Page 89 of Existential
“Nothing stays a secret around here, does it?”
“Nope.”
She stares me down, waiting on details. “He had a rough run, what with the trouble when he picked Mel up, and all that.”
“You know she’s gone back up to Lincoln, right?”
“With Dog. Yeah.”
“Are those two a …” She dangles the cloth left and right.
“I think so.”
Beth lets out an intrigued sound as she moves to the last table. “Hopefully she can tame that wild child then, huh?”
“If anyone’s got the sass to do it, I think it’s her.”
“Agreed.”
I push off the doorway, ready to leave Beth to it and head upstairs for my morning shower, when I’m boxed in by an unwanted visitor behind me.
“Oh, don’t leave on my accord.” Heather pushes past to enter the room with Beth. “I just wanted y’all to know that the guys are headin’ out soon. No idea when they’ll be back.”
Funny. Hooch never said anything about a trip. “Gee, thanks,” I snap, despite the fact I’m pissed as hell at him for not telling me.
Between his hours in the office, and the time he spends eating, sleeping, and showering before disappearing back in his hole, we get maybe an hour a day to hang out if I’m lucky.
Sure as hell not what I signed up for when he asked me to come back with him. If this is us ‘figuring out how we work’ then shit, I think his puzzle is missing a few edge pieces.
“Anyhow. I’ll leave you two maids to it,” Heather says, heading back past me. “I’ve got more important things to be doing, like taking care of Digits after you broke his damn heart.”
Hold up one goddamn second …“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” She stops level with my shoulder, her too-thick makeup glaringly obvious at this proximity. “You come in here and lead him on, use him for your own advantage. Just an end game to get at the top prize, was he?”
“I never lead anyone on.” I struggle to keep my voice low and even, but it must have the desired effect as she reels back. “And if he has a fucking problem with me being here, then he can come and speak directly with me about it.”
Not that I’d want him to. It took Digits another two days to get back to the clubhouse after we did, and even then he’s kept his distance the past forty-eight hours. It’s unnerving, to say the least.
“And why the fuck would I want my man anywhere near you, bitch?”
“Hey now.” Beth laughs awkwardly. “Let’s all cool our jets, huh?”
“You know what?” I cry, stepping into the hallway to put distance between us. “I’m done with this shit from you, Heather. If I wanted a piece of your man, you’d goddamn know by now. But you projecting your own insecurities onto me is getting real old.” She tucks her chin to her chest, scowling. “You got an issue with how he feels about me, take it up with him. He was the one harassing me when I made it real fucking clear I had no interest, love.”
“As if he’d do that.” Heather crosses her arms, clearly taken aback.
Wonder what stories he’s been spinning her, then?
“Afraid so.” I jut my chin out defiantly. “You don’t believe me, ask Hooch. He saw the messages.”
“When,” she snaps. “What messages? When did he send them?”
“The whole time I was in Lincoln.” I narrow my gaze on her. “Why?”
Heather glances to Beth, seeming to seek support. “He was here, with me.”
“Not my problem.” I’d feel sorry for her, but … you know. “I get it sucks, Heather, but you’ve got to understand that I never asked for any of this. Surely?”