where the table cuts off my view. I guess it don’t matter. She’s filling out that sweater just right.
But Shelby’s ready to storm off. She wants me to say nice stuff to make her feel special. Women love that shit. I wasted a lot of time spouting compliments at chicks who only turned around and accused me of not caring enough. What’s the point?
Still, I oughta say something nice since she took the time to scare off Dione. “Your tits look good in that sweater.”
“I know. That’s why I wear it.”
“If you don’t want some sugar, why are you sitting with me again?”
“I don’t know. I like your hot bod, but your personality annoys me.”
“I feel the same way about you.”
Shelby suddenly smiles. “But you do like my hot bod, right?”
“Who wouldn’t?”
“I’m too much woman for too many men.”
“Men like River?”
“No. He could handle me if I wasn’t grossed out by the brother vibe I get from him.”
“Well, I ain’t your brother.”
Shelby rolls her eyes. “No, Shane’s far more complicated.”
“Nomp.”
“No, nomp.”
Grinning, I can’t get enough of her bitchy frown. She gets riled up so easily. With me anyway. I don’t see her acting so high-and-mighty with her little group. Why is she saving all her drama for me?”
“How come you don’t have a man?”
“Men smell.”
I give my shirt a sniff and shrug. “I smell fine.”
“Not for long. Men get stinky fast.”
“Let me get this straight. You don’t want a man because they stink. But you keep hanging around me even though I stink. That don’t make no sense, girl.”
“No, it doesn’t,” she says, looking sad now. “Best not to think too hard about it.”
Her large sandwich arrives along with a Fanta. I didn’t even know they sold that gross soda here. Did they always sell that shit, or did they start once the Reapers took over? I can see Shelby insisting they carry her favorite flavor.
“Were you in love with Jaymes?” she asks and takes a bite of her sandwich.
“Sure,” I lie.
“Are you not in love with her anymore?”
“She got gone real fast after I got locked up.”
“She wasn’t loyal.”
Her tone irritates me, so I ask, “Would you have waited around for me?”
“Sure. I’m not the kind of person who replaces people I love. If Taylor stopped being my friend, I wouldn’t go find another Taylor. I can’t imagine I’d be any less loyal to a man I loved.”
I want to laugh at her simple thinking, but Shelby’s not putting me on. Rather than playing a con, she seems far more interested in her Gatsby sandwich. That thing is new to the menu too. A whole lot of shit changed when I was locked in a cage.
“How do you know about Jaymes?” I ask, despite hearing from Utah that Shelby does research on people.
Chase warned me that the Reapers don’t work like the Skullz. They’re not a bunch of mean rednecks looking for easy cash. They run shit like a business, researching problems and coming up with marketing plans. Their kills aren’t usually drive-bys or throwdowns. More like assassinations. That’s how River Majors and his Reapers took out Cum Shot, Swamp Thing, and Grabby earlier this year. It’s how they would’ve taken me out if I’d been paroled by then. No doubt, I’d have been on that back porch with Swamp Thing and Grabby when they got hit. I’d never have seen it coming either, and no one would miss me when I was gone. Just like how no one talks about Swamp Thing or Grabby these days.
“What’s happening with your face?” she asks, making fun of how I said that about her earlier. “Do you want part of my sandwich?”
“Can you finish that?”
“I didn’t get my fat ass from not finishing sandwiches,” she says and takes another bite. “I’ll let you have some, but you’ll have to compliment me. And none of that shit about how I’m good at sharing. I want compliments about stuff that matters like my good looks.”
I want to be irritated by her. The Reapers aren’t my people. I’m not theirs either. I stick around because I don’t know where else to go. The Reapers keep me in Shasta because I’m big. I also suspect it has something to do with a favor I did for Lineke back in the day. Her youngest daughter was a kid when that shit went down. Now Max Leroux is shacked up with my club president and carrying his kid.
Licking my lips, I lean closer and make sure Shelby’s