Page 22 of Unleashed

Tansy shrugs. “Maybe I do. My grandmothers are very crafty ladies.”

“Oh. Good for you. My mother’s mother plastered herself on the side of a speeding train, and my father’s mother tripped over a broccoli plant and impaled herself on a tomato stake. Maybe if they had found safer hobbies, I’d be gluing macaroni to a plate or feeding them pudding at a nursing home.”

Tansy gawks at me with wide eyes and an open mouth, showing off her tongue piercing. I wonder what that would feel like sliding up and down—

“I don’t know whether to laugh or... Jesus. Are those stories true?”

“You think I could make up shit like that? I’m not that creative, but thanks for the credit. No, my family has a sad history of moronic tendencies.”

She licks her maroon bottom lip as her eyes drift over me again. It’s like riding a roller coaster at night. You know what’s ahead, but it still scares the shit out of you when plummeting into a dark void. “I like to draw art for tattoos. I read too. What do you like to do besides hanging out in tattoo shops?”

I resist the urge to cross my arms—a lame attempt to shield myself. So, I lay my arm on the counter and lean on it. “I like music, eating, and now crafts. Oh, and hanging out in tattoo shops.”

She smiles and holds out her hand. “Can I see your phone?”

“Why? Are you going to order thirty pizzas and deliver them to a rival pizza place?”

Tansy shakes her blue head, laughing. “What the fuck? I want to give you my number. Maybe we can meet up sometime or chat about your grisly family.”

“I don’t think you’re ready, but I warned you.” I reach into my pocket, hesitant to hand over my phone. It’s like I’ve turned a corner and left the past behind. Simone has and hates me. But not more than I hate myself.

I unlock my phone and hand it to Tansy, hoping she doesn’t notice my hand shaking.

The clanging bell interrupts as she types. When Tansy looks up from my phone, her eyes light up more than Cousin Rutherford grabbing a downed power line in the rain.

Before I turn to look, a smooth, whorish voice says, “Tansy, baby, how are you?” Fuck my life sideways.

Tansy hands my phone back to me as I sigh. Naturally, Officer Cumwad shows up. He must have a sixth sense for competition. Tansy runs her fingers through her short hair and squeals, “Where’ve you been, Ricky Tesco?” Goddamn him.

“Here and there.”

Being too late to hide in the back or underneath Tansy’s skirt, I turn from the counter. Wearing his police uniform, Tesco morphs his flirty smile into a confused smirk. “Rodwell?

“Rumor has it.”

His annoying, perpetual grin widens. “What are you doing here, man? Don’t tell me you’re surfing some ink now. Something like Care Bears on your arm? Maybe a softball with a smiley face? That’d be cute.” What a fucking canoe of douche.

He giggles with Tansy, and I regret heading toward the light that frosty February morning twenty-nine years ago. In all fairness, I tried to climb back, and since I was breech, the world can forever kiss my ass. Thus, the lips tattoo choice.

“Outstanding, Tesco. I think you missed your calling as a washed-up comic.”

Ricky crosses his arms, pretending he’s an actual authority figure. He licks his lips and glances at Tansy before warning me. “You know Finn doesn’t want you here.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not on the FBI’s Most Wanted. Yet. Anyway, he shouldn’t even know I’m here. Hadley’s doing this tattoo as a surprise. Unless you told him. If that’s the case, dick move. I bet he refuses to wear his half of your matching BFF necklaces now.”

His grin slips. “I’m talking about Richmond. You divorced his sister. He’s not in a welcoming mood for you.”

Tansy gasps as she props her chin into her hand. I don’t straighten from the counter since I have the overwhelming urge to slam my fist into his smug face. “I didn’t divorce her. She dumped me. Our marriage was invalid,” I mutter the annulment mantra.

Tesco laughs, and I put more weight on my arm. Hell, I’ve punched an asshole once. I could take this shithead down. But this one packs heat and wears a badge.

As the light hits his earring, the supposed diamond glimmers. I clench my fist as I fight to maintain an even keel. Ricky looks at Tansy, his voice tinged with disbelief as he explains, “Supposedly, their marriage was the real deal, but then it vanished. MIA. Weeks later, DOA.” Ricky turns back to me, anger hardening my face. “Bullshit. What did you do her, Rodwell? Did you not measure up to her expectations? Was your technique lacking?” Officer Dick Weed scowls at everything about me, from my hair to my shoes. Does this jacknut ever look in a mirror? A dirty dust mop rocks it better.

When I adopt the mime lifestyle and stay mute, Tesco shakes his head. “You should be nowhere near Simone or Hadley. Finn will gut you.” Yeah. His sister already did that. Nothing he could do to me matters. I only hope he does it quick to end my suffering.

Since my arm is falling asleep, I straighten as I frown at Tesco. “Are you done, Barney Fife? Hadley and I are friends and coworkers. We’ll all be playing softball together.” It’s adorable how Ricky guards his bestie’s legal cock sock. Yeah, I said it.

Tesco chomps his gum as his mocking grin returns. “Sure, man. The head coach with a bat, and you within swinging distance. This ought to be a hoot.” Finn Wilder has no concrete skills with a bat. Screw him riding a ridiculous dirt bike or jumping off a damn bridge. The smug bastard needs a reality check because this season, fuck it. I’m holding nothing back.

---