Highways & Hostages by Jax Abbey Page A

in bed, and Finn in major trouble, this might be his time to shine.
    He spotted her leaning against the building, one hand holding an unlit cigarette, the other rummaging through her pockets. Billy reached into his own pocket and produced a lighter. He held it out.
    She accepted the lighter with a sniffle. “Thanks.”
    A lone tear raced down her cheek, mascara tracking its progress. She handed back the lighter and Billy pulled out an engraved silver cigarette case. He lit his own cigarette and returned the case to his pocket. He took a puff of his cigarette and exhaled, staring straight ahead.
    “I’m Will.”
    She sniffed and quickly swiped at her face. “Phoebe.”
    “I like your hat.”
    “Your hair’s cool.”
    Billy grinned to himself. Alex had laughed when he’d first gotten the haircut, but Billy didn’t care much what Alex thought. All that mattered was what the ladies thought.
    “So, why’s a hot girl like you crying alone out here?”
    “It’s nothing. My sister—half sister—and I just got into a stupid fight. She thinks I’m still a child.”
    “But you’re not,” Billy said matter-of-factly. He knew the feeling. Even though he, Alex, and Finn were all adults now, he often still felt as out of the loop as he had as a teenager. When he came home from boarding school for winter or summer breaks and wanted to hang out with the two older guys, they would shut Alex’s bedroom door in his face. They’d say they were “discussing business” and hole up there for hours. “You don’t look like a kid to me.”
    “Exactly! I’m not.” Phoebe scrubbed at one of the mascara tracks. “It’s so annoying. We fight about everything. She acts like she has to babysit me. God, I don’t know why I’m telling you all this stuff.” She turned her head away and took a drag from her cigarette.
    “Sometimes strangers are the easiest people to talk to,” Billy said. “Sometimes you just need someone to listen.”
    Phoebe glanced up at Billy and gave him a small grin. “My parents always told me never to talk to strangers. Stranger danger and all that.”
    Billy smiled and opened his arms wide. “Do I look dangerous to you?”
    Phoebe studied his face and didn’t answer, but a smile played over her lips.
    Time to reel her in , Billy thought. Now that he knew her weakness, he could manipulate it. If there was one skill Billy had mastered, it was manipulating situations to meet his needs—except when it came to his dad, Alex, and Finn, of course. They were able to read him like a cheap tabloid magazine.
    “How old are you, anyway?” Billy asked, bringing his cigarette to his mouth. “Twenty-two? Twenty-three?”
    He was rewarded with a big smile. “Actually…I’m nineteen.”
    Up close, it was clear she couldn’t be any older than seventeen. Alex had correctly pegged her as jailbait. He almost felt sorry for the girl; this was too easy. “Nineteen looks good on you.”
    Phoebe blushed and turned her face away. “Thanks.”
    “So I’m kind of new to the area, and haven’t made a lot of friends yet. Would you be up for hanging out sometime? We could grab food or something.” Billy put his free hand in his pocket and ducked his head as if feeling shy. He peered at Phoebe through long lashes.
    “Are you asking me out? I look like total crap right now.”
    “And that’s why you should go out with me. If you look this good right now, I can’t imagine how gorgeous you are when you’re all dolled up.”
    Phoebe giggled. Billy knew he was in. He pulled his cell from his pocket and held it out to her. “Can I get your number?”
    Phoebe hesitated for a second, then grabbed the phone from Billy’s extended hand and keyed in her number. She returned the phone to Billy and tossed down her cigarette, grinding it out with her heel. “I’ve gotta go. See you around?”
    “You free tomorrow?”
    Phoebe smiled. “I could be.”
    “I’ll text you.”
    Phoebe nodded, put her hands in her pockets,