There’s a part of me that’s uneasy about walking in the woods with River. I’ve spent months on edge. I can’t turn shit off after a few nice words.
The stuff River said about Shelby and Lineke, though, makes me willing to turn my back to him. We walk for maybe five minutes before I spot the dead tree near where I dumped Norman around fifteen years ago.
“Right there,” I mumble and point at the grassy area.
River does like he said, whipping out his dick and pissing on the grave. I realize in that moment that Ellsberg people are different. Just like Hugh said the other day. People from that other town work different. That’s why he’s pissing on the grave, and Shelby didn’t send her brother after me when I got her riled up. They aren’t looking for me to fail. While I’m not stupid enough to feel a part of the gang, I’m realizing how I shouldn’t assume I’ll be dead any moment.
As we walk back to the trailer, I say, “How come Shelby won’t give blowjobs? Is it a size thing?”
River drops the hippie act for a moment, and I see the man capable of taking over Shasta. “Let’s just say the first graves I ever pissed on belonged to the reason why she’ll never suck a dick.”
I don’t need shit spelled out. Shelby’s difficult to read, but I get it now. Not that it matters. Yet her fear that day makes sense. I could’ve been different with her. Treated her softer, but I didn’t trust her. She didn’t trust me either. Nothing’s really changed.
But that don’t keep me from spending the next two days working up the nerve to drive to that fancy house of hers.
THE WEIRDO
River Majors is the oldest of eight towhead children. Each of them is another slice of blond hotness. The second boy in the family now sits in my office—aka the basement—watching me work. Maverick is like my kid brother, except he’s also hot, and I like to pretend I could hump him under different circumstances.
Sitting in a rolling chair, he stretches out his long legs and studies me while I work on my Shasta Slasher suspect list.
“Why Goliath?” he asks despite me singing along to “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe. I don’t think he’s picking up on my “I’m not in the mood for conversation” signals.
“Why whatever woman you end up with?” I ask while shaking my ass to the beat.
“But you haven’t ended up with him.”
“I got his giant seed growing in my belly,” I say, patting my bloated gut. “What did your future woman ever do for you?”
“She loved me more than she loved any other man.”
Smiling at his answer, I walk over and tousle his recently cut hair. “I’m sure she will.”
“Do you think Goliath will ever love you like that?”
“Way to kill my mood, dingus,” I say and flick the end of his nose.
“I just want you to have everything.”
Back in my chair, I roll on the laminated floor toward Maverick. “Oh, honey, are you in love with me?”
Maverick grins. “I wish.”
“Me too. I’ve always wanted to fuck a younger man. Being a cougar sounds fun.”
“I bet you’re hot in bed too.”
“I think I mostly just watched him do the work. Is that wrong?”
“No. It was your first time. You’ll be more involved next time.”
“What if there’s no next time?”
“Then you didn’t overwork yourself on your only time.”
“Good point,” I say, rolling back to my desk. “Are you lonely living in the apartment?”
“I never get lonely.”
“Are you dead inside?” I tease, grinning at him over my shoulder. “A little ice princess.”
“Prince,” he corrects but lets the rest go. “I like the trains racing by the windows.”
“You’re such a sweet boy,” I say and rush over to give him a nuzzle. “An ice prince with a warm, fuzzy child inside.”
Maverick lets me wrap my arms around him and give a tight hug. He’s far more patient with me than he is with his four sisters. Though they did hound the crap out of him when he was a precious youngling.
“I’m gonna love the girl you love,” I promise as I dance back toward my chair. “I’ll smother her with affection until you’re forced to knock her up to keep her from running in terror.”
“I don’t think that’s why Ramona or Max stick around.”
“Yeah, they just love biker cock,” I say, and he chuckles. “Want me