Free Edge of Chaos (Love on the Edge #1) by Molly E. Lee Page A

and it would be the perfect time to introduce them—put an end to hiding my new friends.
    I searched harder for Justin. The thought of the two meeting made me a little anxious. I wanted them to like each other, but they were polar opposites.
    When I didn’t lock on to his tall frame anywhere in the store, I deflated. I know I’d taken a little over a half an hour in the overwhelming obstacle of choosing just two books, but I thought that was pretty reasonable.
    After two unanswered calls to his cell—guess it was perfectly fine for him to ignore my calls—and twenty minutes of waiting, I gave up and bought the books myself. I grabbed my bag with the novels nestled inside and headed toward the exit leading into the main area of the mall. I had an easy guess where he was.
    A short walk and two turns later, I entered the video game store. Huge neon signs reading One Day Only, 60% Off Store Wide bombarded the glass windows at the entrance, hung on the walls, and stood on stands throughout the aisles. The store was packed, too, people crowding the rows of games separated into which console they went with, and a line snaked out the exit.
    I spotted Justin in the 360 section, four games tucked under one arm as he scanned another with his free hand.
    “Justin,” I said, weaving through five boys just to get to him.
    He glanced up from the game he held. “Some sale, huh?”
    “You knew about it.” It wasn’t a question or an accusation, just a fact.
    He shrugged. “I may have heard about it last week.”
    I sighed, eyeing the games in his hands. “Don’t you already have that one?” I pointed to the one I recognized under his arm.
    “Yeah, but this is a special edition. You get four exclusive maps with it.” He grabbed it and showed it to me.
    My stomach tied into knots. I glared at the games, sizing up my competition. Sadness slithered through my blood when I realized how many times they’d beaten me.
    “You found some books?” Justin asked, glancing at the bag in my hand.
    “Yeah,” I said, holding the bag up and shrugging.
    “I’ll get the next ones for you, okay?” he said and went back to browsing the games on the shelf.
    I pressed my lips together and nodded.
    “Actually, I’m going to need to borrow some money.” He gave me puppy eyes, but he looked more desperate than charming.
    I gripped the bag I held a little tighter. “How much?”
    Justin eyed the games in his hands, then looked over the endless array before him. “A couple hundred should do it.”
    My mouth dropped and I scoffed. “You’re joking!”
    “This is a once-a-year sale, Blake.”
    “Why didn’t you save up for it then?” I asked. An image of the new stereo he’d bought for his truck last week popped into my mind. Followed by a visual of the subwoofer he had on hold to go with it.
    “Oh, come on, it’s not like you ever buy anything with your paychecks,” he whined.
    He knew most of the money I earned went to rent, books, and food. Whatever I had left I saved, other than treating myself to the occasional book or movie.
    “I know you’ve got plenty in your savings. I’ll pay you back,” he urged.
    He had yet to pay me back for the money he’d borrowed last year for a new set of fishing poles. I sighed. The money wasn’t what really bothered me.
    “This is why you brought me here today, isn’t it?” Anger simmered in my gut, setting the tight knots on fire.
    “What is the big fucking deal, Blake? This way we both get what we want.”
    What I really wanted was time with him that didn’t come with conditions or arguments or lectures on where and how I spent my time. I swallowed the lump in my throat. His actions today had nothing to do with me. God, I was stupid sometimes.
    “Not this time, Justin.”
    “Why the fuck not?”
    I glanced down. “If you have to ask, then it’s not even worth explaining.”
    “I had to sell my watch for you!” he snapped.
    I flinched, as if he’d physically stunned me. “What?