Page 215 of The Bonus

“Facts.” I smile.

I hang up feeling better. A night with my bestie is just what the doctor ordered.

I sit and stare at the field. I haven’t watched a second of the game, but damn it, I will not take my eyes off it.

I don’t know what the hell this fool is playing at, but he’s really winding me up.

It’s one thing to piss me off so badly that I imagine his grisly death, but to come and sit on the other side of Lucia, who is next to me for the entire game today…is unforgiveable.

He has his arm over the back of her chair and every now and then it grazes my arm.

Each time, I pull away as if I’ve been burned. They’re chatting and laughing and I’m listening to him schmooze her in.

No wonder the kids are in awe of him, he’s going all out to impress them.

“Would you like a hot dog?” he asks Lucia.

“Yes, please.”

“And a drink?”

“Coke please.”

“Are you allowed to have soda?”

“Yes.”

His eyes flick over to me for confirmation, and I stare at the field as I continue to ignore him.

“Mom, I can have Coke on special occasions, can’t I?” Lucia asks.

“Yes,” I reply without looking at them.

“Would you like a hot dog, Grace?” he asks.

“No, thanks.”

“What would you like?” he asks.

I would like to scratch your eyes out.

“Nothing from you.” I clench my jaw, damn it, I hate having to be civil in front of Lucia. I want to scream and kick and tantrum, burn him at the stake and throw him to the wolves.

“Ha, Mom’s grumpy today, isn’t she, Lucia?”

Lucia laughs on cue. “Sure is.”

I wonder why.

I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from spitting venom all over him.

He wanders down the stairs of the grandstand and without turning my head, I watch him beneath my sunglasses.

Fuckface, thinks he’s so irresistible to all female kind.

I hate that he is.

And how dare he be so good-looking, why isn’t he getting uglier with age like the rest of humanity?

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