Tough Shit (Rejects Paradise 1)

My bottom lip pouts but I can’t help but like his plan. The bus ride would take me nearly four hours, but if Nic’s driving, he will have me there in two. I reluctantly sit back up, bringing the blankets with me only to realize that it’s not necessary. I’m completely clothed and I let out a small sigh of relief. I don’t think I’ve ever woken in this bed with clothes on before, but I guess there’s a first for everything.

“Worried that I took advantage of you while you slept?” Nic scoffs, diving through his closet for his shoes.

I roll my eyes and peel myself out of bed, ignoring his comment. I know he’d never take advantage of me like that. I walk straight through to the bathroom and roll my eyes at the way the bathroom mirror is fogged up with steam. Is it really that hard to use the bathroom fan? Boys will be boys, I guess. Some habits die hard.

I take care of business and as I step out into the hallway, I find Nic emerging from his bedroom. “You good?’ he asks, looking me up and down to make sure I’m ready.

“Yeah, but we’re going to need to stop for coffee on the way.”

He rolls his eyes which is as good as a yes. Nic isn’t a coffee drinker and honestly, I don’t get it. What kind of person isn’t a coffee drinker?

Soon enough, I’m riding in the front of Nic’s car as he speeds down the highway. Music fills the cab while heaviness sits on my heart. I’m not ready to go back. If I could stay just another few hours, maybe another day then that need to be with my boys might ease just a little, but I can’t. I’m supposed to be working and if I’m late, mom will never …

Fuck. Mom.

I suck in a gasp and start rifling through my things for my phone. “What’s wrong?” Nic demands, struggling to keep his eyes on the road.

“I didn’t tell mom that I was staying out yesterday. She would have worried all night.”

“Chill out, O,” Nic soothes. “I called her last night when you passed out on the couch and let her know I was driving you home this morning. She’s good. She knows you’re safe.”

Relief settles through me and I relax back into the seat. “Thanks,” I say with a grateful sigh, looking out at him to watch the way he handles his car with ease. “Did you hear from Eli last night? Is he good?”

“Yeah, He’s fine. There was a hold up at the doctor’s office so it took longer than he anticipated but he got his antibiotics and will probably be popping pills all fucking day. The poor fucker can’t get his rocks off for at least two weeks.”

I laugh, imagining the way his heart would have broken hearing that advice. “So, no cream?”

“Apparently not.”

I nod, feeling sorry for the guy when I remember one of the reasons I wanted to see Nic in the first place. “Can I ask you something?”

His brows furrow, knowing I never ask if I can ask something. It’s simply not something that I do. He looks over at me and narrows his eyes. “What?”

“You’re not going to like it.”

“Spit it out, Ocean.”

I press my lips into a firm line, trying to work out the right way to word this when I fuck it all to hell and go for it. Nic isn’t easily offended and despite knowing that he’s not going to want to discuss this, I can’t go back to Bellevue Springs without knowing the truth. “I need to know what you know about Colton and his friends. I know you’ve done your homework on them,” I tell him. “I’m not stupid. I know that you dug into their backgrounds and I know it wasn’t exactly done legally which means that you have all the dirt you need on them, and I need to know it.”

His fingers tighten on the steering wheel. “Can’t you just be satisfied with me telling you to steer clear of them?”

I shake my head. “I need to know what situation I’m about to walk back into. They all have skeletons in their closets.”

“Do you understand what kind of position you’re putting me in? This information was given to me in confidence. If word gets out that I spilled information, we’d lose our contact and it’d be my head on the firing line.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” I promise. “I just need to know what to look out for.”

Nic is quiet for a short moment before letting out a pained sigh. He doesn’t want to break his contact’s trust but at the same time, my safety will always come first where Nic is concerned. “Alright,” he finally says, “But I swear to God, O. If this gets out and it’s traced back to me, it’s my fucking balls on the line. Do you understand that?”