On the Edge Read Online Free Page A

an alley, ready to go at me with baseball bats.
    I shoved the thought aside. Those guys were locked up and wouldn’t be getting out on bail anytime soon—Detective Gutierrez had assured me of that. I couldn’t shut myself away from the world because of last night.
    Still, I brought Dex with us. I had no doubt he’d rip to shreds anyone who tried something with me. Thanks to Boyd, Dex hated all men. When I took him on walks, he growled at every guy who passed by. That was why my friends never let me take him to the store with us, since cruising for guys was part of the point.
    But tonight, they didn’t protest.
    Sasso’s Variety was three blocks away. It was open twenty-four hours, three hundred and sixty-five days a year, and had been robbed more times than I could count. It had cameras everywhere now and was probably more secure than the local Citibank. There was a No Dogs Allowed sign on the door, so I tied Dex up outside.
    Dex bared his teeth to a group of b-ballers with sports drinks, and they moved a few feet away. Beyond them, a homeless woman sat cross-legged with a cardboard box of change in front of her. I’d seen Hector here so many times. An image of his flaming body rose up in my mind. I shook my head, trying to dislodge it.
    We went inside, the shop’s doorbell dinging above us. I glanced behind the counter. Unfortunately, the good-looking cashier was working. He always seemed to be working when I was buying something embarrassing, like tampons or junk food, or when I looked sloppy, like when I was buying milk early in the morning. That was my guy karma.
    My friends buzzed at the sight of him—unruly black hair, a chiseled, clean-shaven face. He wore a faded T-shirt and jeans, and had tanned, muscular arms unmarred by tattoos. Nobody knew his name, since this wasn’t the sort of store where you wore a name tag, but it didn’t matter—they appreciated him as pure, unadulterated guy candy.
    We went to the chip/candy aisle and filled a basket with whatever looked appealing. I heard Dex barking. My heart leaped into my throat, and I darted a look outside. But Dex was just being Dex, doing his best to intimidate a grizzled guy having a smoke.
    Damn it. Was I always going to be this jumpy?
    As we moved around the store, I sensed eyes following us. It was the guy at the register. Did he think we were shoplifting? We’d been here enough for him to know that wasn’t our M.O.
    When I glanced up, his gaze moved away. Of course. It was me he was watching. He must know I was the girl. The witness.
    We went up to the counter and unloaded the basket. Iz adjusted her red bra strap, which was sticking to her skin—one of her classic moves. “Muggy out, huh?”
    â€œYeah,” he said.
    Okay, I had to admit, I liked that he had always seemed immune to Iz. She knew it, too, and that only made her try harder.
    â€œWorking the graveyard tonight?” she asked.
    He looked at her like he wanted to say, “Duh,” but instead he said, “Yeah.”
    Abby turned to me, desperate not to laugh at Iz’s failure. I sputtered, and when the guy glanced at me, I turned it into a cough. His hazel eyes met mine for a long beat before looking away.
    â€œMust be a long, hard night for you,” Carmen said.
    My mouth dropped open. We expected this from Iz, but never from Carmen. Last night with Rafael must have boosted her confidence.
    â€œIt takes stamina.” His lips twitched, like he was trying not to smile. “But it’s no problem for me. I can go all night.”
    Abby’s nails dug into my arm as we both fought laughter. Carmen threw a glance at Iz, victorious. She’d gotten him to play along, and it was only her first try.
    Outside, Dex bounded high when he saw us. I untied him, glancing back through the glass. The guy behind the counter was still watching me.
    Guess I’d have to get used to it.

LOCA
    MOM SAID I SHOULD HAVE