Page 66 of Hotter 'N Hell

You’re supposed to be listening to confessions.

Jude:

I am. But if you had to listen to Martha Furthlow’s list of sins, you’d want a distraction.

I chewed my bottom lip.

Saylor:

So, I’m a distraction. Thanks.

Send.Talk yourself out of that one, Father.

Jude:

Dimples, you have always been a distraction.

I let out a groan.Don’t flirt, Father.

Jude:

Will you come to the support group tonight?

I wasn’t planning on it.

Saylor:

Depends. Who is supplying dinner?

Jude:

Agnes. She always makes a big spread.

I hadn’t been since the first time, and I did like Mary and Crow. I’d talked to Daniel a little too.

Saylor:

I could eat.

I was watching the dots again. Dammit. I started to put it down.

Jude:

I’ll see you at six thirty.

I didn’t respond. That was a win in my book. One little step at a time.

With the rec hall currently unusable, the food was set up outside by the picnic tables. When I walked up, Mary spotted me first and beamed, then waved wildly like I couldn’t see her from tenfeet away. At least I felt like I had been missed.

“Saylor! I am so happy you are here,” Mary gushed, hurrying up to me. “I was just telling Lemon, you’ve not met her yet, that I hoped you came tonight. What have you been up to?”

The usual. Father fired me from a volunteer job after he freaked out because he had touched my pussy. Then, he came to my birthday party, told me about the girl he’d loved and lost. How he was sorry, but couldn’t love me or fuck me, but wanted us to be friends, but not really. How about you?

“Not much.” I let my gaze drift over the group and saw one new face and a few missing.

Sibby’s missing face was a positive, but where was Jude? Crow caught my eyes and gave me a smirk and a nod.

“I thought I might be late, but no one is eating yet, I see.”

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