Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I lean forward, elbows on my knees, and prop my head up by the chin. Am I really leaving Dreamwood? Is it all over? The island feels sleepy and abandoned in this area, making me feel as if it’s already forgotten me. No more cars have gone by since that last one. I wonder if that kid made it to the club with his laughing friends yet. I wonder if he dances badly.
I wonder if this is my last sunset in Dreamwood.
From the other side of the street, I spot an approaching guy—someone in an old tank top and shorts, messy hair, with a patchwork of stubble across his cheeks and neck.
Upon recognizing him, I lose all train of thought.
Whatever sliver of comfort still lived in me is gone.
He stops in the middle of the street with his hands in his pockets. “Hey there, buddy. Long time no see.”
The most unsettling thing about Ice is his lack of facial expression. He doesn’t look sly, nor evil, nor kind. He’s a blank slate at all times. You never really know what he’s planning until you’re already in the middle of it.
My acquaintance on the bench looks up at Ice, frowns, then glances at me with mild curiosity.
I face Ice. “I’m not your buddy.”
“Of course you are. We’ve been through so much, you and I, so much together.” He takes a few more steps across the street, then stops again. “Where’s your big lover?”
There’s no telling which friend he’s referring to. “Are you really so bored that you can’t leave me alone?”
“But you’re in my part of town. What’re you doing in my part of town, huh?”
“You don’t own any part of town,” I spit back at him. “I can go wherever I want.”
“Oh, yeah? You’re the big man of the island now, huh? Got yourself a big daddy to take care of you, and now you think you’re too good for me, huh? Why’re you being so cruel to your friend?” He becomes a drama queen for five seconds, grabbing his heart like I just struck an arrow in it. “Shit, and after all that meaningful time we spent together. I thought you learned how to share.”
“Share?”
“Yeah, share. You scored something nice. You’ve got a man with a house and a bank account. Why can’t you just invite your buddy over sometime? C’mon.” He’s up next to the bench now. “Let me have some of that sugar, too.”
“He’s not a bag of sugar.”
“Of course he is. Everyone here is. Have you learned nothing? Buddy, if we’re gonna make it here on this island, you gotta learn how to get coconuts out of trees, and I—”
“Doesn’t matter,” I cut him off. “I’m not gonna be here for much longer anyway.”
“What?”
“You heard me.” I point at the road. “I’m heading out of town. I’m leaving Dreamwood Isle. You can have all the sugar you want.”
He seems confused for a moment. Then he laughs as if I just told the funniest joke. “You can’t leave yet. Why go before making one last hit?” He plops down on the bench next to me. “I can help you, buddy. Let’s do it together.”
I get to my feet, putting distance between us. “I don’t want your help, Ice.”
He stands right up again and gets in my face. “Hey, you’re not thinking this through. I protected you when you slept, remember? All those nights, I watched your back. Remember that crazy fucker the day we met? I handled him, too.” His face is getting twitchy. This is not a good sign. “Why can’t you give back a little? You got something worked out with this sad bartender guy, clearly you made it work, so why are you keeping him all to yourself?”
“Cooper’s not a ‘scheme’ or a job. Cooper’s someone I actually care about. A good man with a good heart. He—”
“Bullshit.” Flecks of spit hit me in the face as he barks the word. “Good man? Good heart? He’s probably a letch who’s getting off on having a cute kid like you around.”
“He is not a letch.”
“If you cared about him, then why are you bailing? It’s obvious you think it isn’t going anywhere. Let me show you how wrong you are. Then we can hit the road together. Hey, if you don’t have the guts to do it,” he says, changing his tone erratically in an instant, “I can do it myself. Just give me an in, bud. Tell him you’re bringing a friend over to hang out tonight. When the man’s asleep—BAM!” He smacks his hands together. “We clear the bitch out. Cash, jewelry, valuables, whatever he’s got around. Then we bail. We’ll head up the causeway, grab a ride or hitchhike—with your cute face, that won’t be a problem—and I can show you my old spot. I got hookups in Houston, man. I know a pawn shop guy. We’re tight as fuck. He’ll buy anything. You and I can live big for a while.”