Page 46 of Catfish

“I’m trying, Mama.” I fib easily right through my teeth. “How’s Bonnie?”

"Oh, the same. Complaining about how her husband is never home and always on the road. She wants him to retire from truck driving, but he acts like he's twenty-one and can work all those hours. Poor man comes home exhausted."

“Some people just like to work.”

Bonnie is Mama’s neighbor kiddy-corner across the street. They became instant friends when Grant moved Mama into this house a few towns over from me.

“He has enough to live comfortably. The man has scrapped and saved his entire life.”

My phone beeps while Mama continues on about Bonnie and the ways she tries to bribe her husband with trips and cruises. How she even bought him a beat-up Mustang to work on as a project car just to give him something to do.

Lighting up my screen, it reveals a text from Chase, and my lips smirk.

Chase: Make it home okay?

My days and nights have been filled with plans for upcoming parties, some new vendors I wanted to try out, and worrying about Marty.

But Chase—he has a special way of wiping it all clean.

And I hate depending on that.

Me: God, you are a breath of fresh air right now.

Chase: Wow, ready to leave already?

Me: Not because of Ma. Other reasons.

Chase: What did she do, bring a guy over for you to date?

Me: Hardly.

Chase: Good.

Chase: I don’t feel like getting my face fucked up from a fight. Will look bad in the courtroom.

Me: You wouldn’t do stupid shit like that. You’re a lawyer.

Chase: Saying that I can’t?

Me: No. Just that you wouldn’t.

Chase: That’s probably the hundredth time you’ve underestimated me, Sox.

Chase: You keep making it worse for yourself.

Me: If that means you’ll slam me into a wall and have you way with me, I’m all for it.

Chase: See, then where’s the punishment?

Me: Are you a dom, Yank?

Chase: Fuck no. I love when a woman takes control from time to time.

Chase: Anyways, we’re getting off this subject because I have a consultation in thirty and I don’t need a stiff dick while meeting a new client. How’s Mom?

Me: LOL.

Me: C’mon, I like where this conversation was going.

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