Beauty and the Lumberjacks by Lee Savino

Author:Lee Savino [Savino, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silverwood Press

6

Elon

* * *

“Hey, redhead.”

I stop in the hall even though I don’t want to. Jagger sits splayed on his bed, a cloud of smoke over his head.

“No smoking in the lodge,” I parrot. “You know Lincoln doesn’t like it.”

Jagger rolls his eyes, but he rises to lean against the window and blow smoke out the crack. I wait while he stubs the joint out and turns to me with an obnoxious smile, hands splayed to show me the obvious. Like I’ll believe he’s done for the night. As soon as I continue to my room, the joint will be back in his mouth.

“What do you want?”

“Can’t I say hello to my favorite redhead?”

“What’s my name, Jagger?” I wait while he squints at me, lips parting as if he’s going to guess.

“Okay.” Jagger laughs like he told a hilarious joke. “You got me. I never can tell the difference between you two.”

“I’m Elon,” I say patiently.

“Right. You got any booze left, Elon?”

I shrug. I have a bottle of port I’m saving for the first day of fall. My tradition. But Lincoln doesn’t like us drinking on season. One of his funny rules.

Not that it stops Jagger.

“Guess I’ll have to wait until I’m in town,” Jagger sighs dramatically.

“Guess you will,” I say, and turn to keep walking.

“No, no, wait.” Jagger scrambles to the door, staggering a little in his haste. I wrinkle my nose. Jagger’s always heading off into the woods on his breaks. I’m not sure how much stuff he smokes, or how he manages to hide it, but he won’t be long for the crew if Lincoln catches on. Too bad, too. Lincoln’s crew is a sweet deal, even before we got Sierra.

“So the girl,” Jagger lowers his voice conspiratorially. “Whatcha think?”

“She’s all right,” I say. She was more than all right. She’s so sweet, the way she cares about us. Most people look at me and see my brother’s doppelganger. Not Sierra. She pauses to study me carefully before addressing me by name. Every time.

“I’m trying to figure out where she came from, what her deal is. She say anything?”

I shrug negative.

“A hundred bucks says she was turning tricks in town and approached Lincoln.”

I wrinkle my nose. “That doesn’t seem like Sierra.” There was something about her. A freshness, a spark of joy. I can tell when she dances.

“Come on, bet me.”

“No.” I step back. “If you need money, go ask Saint for a loan.”

“Awww, no,” Jagger whines. “He’ll throw me out. Right after he turns me down.”

I shrug. “Guess that’s your answer.”

“But seriously.” Jagger leans close and I automatically retreat. “Something’s up with Sierra. I’m gonna find out. I think she’s fucking Lincoln extra.”

“You’re just annoyed she got the night off tonight.”

“I mean, what else does she have to do?” Jagger exclaims and I step back from the spray.

“Leave her alone, Jagger. You got more things to worry about.” I point behind him when he looks confused. “You better air out your room better than this. Smells like skunk.

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