“No, she isn’t,” I argue.
Joey’s hands land on my shoulders, soothing the tense muscles there. “I know how to calm her down if that’s what you want?” His head nods to my pants.
“No, you are not going down there.”
“What about with my mouth?” he asks with a slight smirk. “It’s the respectable thing to do, to ease you from your anger.” His hand trails down my arm, then over my hip, to cup me there.
“You like to use sex,” I tell him.
I’m so tired of this.
“It’s what we’re good at.”
“You keep saying that…” I say, shaking my head. “Have you thought about what I want? Maybe I don’t want just sex…” I pause, and his eyes dart over my face before I continue, “MaybeIwant more.”
“You never wanted to get married. What’s changed? You should be happy.” His hands leave my body and fall to his sides.
I feel the loss immediately.
“Life changes…” I whisper.
A scream erupts, jolting me, and I push past Joey to get out front.
Merci is holding Piper back as she swears at a smirking Abigail.
“I should put a bullet in her head.” Piper growls.
“No, you will not,” Joey states, coming up behind me. He walks over to Piper, grabs her arm, and looks back at me. “You handle your family… I’ll handle mine.” He nods to the door, and they both walk out, leaving Merci and me standing there with my sister, who is still smirking at Piper’s back.
“Why were you snooping?” I ask, my question coming out more like a demand. “And where?”
“I was at Joey’s. No one answered, so I tried to break in.”
“Piper said you went to Joey’s first, then hers, and she caught you looking through the window,” Merci adds. “Just stating what Piper said while you were in there,” Merci tells me, her brows lifted. “I’ll leave it to you.”
“Why?” I ask my sister.
“Where are you living?” she questions me. Her demeanor softens the slightest bit as she takes a breath. “I went to his mother’s, and she said you weren’t there any longer.” She leans in, and I lean back. “So, where are you staying?”
“Why does it matter? If you need me, call me.”
“You don’t answer your phone.”
“I do. It’s on me right now.” I tap my back pocket. “What’s therealissue?”
“I hate it here. I thought I would like it, but I want to go back.”
“Okay.”
“Okay? Just like that?” she asks, her voice rising again. “Why that easy?”
“I’m not going to hold you against your will somewhere you don’t want to be. You chose to be here. So, here we are.”
“Yeah, well, it was stupid. No one is nice here.”
“Maybe you should look at yourself. Maybe it’s you,” I reply, keeping my eyes on hers. “Have you thought about that?”
“I’m pretty much perfect.” I want to laugh at her words, but I think she believes them.