Page 112 of Embody

Thirty-Six

JT

I HEAD TOmy uncle’s land anyway and take Sutton with me, mostly because I’m a glutton, but also because he likes to shoot as much as I do. As I knew they would be, my aunt and uncle are there; no way Whit could resist “dropping by” when Ev told her I was bringing Bellamy. But she’s not with me, and neither of them ask…simply giving me frowns of concern. I think the guns, targets and frustration rolling off me in tidal waves answer their unspoken questions.

I empty another round from my Glock and pull out my earplugs. “You want to fire this one?” I ask Sutton.

“Nah. We’ve been at it, what, couple hours?”

I shrug. “Dunno. It matter?”

“I gotta pick up Pres at some point and anyway, sun’s setting. Surely you worked out whatever crawled up your ass by now,” he laughs.

“Maybe.” I pull my phone out of my pocket to read her message again, see if I feel any differently yet…and feel dreaded suspicion slither up my spine.

 

Bellamy: Fineignor me hvg fun out u

 

Bellamy: Yur posed 2 stayfight

 

Ithinkshe said “fine, ignore me, I’m having fun without you.” Then “you’re supposed to stay and fight.”

I dare try and decipher the next one.

 

Bellamy: Lovufmle

 

“I love your family” is my best guess. And accordingly, the cause of my building dread.

“Sutton,” I grit past teeth currently being ground to dust, “where is it you have to pick Presley up from?”

He’s gathering our stuff, loading it back in my vehicle, but stops, giving me a look of true confusion. “From your girl’s place. Figured you knew. It’s all of them; yours, Presley and both your sisters. Big hen fest and awhole lottaalcohol. Presley made me stop at the liquor store so she could load up, and westillhad room for all theCondomnationshit on the bike. Can you believe that?”

“It’scondemnation,” I enunciate correctly, then tilt my head…what? Now I’m confused.

“No, it’sCondomnation. I assure you, I know the damn name. I have a punch card, for Chrissakes. The sex shop on 5th Avenue? You mean to tell me you’ve never been?”

Dear God, help me to abstain from shooting him.

“So, just to recap, you took Presley, a bunch of alcohol and somethingorthingsbought last minute froma sex shopto my woman’s?” I take a deep breath, trying desperately to convince myself this is not the end of the world. Just real fucking close. “And while we’ve been togetherall fucking afternoon, you didn’t think to mention it? Not even once?”

“I said, I thought you knew. Don’t you know everything she does?”

“Get in the car.”

“What?”

“Get in the fucking car! Presley’s got Bellamy, booze, and dildos. What could possiblynotgo wrong?” I let out some hysterical, crazed noise and jump behind the wheel. “Here,” I toss him my phone. “Try Brynn. Get somebody sober on speaker phone, now.”

“What’s the passcode?” he asks.

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