He flinches. “Nothing.”
“Faye?”
She puts her hand on my arm. “It doesn’t matter. He called me a name. A bad one. But it doesn’t matter.”
Moving closer to the man, my body feels like it’s boiling with fury. I’m shocked I’m able to maintain some semblance of calm.
My fists are clenched so hard I can feel my knuckles pressing against my skin.
“What. Did you. Say?”
He backs up, even more, knocking more candy. The cashier says something, but I don’t hear. I think it’s maybe let’s settle down.
But I don’t want to settle down. I want to tear this prick’s head off.
“I told her I was busy and needed to buy these things quickly.”
“If the next fucking word out of your mouth isn’t the truth, I swear to God, you bastard, you’ll regret it. Tell me what you called her.”
He opens his mouth, looking like he’s about to say something clever.
“I’m not fucking around,” I tell him. “The next word you say. Think about it. Really think about it.”
He pauses, swallowing. He doesn’t look remotely tough anymore.
There’s a shiver of adrenalin inside me, preparing me for the fight. I’ve been in my fair share over the years, but only when I’ve had no choice.
This is the first time I can remember going out of my way to look for one.
But it’s his goddamn fault for disrespecting my woman.
“I called her a prissy slut,” the man says. “But it’s not like—I wasn’t thinking like, oh, what can I say to really upset her? It just came out. I don’t….”
“It’s time for you to go,” I snap. “Right now.”
“I just….”
“Leave, or I’m going to throw you through this fucking window. Now.”
I roar the last word, unable to contain myself anymore.
The man looks like he’s about to cry, his eyes glassy. I can tell adrenaline is pumping through him, too, both of us on edge, close to violence.
But he backs down first.
He knows how it would end. He’s too much of a bully to swing on somebody his size.
“You’re in my way,” he murmurs, lowering his gaze.
I step aside, glancing at the cashier. “Did he get gas?”
The cashier shakes his head.
“All right then,” I snap, turning back to the man. “There’s nothing keeping you here. Fuck off.”
I stare hard at him as he skulks from the gas station, his head bowed, his shoulders slumped. I keep thinking he’s going to say something over his shoulder, try to get the last word.
I move in front of Faye, keeping myself between her and the window, as I watch him return to his car.