Page 72 of Chasing Fireflies

“You see that?” I ask Ben who has fallen asleep. “Ben, wake up,” I say, hitting his chest.

“What?” he asks, jumping.

“Look.” I point as we turn onto their road. “There’s smoke, and it looks like it’s coming from their house.”

“What the hell have they done now?” He sits up and grabs his coffee. “My goddamn head feels like a hammer smashed it.”

“What did you drink last night?”

“A little bit of everything.”

“Don’t you know mixing is the worst damn thing you can do?”

“I do now.”

The Kingsley’s house comes into view, and I see flames shooting up from the front yard. “What in the hell?” I ask, pulling into the driveway.

“She’s set his damn chair on fire!” Ben says, jumping out of the truck. Elizabeth stands by, hands on her hips, as Joe, wet hair and no shirt, runs from the back with the water hose. I can’t tell what he is saying, but from the looks of it, I’m going to need to handcuff him again.

Elizabeth looks over at us. “Well, boys, you’ve come just in time for the show. Joe here thinks he can sleep all day in this chair and not do any work around this place.”

“You crazy ass damn woman!” Joe yells as he squirts the blazing chair with water.

“Well, you won’t be sleeping in that chair anymore!”

Joe turns the water hose toward her, instantly drenching her to the bone. She screams as he laughs. I look over at Ben who is laughing, too. “Ben,” I say under my breath. He stops. “Stop,” I say to Joe. “Put the water hose back on the chair and get this damn fire out. Mrs. Kingsley…”

“Cash, I have told you…”

“Elizabeth,” I say, correcting myself. “Get in the house.” I point toward the house. She huffs and starts walking, dripping along the way.

“You two have to stop this mess. This is insane.”

“I’m divorcing her ass. I’ve had enough.”

“Not before I divorce you first!” she yells from the porch.

“Get inside before I arrest you for arson!” I yell back at her. “Joe, what the hell happened? How did she get this chair out here without you knowing?”

“I was in the bed asleep. She woke me with her loud ass yelling and slamming cabinets, so I finally got my ass up and took a shower. When I came out, the goddamn door was wide open, and I smelled smoke. She had already shoved the thing out here and lit the son of a bitch up. Elizabeth’s stronger than she looks. She’s been fussing at me for two days now. Saying I don’t do anything around this place. Who does she think keeps the grass cut?” he yells as he puts his thumb over the tip of the hose, making the water come out harder.

“You two are going to drive me to drinking.” I shake my head.

“Help yourself. There’s liquor in the house. Hell, I shouldn’t be the only one who gets to enjoy it. Gotta drink to be around her.”

“I heard that!” she shouts from the door.

“Good!” he fires back.

“Get in the damn house!” I yell again. The door slams shut, and I lift my cap and rub my hair. The chair is only smoking now, and Ben looks like he could fall over.

“She’s stubborn, isn’t she?” Joe nods.

“You both are, and it beats the hell out of me why you stay married. Do you ever get along?”

Joe looks in front of him, wrinkles covering his forehead, and he shrugs. “Maybe when we first started dating, but for the most part, no. I love her, though. Would take a bullet for her if it came down to it. It’s just the way we’ve always been.”

“Well, it’s unhealthy,” Ben chimes in.

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