Page 96 of Ready Or Not

“Everything I’ve done, I did to protect you. I kept you from the life I lived because I didn’t want you to be…” I trail off as I squint at the setting sun. “Me.”

The silence is heavy. It sits heavily on my shoulders, pressing down so I can’t breathe.

I jump off the truck’s tailgate and move to mine. My boots in the gravel are the only sound. When I get what I need from my truck, I walk it over, leaving it on the spot I was sitting in.

“I never killed Pup, Riley. I did kill the neighbor who killed him, though. And I won’t apologize for that.”

I stare at the skull on the tailgate in the setting sun. I don’t look at Riley. Because I know if I do, I’ll grab her up and take away her choice. History will just repeat itself, and I’ll lose my woman completely. The last few days with her shoving me out have been some of the worst of my life. So I do the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

“Meet me at home, wife.”

And then, I turn and walk away.

52

sorry im a haunted house - Savage Ga$p, KAMAARA

We don’t go home. Riley is completely silent at our next stop. She makes me wait in the car, but I hand her the gloves and my medical mask. She takes them without a word.

I’m exhausted and overstimulated, so I sit there, staring at the dash.

Riley protected me. She got in the way of a blow that was meant for me. And damn if that didn’t make my whole entire body feel warm. For the first time since I was a kid, I felt…safe.

I swallow around the lump in my throat.

When Riley comes back, I don’t even question it when she dumps a limp body in the back of the truck.

We drive back in silence. I don’t miss the fact that Riley has brought the skull up to the front seat.

“I’ll clean that for you.”

Riley just nods.

“You know that’s not a dog…right?” Am I missing something?

Riley just gives me a look. She looks off, and I stiffen.

She goes back to looking at the road.

Oh fuck. I overstepped.

As I stew in the silence, I realize that Riley and Manson had the conversation I’ve been needing them to have the whole time. I can tell they’re going to work things out. It’ll take a bit, but they’ll work things out.

Which, I realize with horrifying clarity, makes me obsolete.

They don’t need me anymore.

53

Heavenly Bodies - Arankai

Meet me in the backyard. 10 mins

54

Barbie & Ken - Scene Queen, Set it Off

I check the phone that I stole from my third mark. It’s been nine minutes, and Manson hasn’t responded to my message. Which, I suppose, is only fair. I had never responded to his all those years ago.

---