James’s mouth hung open for a split second before he snapped it shut. The word “beat up” echoed in his head like a bad drumbeat. He stared at Nelson, then at the others—Silver grinning like a hyena, Jake nodding eagerly, Silas already cracking his knuckles again.
“Tonight?” James asked, voice flatter than he meant it to be.
Nelson leaned back in the booth, wiping sauce from his fingers with a napkin. “Yeah, man. Shift ends at ten, right? We wait in the alley behind the place. Grab him when he comes out to take the trash or whatever losers do at closing. Teach him not to look at us like he’s got feelings or some shit.”
Silver laughed. “Especially after that bathroom stare-down. Dude looked like he was about to cry or propose. Creepy.”
Jake snorted. “Maybe he’s got a crush on James. That
