Free INFORMANT by Ava Archer Payne Page A

“What are you talking about?”
    “You really think I don’t notice how tense it is between you guys? I’m not an idiot, you know.”
    “Of course I know that.”
    “You think I married him just because I got pregnant. I didn’t. I love Ronnie.”
    Oh, Christ. Here we go. I have to bite my tongue. The question is not why I set my sights so high. The question is why she sets her sights so low. But obviously I can’t say that. Jess’s hands are shaking and unshed tears pool in her eyes—that’s how she gets when she’s mad. She’s emotional.
    I backtrack, trying to veer her off the subject of Ronnie and me. “Look, I know it’s hard right now. I know you guys are both working overtime trying to get the money together to buy the garage. I’m on your side. I promise. I’m trying to help.”
    Jess takes a breath. “I know that.” She gives a shaky smile and swipes at her eyes. “I know you are. It’s just that—”
    A deep voice from behind me interrupts us. “Kylie?”
    Ricco. I thought he’d left campus. For an instant, I am utterly panicked. I do not want these two universes—Jess and Dally, Ricco and Beckett—to intersect. Ever. But there’s no way to avoid it. Ricco is standing on my left, watching me with a polite smile on his face. His body casts a dark shadow across our table.
    “Hey,” I manage. “How’s it going?”
    “Good.” He smiles at me, and then looks at Jess, waiting expectantly.
    “Oh, uh, sorry,” I say. “Ricco, this is my sister, Jess. Jess, this is Ricco.”
    Jess gives him a friendly hello, but that’s all she can manage. She needs a minute to pull herself together. “Is there a bathroom somewhere around here?” she asks me.
    I direct her to the science building and watch as she walks away.
    Ricco watches her leave, as well. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I shouldn’t have interrupted.”
    “No, it wasn’t your fault. She’s upset, mad at me. She thinks I don’t like her husband.”
    “Why does she think this?”
    “Because he’s a total low-life shit head and I can’t stand him.”
    I didn’t mean to say that. It just came out. My gaze meets Ricco’s. His lips tremble and so do mine. After a beat, we both burst out laughing. “She’s my sister,” I say. “I love her. Is it so wrong to want her to do better?”
    Ricco doesn’t answer. Instead, he pulls up a chair and sits down. He searches my face. “So. I learn there is another man in your life.”
    My heart literally stops beating. Beckett. He knows about Beckett. Holy crap. My mind races. What do I say? How do I explain? But before any panicked words tumble out of my mouth, Ricco reaches for Dally’s tiny booted foot and gives it a soft squeeze. He smiles. “What’s his name?”
    Suddenly I understand. Dally. Ricco is talking about Dally . I was so caught up in my own private drama I’d forgotten he was on my lap. I am so relieved I feel dizzy. I let out a breath and force a smile. “Dallas Winston,” I say.
    “Dallas Winston?” Ricco frowns as he mulls this over, then nods in understanding. “Named after the city and the cigarette?”
    “What? No.” I let out a laugh and shake my head. “After a character in a book.” I pass Dally a Cheerio from a tiny plastic cup. “Handsome, isn’t he? My nephew.”
    Ricco watches as Dally gums the cereal bit and then spits it back out. He arches a brow at me. “Maybe he prefers good Cuban food.”
    I smile. “Maybe.”
    “Next time I’ll bring him a plantain.”
    “Good idea.”
    Ricco shifts in his chair and returns his gaze to mine. “Speaking of food, my Uncle Juan is in town. I thought he might like to meet a few friends of mine. American friends. Maybe you could join us for dinner?”
    I’m surprised. Aside from the night we met for pizza, all my get-togethers with Ricco have fallen more or less into the category of study sessions. He didn’t seem to want to get closer. I’ve alternated between feeling hugely relieved and grossly