#scenebreak
I made the grand entrance. The only ones left were Tango, K-pop and Juicy. It was, like, three o’clock in the morning or something. Even Auntie Mac had gone home. Tango rushed to my side, then stopped, uncertain what to do. I held a hand out and pulled her close.
She knelt beside the chair. “Oh my God, Foxtrot, I don’t even know what to say.” Her eyes were red and puffy.
“Did you like the movie?”
She chuckled, and it almost made her cry again. “Honestly? I hate that macho superhero stuff.” She had a few cuts on her face and arms, too. “I’m not going to ask if you’re okay, but. . .” She shook her head.
I kissed her hand. “I’m okay.” I couldn’t actually remember what movie we’d seen.
Juicy took her turn. She ran a hand through my hair. “If you need me to beat the shit out of anyone, just let me know.”
I nodded. “Word.”
She snorted. “You are so white.”
That left K-pop. There was a lot I wanted to say, but not in front of everyone.
He seemed to understand. He did the manly stand-back-and-nod thing, but he deserved a hell of a lot better than that. I held out my free hand and reeled him in. He dropped to one knee, and I grabbed him around the neck. “I’m so sorry, bro,” I whispered in his ear. “That shit was off the scale. I am so-o-o sorry.”
He hugged me. “Get out of jail free, hai?”
“Hai.”
Fist bump.
The girls exchanged one of those boys-are-complicated looks that made me want to laugh, but it would have hurt too much. I tugged on Tango’s hand and kissed her. After everything, I wanted a kiss damn it and she didn’t seem to mind.
Dad broke us up. “Okay, kids, I’m taking him home now. Thank you for. . .” And he stopped.
We all looked at him to see what was up.
“Okay,” he said. “I was going to lay a lame parental gratitude thing on you, but. . . it really means a lot that y’all are here. Ethan’s new in town and the fact that he’s already made such good friends? Well, a father can’t ask for more. Seriously, thank y’all.”
They weren’t used to my dad, who talked to kids like people in a way most adults didn’t. From the way they all pulled up a little bit and smiled though, they seemed to think it was cool.
Yeah. It was.
“Now get lost,” Dad added and they all laughed. “I need to get him home and into bed.”
Three more quick hugs and a kiss from Tango and they took off. Dad ran the maze of hospital check out protocol and we were set free. He rolled me out the building and across the asphalt to Auntie Mac’s car.
Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack.
Dad bristled. “What the hell are you doing here, Monika?”
She exuded innocence. “I just wanted to make sure Foxxy was all right, but those. . .” She nodded at the hospital. “. . .provincials wouldn’t let me see him.”
“Your call, Foxtrot,” Dad said. His adoption of my nickname was stellar.
“Thank you for your concern, Monika,” I told her. “Do you realize how this is your fault?”
Astonishment painted her face.
“You snuck into Corey’s room, basically raped him in a way he couldn’t—” Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. “In a way guaranteed to make Tango dump him.” I waved my hands at my wrecked body. “And Corey’s buddies decided to make hacky sacks out of my balls.” I stared her down. “Thanks.”
It killed me a little I could so easily see her maneuvering the best way to play me when I wouldn’t have noticed it six months ago. She realized she’d lost. Utterly and finally lost.
Monika hated losing more than anything.
She clasped her hands together and extended her arms to crack all her knuckles. “All right, Ethan. Ruin our lives.” She dared my dad to intervene. “But just so you know? Corey only fucked me for about thirty seconds before wussing out, but when he was inside me, he filled me in ways you never. . . ever managed.” She pretended she was about to go, then turned back for her parting shot. “And I did cheat on you. Of course, I did.” She glanced down at my crotch, and I could tell she was about to denigrate my manhood further.
“So we all see that you’re a fucking slut bitch, Monika,” Dad said before she could open her mouth. “Big surprise. But before you regale Ethan with more made up bullshit about the adventures your nether ya-ya has enjoyed, remember I know your parents and I know the conditions of your trust fund.”
She froze. Deer. Headlights. All of it.
For the record? I’d never, ever seen Monika Sterling speechless.
Ever.
Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack.
She was well and truly out of my life.
I grabbed Dad’s hand. “Okay, my mistake. That was the gayest thing you’ve ever done.”
He squeezed my hand and wheeled me to the car. “Okay, yeah. Got me there. Way gayer than all the blow jobs I’ve ever given. Combined.”
Now this story will never. ever. be on the Disney channel.
I’m okay with that.
thirteen
Twist knocked on an old, oak door.
He waited.
How could eight gigantic football players avoid killing the little bastard? What kind of pussies were they that the dancer was still able to walk? All to make sure they could still play their stupid homecoming game?
But it had worked! Twist had been there, riding the big guy, had felt all too soft flesh yield to his fists. What a rush! But Gunner was too good at the abuse, too good at hurting without killing, fucking sociopath. Twist hadn’t been able to push him the final inch.
Twist would’ve just put a gun to Fox’s head himself, but he enjoyed his life. He wanted to keep it, to share it with Katy, for their children to grow up in the same small town. Although, the question was if Twist could do the deed himself in the final moment. Could he kill Fox himself? He’d never killed. He didn’t know.
But the son of a bitch was bound to get sympathy sex from Katy now. Damn it! There had to be a way to ruin him or to kill him, to destroy him without anyone uncovering Twist’s identity. Juicy had pretty much glued herself to Katy's side since the attack, so it would be awhile before he found a way to get her alone.
Patience wasn’t Twist’s strong suit. He had to find someone to help.
The door opened. “Yes?” The woman was a nun, but she seemed to be one of those egg-rubbing Mexican nuns who also read tarot cards. Maybe she’d know someone more lethal.
Twist touched the brim of his hat. “Ma’am. Can I ask you a few questions?”
“About?”
Twist smiled. “Santa Muerte.”