Page 8 of Positively Pricked
The drunk guy muttered, "Son-of-bitch." I heard another zip as the guy said, "Fuck, Zane. Why didn't you tell me?"
Zane replied, "Because I wasn't staring at your cock."
"Oh yeah?" the drunk said. "Well, I wasn't staring at yours either." He snorted. "Asshole."
The new guy spoke up. "Aw c'mon guys. No harm, no foul, right?"
I frowned.Yeah, tell that to the van, buddy.
Finally, after some additional back-and-forth, Teddy the Drunk shuffled off with a belligerent promise to deal with Zane later – whatever that meant.
I gave a quiet sigh. And then, there were two.
The new guy said, "Hey, thanks for looking out for him."
"I wasn't looking out forhim," Zane said. "I was looking out forme."
The new guy chuckled. "Yeah, who needs a scene, right? I'm just glad you got him outta there when you did."
When Zane said nothing in response, the guy added, "Listen, I know that you and your granddad weren't close, but he was a fine man." His tone grew sympathetic. "And it was a damn shame what happened to him."
I tried to recall. Whathadhappened to him?
The stranger was still talking. "But I guess when your time's up—"
"Fuck you," Zane said.
Long pause. "Pardon?"
"You heard me."
The new guy cleared his throat. "Hey, if you wanna talk…"
"I don't."
After a long, awkward pause, the guy tried again. "I'm just saying, I know it's gotta be overwhelming – with the hotels, the houses, hell, the financials – but if you ever need a shoulder to lean on…"
"I don't."
"Yeah, well…" The other guy hesitated. "I'm just saying, I know there's a lot on your plate."
"Right," Zane said. "Myplate. Not yours. Speaking of which, you're moving."
"What?" the guy said. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Zane said, "the house on Longwood. It's mine now. So get the fuck out." In a voice that held the barest hint of a smile, he added, "By Monday."
The stranger gave a strangled laugh. "Oh come on. You're not serious?"
"Yeah? Why not?"
"Because we've been living there for years. It's our family home. The deed – it was just a technicality. I mean, everyone knows it's our house."
"Not anymore."
"You're joking."
"Do Ilooklike I'm joking?"
