“GUESS WHERE I AM.CLUE? she texted back SWEAR U WON'T TELL A SOUL? U HAVE 2 ASK?I reluctantly texted,@ DINNER W. MARCIE'S DAD.#?@#$?!&MY MOM IS DATING HIM.TRAITOR! IF THEY GET MARRIED, U & MARCIE...COULD USE A LITTLE CONSOLATION HERE!DOES HE KNOW UR TEXTING ME? Vee asked.NO. THEY R INSIDE. I'M IN THE PARKING LOT ----COOPERSMITHS.THE PIMP. 2 GOOD 4 APPLEBEE'S, I SEE.I'M GOING 2 ORDER THE MOST EXPENSIVE THINGS ON THE MENU. IF ALL GOES WELL,HIM GOING TO THROW HANK'S DRINK IN HIS FACE 2.”

“Positive. In other news, Marcie's throwing a Halloween party here at the farmhouse."Patch smiled. "Grey - Millar family drama?""The theme is famous couples from history. Could she be any less original? Worse, she's roped my mom into this. They went shopping for decorations today. For three whole hours. It's like they're suddenly best friends." I picked up another apple slice and made a face at it. "Marcie is ruining everything. I wanted Scott to go with Vee, but Marcie already convinced him to go with her." Patch's smile widened.I aimed my best sulky look at him. "This isn't funny. Marcie is destroying my life. Whose side are you on anyway?"Patch raised his hands in surrender. "I'm staying out of this.”

“Stridey-Man' asked, Want 2 vacay w/me?William snorted as he typed. Romantic getaway for 2? UR not my type, dickwad.Fuck U. i'm everybody's types. So U in or out?Last chance in or out?InKnew U couldn't resist me. B ready in 5.Right on. Make it 10. I want 2 style my hair for U. U know, just how U like it.ASSHOLE.”

“Stridey-Man: " Want 2 vaca w/me?"William: "Romantic getaway for 2? UR not my type"Stridey-Man: "I'm everyone's type. So U in or out? 'Cause I'm thinking about hooking up w/P, wherever he is. U'd just B extra baggage."William: "In"Stridey: "Knew you couldn't resist me. B ready in 5."William: "Right on. Make it 10. I want 2 style my hair for U. U know, just how U like it."Stridey: "Now U only have 8 minutes 2 do UR hair.”

“Okay, calm down, we'll pay,"said Vee, reaching into her back pocket. She stuffed a wad of cash into the bowl, but it was dark and I couldn´t tell how much. "You owe me big-time," she told me. "You're supposed to let me count the money first," Marcie said, digging through the bowl, trying to recapture Vee´s donation. "I just assumed twenty was too high for you to count," Vee said. "My apologies." Marcie's eyes went slitty again, then she turned on her heel and carted the bowl back into the house. "How much did you give her?" I asked Vee. "I didn't. I tossed in a condom." I lifted my eyebrows."Since when do you carry condoms?""I picked one up off the lawn on our way up the walk. Who knows, maybe Marcie'll use it. Then I'll have done my part to keep her genetic material out of the gene pool.”

“Sì, maybe I should consult Viktor. Niccolo pulled his phone from his pocket. His fingers jabbed at the miniature text pad with frustration: H asked me 2 break 1 of my rules, then I should sleep w/ her. Yes? Niccolo hit send. Viktor responded immediately: U mean sexting. right? Niccolo: Sexting? Viktor: Sex+texting. Niccolo: Idiot. real sex. Viktor: Dumbass! Then u lose chance 4 freedom. Niccolo: Have lost it already. I think.Viktor: K, then tell her who U R instead, ass.”

“He gave Marcie a spare to the Jeep—I should park this thing in the ocean, twenty feet under.”