Bad Wolf (Wild Men 4)

I’ll just have a coffee with her, I decide, and make small talk, then I’m off home.

“Holy shit, he made you come twice before he did? Not something you’d get with most guys, trust me. And aw boy, he said that to your mom? About nobody wanting to adopt him? That’s so sad.”

Yeah, my resolution not to tell Syd everything held all of five minutes. I had too much gathered in my chest not to let it out. I felt like I was going to explode.

And ended up spewing up every little detail to Sydney. Feels like old times.

“He sounds so nice,” she says, eating the foam off her latte with her spoon. “Like any girl would wish her boyfriend to be.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I whisper, stirring my coffee that has long gone cold.

“Aw.” She puts her spoon down. “I’m sure he’ll ask you. I have a gut feeling. That boy is so in love with you.”

“I wish I could be so sure.”

“You are. You love him, Gigi.”

My face warms. “What gave me away?”

“You look so happy when you talk about him. Can’t fake that.”

No, I can’t, can I? “I don’t know what to do,” I confess.

“Call him.”

“No way. I can’t. He’s…” I push my mug away. “He’s caught up in bad things.”

“So you’ve told me. But you decided he’s worth it.”

“Worth what?”

She looks at me like I’ve caught the stupid. “You, girl. He’s worth having you. That’s big, you know. I’ve never heard you talk about someone like that. It’s like every word comes from your heart.”

I bow my head. “It does,” I whisper. “But the gang…”

“Show him.”

“What?” I blink at her.

“Show him what it could be like, without the gang. With you. You see…” Her gaze goes kind of distant. “If you’ve spent your life fighting, you don’t know what peace is. You don’t know what kindness is.”

“He’s kind,” I protest.

“Good.” She smiles. “Then there’s hope for him. Help him, Gigi. Convince him he can live this life, that even if he loses everything, he can still have you. Do it now, before he gets in too deep with the gang, before he gives up his life for the only cause he knows. Show him there’s more to life.”

“And since when have you become all-knowing?” I say, my voice shaking.

“I’ve always been all-knowing,” she says with a wink. “Chin up, girlfriend, and go get your man.”

“Jesus, I don’t know,” I whisper. “I sort of kidnapped him last night. I’m sure repeated kidnappings are frowned upon by the law.”

“He didn’t seem upset, though, did he?”

“No.” I shake my head. “And he didn’t tell me why he was standing out in the rain. I’m worried about him.”

“Listen to me, Gigi.” She leans across the table. “Listen to your wise friend who will get her own ducks in a row someday. Don’t wait for him to call. Not now. You made the last move? So what? Make the next one, too. Why do we have to wait for the men to come after us?” She highfives me. “Power to the women, girl!”

Sighing, reluctantly smiling, I highfive her back. “Yeah.”