Page 58 of Bad for You

Could it be that being among all this spiritual shit has awoken my third eye? Is the universe talking to me like a book I saw on the shelf said it does?

Whatever the reason, I’m going to take it as a sign because who stands before me is the girl with the pink hair.

I look at her.

She looks at me.

When I don’t say a word, she folds her arms across her chest. “Are you another exchange student my dad sponsored without telling me?”

She assumes I don’t understand her because I’m looking at her with a deer-in-the-headlights look. But there is no fucking way she is who I think she is ’cause if she is, then Iwasright. And nothing gets me harder than being right.

“I’m Lenny. Aldo asked me to watch the store for him. He’ll be back in an hour.”

She doesn’t make it a secret she’s examining me closely. She doesn’t trust me. Nor does she like me. “This is so typical of Aldo.”

She makes a beeline for the back, but I quickly sidestep, blocking her path.

She does not appreciate me doing this. I’m twice her size, but she doesn’t let that intimidate her. Her long hair is the color of cotton candy. And her eyes are green. She’s beautiful, but I don’t mistake her beauty for softness. She is all attitude, which is my favorite kind.

“Oh my God, you’re even lamer than Rocco, and that’s saying something. Move, pretty boy.” She shoves me out of the way, heading into the kitchen while my brain finally plays catch-up.

“Aldo is your father.” It’s not a question but rather a statement.

She pauses from sipping her tea, looking at me over the rim of her mug like I am a daft little bitch. “The more you speak, the more I want to punch you in the face.”

She finishes her tea before hunting through the drawer and placing a bag of green stones into her schoolbag. “I’m late, and you’re wasting my time. Let’s never do this again.”

She doesn’t give me a chance to get a word in edgewise and, once again, shoves me out of the way, leaving the store without another word.

What the fuck just happened?

I’m even more confused than ever, but what I do know is that Aldo’s daughter may know where Lewis is. If this is a sign from the universe, then I am now a fucking believer.

Aldo returns an hour later, offering to pay me, which I, of course, decline.

I don’t mention his daughter because, again, I don’t want to arouse any suspicion. So when he asks me to meet him tomorrow same time, same place, I agree without question.

Gianna asked me to pick up a new car from a dealership, which is not uncommon for her. Then she sent me a list that made me wonder if I was shopping for a frat party.

So when I drive the Mercedes convertible into the garage and hear Limp Bizkit, I’m prepared to walk into just that.

With groceries in hand, I walk around the back, and what I see has me almost tripping over my own damn feet.

Perhaps I’m high from all the incense and crystals and shit, but life isn’t that kind because Valentinaisreally in the pool with two fuckhead jocks while Gianna lounges on a chair, reading a book.

What the fuck alternative universe is this?

“Oh, look, the errand boy is back with the snacks,” Valentina says, treading water. “I hope you got cherry cola.”

She peers at the six-pack of beer I’m holding while I stand speechless. What in the ever-living fuck is going on right now?

Gianna’s huge sunglasses take up half her face, but they don’t hide her smirk—that fucking bitch.

This is payback for what happened last night.

She knew how fucking angry this would make me because right now, I’m fucking fuming.

One of the guys swims over to the edge of the pool and offers me his fist like we’re bros. I look down at the limb, then back up at the fucker. I have on sunglasses, but he reads loud and clear that he has three seconds to get the fuck out of my face before I use my own fist to punch out his teeth.

---