the television again. “Piece of shit, mother-effing, I mean, fucking scumbag of the earth asshole-fucker!”
Raina leaned and cupped her hand to Nikki’s ear. “We need to step up her cussing game.”
“We’ll have a Samuel L. Jackson fest in a few weeks,” Nikki whispered. “He’s the master.”
“Thinks he’s ”—whack!—“ God’s gift to women.” Whack, Whack! “He’s not even that great in bed. I taught him all the tricks to please me.” I swung harder and harder. “You think I don’t want a guy that fucks me so good I take his ass to Red Lobster? He ain’t even worth a Big Mac at McDonald’s. More like the value menu.”
“Oh, Lord. Now she’s quoting Beyoncé lyrics,” Kara whispered and waved her hands wildly. “Somebody stop her!”
“With his McPick two for two-buck ass,” Nikki yelled, and Raina gave her a high five.
“No.” I shook my head. “Sadly, he’s not even worth two items from the McDonald’s value menu.”
“With his not-even-a-dollar-ninety-nine ass!” Raina shouted.
I spun around to continue my work of art while Raina and Nikki encouraged my shenanigans in the background. I took another deep breath and swung. Small pieces of the television screen fell to the floor. “Stupid, lyin’ piece of crap . . . liar!”
“Damn right he is,” Nikki agreed. “Keith lies more than a possum in the road.”
“Guys, you’re not helping!” Kara screeched, but I noticed there was a thread of laughter in her voice.
“Fine,” Nikki sighed. “I suppose we aren’t helpful.” She cleared her throat. “Sienna, honey?”
“What!” I was tired of my friends interrupting my anger fest. Especially Kara. She should understand and support me, not be a freaking wet blanket. “Let me guess. You’re gonna say this isn’t me. That I’m above this and shouldn’t stoop to his level. Well, you know what? I’m tired of being the nice one. Nice girls finish last.” I marched over to a vase, swung, and destroyed it. My body shook with rage. “And this isn’t the second time he’s cheated on me. This is the third, well, to my knowledge.” I wiggled three fingers in the air. “I didn’t tell y’all about the second time because I knew you guys would think I was stupid. Well, I’m not stupid, and I’m going to break every piece of breakable stuff in this house.” I pointed the bat at Nikki. “And I’m gonna run against him for city council. I’m going to destroy his stuff and his career!” I lifted the bat in the air as if wielding a sword on the battlefield.
“Oh, shit!” Raina whispered. Kara looked at me with wide eyes and slowly walked back to the couch.
Nikki shook her head. “Nice speech, but I was just gonna tell you to put your hips into it. You don’t want to throw out your back. Shoot, we aren’t in our twenties anymore.” Nikki nodded to the TV. “Please, continue.”
And I did.
APRIL
CHAPTER 9
Judgment Day—Raina
The prison sentence was over. I slid on my stunner shades, hopped into my car, and hightailed it to my morning meeting at the radio station. I was so damn ready to work. Scratch that, I was so damn ready to make money. I’d written my book proposal, and in a few weeks, I expected to hear back from the publishers I’d pitched.
But writing proposals and pitching nonexistent books didn’t pay the bills. So, as much as I’d enjoyed being creative, being broke wasn’t cute. Sure, Cam and I had a great time since my schedule was much more normal. We hung out with friends and family, and frequented festivals in Atlanta, but I was living on a stipend and at the mercy of my boyfriend.
I swiped my parking deck pass and released a breath when the bar lifted. After I did a happy dance in my seat, I tried, but failed, to park in my reserved space.
What in the hell?
If looks could kill, the blue Nissan Sentra, owned by Jamie’s just-got-out-of-college ass, would explode. She must be feeling herself.
During my forced semi retirement, I listened in on a few of her shows, and they were solid. She was genuine, and gave great advice. I was proud of her, but I still wanted my damn space back. No worries, I’d kindly let her know to move once things were back to normal. Until then, I had to park in the back of the deck. Way, way back—absent light and people and heat. After I activated the alarm, I rubbed my hands together for warmth and from excitement as I thought