Page 11 of Look at Her and Die

My fingers hit the button angrily as I tried and failed to curb my frustration.

My mom didn’t answer, but I left a voicemail anyway.

“You had one job, Mother,” I snarled. “And you were supposed to be back here by two so I could head to my own dentist appointment.”

I’d had to sweet talk the receptionist into letting me come in later after my siblings because if I didn’t, I couldn’t get on the free list that allowed the local college students studying dentistry to clean my teeth.

It was a solid setup, but if I didn’t leave in the next half hour, I’d miss my appointment time.

Of course my mother would do this.

It was her MO, after all.

“I’m here now,” Kent said. “I’ll cover you until you can get back. Then we can all work dinner together. Anders can wash the dishes.”

I sighed.

But since they were already off of school for the appointment, I figured…why the fuck not.

They officially had two more days of school, and I would totally not send them back if they weren’t one day away from truancy.

Speaking of…

“Did Mom get the school note for y’all?” I asked.

“Anders asked, but Mom said she would go do it, then decided to accept that date.” Kent winced. “I’m sorry, I was just worried about how to get back here.”

“I’ll get it,” I said as I started gathering my things. “I’m headed out.”

Kent jerked his chin at me, and I walked out the door, unsurprised to find that the woman hadn’t left yet.

She did stand outside and sulk, though.

I didn’t say anything to her as I left for my appointment.

I got my school note an hour later and was headed back when I heard the roar of a bike coming up fast on my left.

I didn’t look over my shoulder to see who it was.

I was just fucking exhausted.

I got up this morning at four, and hadn’t stopped since.

To be honest, life would be a hell of a lot easier if I got abducted.

Maybe they’d put me in a quiet room where there was no sound, where I could sleep on a bare mattress for months.

That sounded like heaven…

Four

You want a piece of the pie, but I want the recipe. We’re not the same.

—Posy’s secret thoughts

POSY

“Doc,” Cutter gushed as he clapped me on the shoulder. “Thanks for lunch and the entertainment.”

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