Grip (The Slip Trilogy Book 2) Read Free Page A

grabs his brother from behind, Check tries to get in front of the Jumpers, who are charging forward. Rod trips on Check’s leg and goes sprawling while Gonzo runs smack into Check, who crushes him in a bear hug. While Harrison struggles to break free of Benson’s grip, Gonzo’s legs keep churning, forcing Check back and into the twin brothers. Rod regains his feet and tackles everyone around the ankles, throwing them down in a tangle of arms and legs.
    Benson’s got someone’s stinky armpit in his face and at least two bodies on top of him when the door opens. He swivels his head and loses whatever breath he had left.
    Luce stands in the doorway. Her hands go to her hips, but Benson barely notices, because his gaze starts at her feet and slowly travels up her long, lean, brown legs. It’s not until he’s taken in her curves and reached her smirking lips that he remembers to take another forced breath.
    “I can’t leave you animals alone for ten minutes, can I?” she says.
    “Benson’s brother started it,” Rod says, unwilling to even say Harrison’s name.
    “How mature,” Harrison says, pushing off Benson’s chest to regain his feet. “I don’t have the energy for you morons. I’m going to go check on my douche bag mother.”
    When Luce doesn’t move, he pushes past her. Douche bag? Luce mouths to Benson, rubbing her shoulder.
    He shakes his head. There’s nothing to explain really. Sometimes people from different worlds don’t mix too well.
    “Benson, I’m sorry,” Rod says, gingerly touching his cheek, which is red and puffy. “I didn’t mean Janice.”
    “I know,” he says. He meant my dad , he adds in his head. He knows they all hate Michael Kelly, regardless of whether he’s dead or alive. Regardless of whether he died to save Benson and Luce. He can’t really blame them, can he? His father was Head of Pop Con for many years. Many years during which countless unauthorized children were killed in cold blood on his father’s orders. He knows he should hate his father too, but—
    He can’t.
    He’s tried. The last three nights when he’s supposed to be sleeping he’s gritted his teeth and clenched his fists and whispered “I hate you I hate you I hate you,” again and again, like a prayer. But instead of seeing his father as a baby-killing monster, he always pictures him at the end, as the protector who ushered them to safety while blocking the bullets aimed their way.
    “I think we all need a break from this boredom,” Check says. “Listen, I’ve been talking to some of the guys and they told me about this Lifer club that’s supposed to be insane. We could go tonight. It’ll take our minds off of—well, everything. Whaddya say, Luce? I’d save at least one dance for you.”
    Benson groans inwardly. While he’s continued to delay telling his best friend about he and Luce’s budding relationship, his friend has been more aggressive than ever in pining for her affections. He feels like a complete jerk, as he knows he should.
    “I’m in,” Gonzo says.
    “ Sí ,” Rod agrees.
    “Thanks, but I don’t know if I’m up for it,” Benson says.
    “Me either,” Luce agrees quickly, trying to hide the smile she flashes Benson under her hand.
    “Suit yourselves,” Check says. “But if you change your minds, the place is called Dark and it’s on level minus-ten. Now I’m going to get some grub, who’s in?”
    “Me,” Rod and Gonzo say at the same time. Now that they’ve got a ready supply of food at their disposal, Benson is only just beginning to learn how much his friends can eat. He, on the other hand, hasn’t had much of an appetite lately.
    “See you later,” he says as his friends leave. He tries to ignore the wink that Check offers Luce when he passes her.
    When they’re gone, Luce flops down on the bed next to him, leaving a bit of empty space between them. He used to agonize over Luce’s every move, reading into the way she would to avoid his touch, but now