All It Takes Read Online Free PDF Page B

permission. “How much?”
    “Like I said, I can’t pay much,” she says. “Not even minimum wage. I could manage maybe five–six hundred a month.”
    A
month?
How long is this gonna take? How big of a mess can one person create? I’m still thinking about it, rolling the idea over and over in my head when she turns around in her seat and starts digging in the purse on the passenger seat. I lean forward, arm braced against the car, curious. Then she’s turning back and shoving a crumpled piece of paper through the open window. I grab it. “That’s my number,” she says. “You can think about it if you want, but I’m going to be getting started right away. I need to get this done by the end of the summer, and I’d really appreciate the help. That is, if you’re willing.”
    I stare down at the phone number scrawled across the slip of paper, at the little scribble underneath that could only be an address, and then I look up at her. Her eyes are all big and brown and earnest as fuck. What the hell is this girl thinking?
    “You
do
know about me, don’t you?” I ask, and try to pass her the piece of paper back through the car window. “Like, you’re not under any delusions or anything, right? I just got out of prison. Aren’t you worried I’ll get in there and start stealing shit?”
    Star stares at me for a moment, completely still. Then she throws her head back and laughs, and goddamn if it isn’t the hottest fucking thing I’ve seen in five years. She just shoves the phone number back at me. “If you steal anything, I’ll be eternally fucking grateful, you have no idea” she says, and my gut jerks again at the sound of her cursing at me. She’s already a gorgeous chick with kick-ass tattoos and the cutest fucking smile I’ve seen in years. How she just got hotter, I have no idea. “Just keep the number, okay?” she asks. “And give me a call when you make up your mind.”
    “What if I can’t help you out?” I ask.
    She just shakes her head and smiles at me. “Either way,” she says. “Just let me know.” Then she reaches out and wraps her right arm around the back of the passenger seat to watch behind her, and pulls out of the parking spot.
    She’s down the road before I can think of anything to say to that. I take another puff of my smoke and stare down at the phone number in my hand. It’s a little crumpled, so I grip the cigarette between my lips and use both hands to smooth out the paper against the leg of my jeans. I fold it up and stick it in my pocket, and look up to see the blonde waitress still watching me through the window. I give her a smirk and a little wave—one I’m dying to turn into a one-finger salute, but somehow manage to restrain myself—and head back to my car.
    I have some shit to think about.

Chapter 4

    Star

    I wasn’t really expecting Ash to call me. Not really. And when I hadn’t heard from him by the time I left my mother’s house and got back to the B&B that night, I just kind of let go of the idea altogether and powered off my phone and went to bed.
    When I turn my phone back on in the morning, there’s still no word from him. The only new messages are from my roommate, Autumn. She’d gone out with our friend Roth last night and had kept up a running commentary of the experience via text that I had missed while I’d been asleep.

    Autumn: Drinking with R. I miss you!!!! He’s the slowest.
    Autumn: Worst dirnking buddy EVER!
    Autumn: *drinking
    Autumn: Oooooh. Cute boy. Glasses. Geeky t-shirt.
    Autumn: I’m in love.
    Autumn: OK I’m gonna go talk to him. Liquid courage is a beautiful thing.
    Autumn: OK. Gonna do it. Wish me luck.
    Autumn: Damnnn. Cute boy turned me down. Heartbroken.
    Autumn: I’m gonna be single forever.
    Autumn: I’m gonna have to get so many cats. I don’t even like cats.
    Autumn: Will you be a spoinster wit me?
    Autumn: *spinster. *with.
    Autumn: OMG!!!! Cute boy is gay! He’s eyeing up Roth! It’s like the