might put our minds at rest. Not all non-humans are to be trusted.”
Stephan’s whole stance softens. His eyes, as well. They go from molten, dark chocolate to the sweeter variety. He even pushes his hands into his jeans pockets. “This is definitely a conversation for behind closed doors.”
“I think we’ll be okay,” I say. “It’s five to one.” I didn’t get a bad vibe from Stephan. In fact, it’s safe to say that the opposite is true. I felt a connection. I felt…an affection for him. I wouldn’t have gotten that from him if he was evil. I’m sure of it. Still, we have to be cautious. I didn’t get the best vibes from Rage…I certainly can’t say the same of him. “I agree with Stephan…we can talk about it when we get to wherever it is that we’re going.”
“I know a great diner down the road; brunch will be on me.” He looks over at West, who visibly bristles. His jaw tightens, and his muscles bunch. “One of these days…very soon…when you find someone in need of help…” He shrugs his massive shoulders. “You can pay it forward, how’s that?” He looks my way as he says the last but quickly turns towards Maddox.
My brother nods. “Brunch sounds good.”
Thankfully, no one else says anything one way or another.
“Let me call Jarrod, then,” Stephan says.
He walks away, not going too far. We wait while he has a heated conversation with his brother, who seems less than thrilled that Stephan is getting involved in anything to do with us. “They need our help. What if it was the other way around?” he says, pacing.
“Let me guess, you want to help because of that sexy piece of tits and ass? Am I right?” we all hear his brother say, even though we’re not trying to listen in. I feel my cheeks heat. Did they talk about me? Did Stephan say something?
West seems to grow in stature. I think I even hear him growl. I narrow my eyes on him in warning. He has no say in anything. It isn’t even like that. Not even close. This is a snag in the road. We’ll be on our way to the next town in no time.
“No! Fuck!” Stephan says. “Of course not. I want to help because they’re…they’re like us, and they need a break. That’s it!”
“It has nothing to do with us. We don’t know them! Don’t owe them anything. We don’t need the trouble.”
“Don’t be a dick about this,” Stephan responds, still pacing. “Let’s just help them so that they can be on their way.” It seems like we are on the same page there.
There is silence on the other end of the line for a few long seconds. Then he breathes out. “Fine. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Stephan swipes his screen and pushes his phone into his pocket. He walks back to us. We get our bags out of the trunk. West has a duffel. The rest of us each have one small bag. Then we stand around until Jarrod pulls up in his tow truck a couple of minutes later. It’s shiny and new. Painted in bright yellow, with red trim.
I’m shocked all over again at how much alike he and Stephan are. They’re the same height and build. The same hairstyles. Jarrod is wearing a yellow and red shirt, with a ‘Cross Roads Towing’ logo on the pocket. If they were in the same outfit, I’d be hard-pressed to tell them apart.
As Jarrod gets up close, I realize that isn’t exactly true. Their eyes are different. I think Jarrod’s are harder, somehow. More world-wise, maybe. There is something else in Stephan’s molten stare that I can’t put my finger on. I realize I’m quite literally staring at him, so I look away, focusing on Jarrod, who widens his stance. He’s staring at Barrett. It reminds me of how Stephan was looking at him earlier. Like he’d seen a ghost. Before I can think more on it, he nods in greeting, turning his gaze to Maddox and then me. “Car trouble?” he says to no one in particular.