perfect character study for a troll. She pushed the thought away wanting to keep the peace tonight. When she finished, she went to the bedroom and grabbed her book, but there was nowhere to read in comfort. The bedroom, with its old, sagging mattress and faux, black silk sheets reminded her of Wayde touching her, and the old filthy sofa in the living room was itchy from the sand that had bore into the fabric over the years. She supposed she could put a blanket over the thing, but there were no lamps in the room anyway, only a bright bulb hanging from a string with no shade, and she didn’t want to wake Max. When she returned to the kitchen to join Wayde and Savannah, she slipped into her chair and opened her book.
“Hey, darlin’, did ya get enough of rubbing crotches with the bitch down the road?” Wayde said as he ground his torso into his chair several times, adding sound effects for emphasis.
She glared at him with pursed lips, becoming so angry, the corner of her eye began to twitch. “You’re an abomination to men everywhere.” The only phone was in the kitchen, or she would’ve gotten up right then and called Nick. Maybe he would tell her she made her ragged bed with the faux silk sheets, and now she had to lie in it. Maybe that’s what she deserved.
“Darlin’, why don’t you put the stupid book away and enjoy the night with us.”
She slapped the book onto the table. “Why do you have to call me darlin’?”
His head reeled back. “What the hell am I supposed to call you?”
“How about Kinsley? Or don’t talk to me at all. That’d be fine.”
Savannah stood, went to the coffee pot, and as she poured, snickered, “Even her name sounds stuck up.”
Kinsley ignored her and opened her book.
Wayde snatched the book roughly from her hands. She’d had a firm grip, and she nearly followed it to the trashcan.
“Why don’t you be sociable? You need to forget about your old life and try getting along. Shit.”
“Hell, I’d even try to get along with her if she wasn’t such a bitch all the time,” Savannah said. “I can hear Remy’s truck in the driveway. He ain’t gonna put up with her talkin’ to me the way she does.” Her head wobbled a warning in Kinsley’s direction.
“I’m not afraid of Remy.”
Savannah squinted her eyes, looking evil. “You should be. Never know what he’ll do when he gets mad.”
Remy was creepy, and she found out from Veda he’d been in jail for beating his wife a few times. Sometimes she wished she could hold her tongue, but when she got angry, the thing seemed to flap on without her. Now more than ever, she worried she’d go too far.
“I don’t understand why you’re so ornery,” Wayde said. “Have a few drinks with us. You’ve been in a mood since you came home, and I ain’t putting up with no more crap.”
She decided she had better stay quiet and go along. Pretend. After all, going along had been her first instinct. Unfortunately, she’d been pretending for so long now that life before Wayde seemed make-believe. Some story she’d read. “You’re right. I should relax and have a few drinks. Savannah, why don’t we start over. I’m willing to try if you are.”
Savannah didn’t respond and darted up from the table right away when Remy came in rubbing the stubble on his shaved head and chewing on the toothpick that rarely left his mouth.
“Wha’d you want to drink, baby?” Savannah said.
Before responding, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close, kissing her. He maneuvered his tongue around and around. Apparently, he was trying to find out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
Repulsive.
“Sweet tea, baby.” Remy pinched Savannah’s ass, sent her on her way, and turned to Wayde. “So, the Queen’s back. I can only imagine what you’re gonna hit her with when you git her between the sheets tonight. Hit her once for me, too.”
Kinsley envisioned herself leaping over the table and ripping Remy’s eyes out for that nasty statement. She began quivering inside and stood to leave to keep herself from acting out the scene. “All right, enough, I’m going to bed.”
When she got up to leave, Wayde grabbed her arm and pulled her so hard she fell back onto her seat. It shocked her.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Let go