Page 53 of Cain
“Melody, you and Paula cooked that shit up together. Don’t lay the blame on her. You’re the one who spent the money.”
She flutters her eyelashes. “Come on, Cain, you have so much, and it was just ten grand.”
“Just ten grand?” I shake my head, disgusted as hell. “That’s a shit ton of money, Melody. That’s five months’ rent for Ripley’s. I struggled to make payroll for a few months after you stole from me.”
Who does she think we are? The fucking Rockefellers?
Her features soften with tenderness. It’s fake.
“I’m sorry, Cain.” She comes closer, into my personal space.
I step back. “For fuck’s sake, Melody. I’m not interested in you. I haven’t been for years. We slept together a couple of times three years ago.”
“You’re the best I’ve ever had, Cain.” She now puts her hands on my chest. “And I know I’m the best you’ve ever had.”
I grab her wrists, set her aside. “Don’t touch me.”
Something ugly flashes in her eyes. “Are you fucking that low life again? Is that it? You need dirty pussy to get it up?”
My breath catches in my throat at her poison. I lean down, arms tense, jaw set. I give her a withering look.
She has the decency to step away.
“I wish I could keep your toxicity away from my sister, but that ship has sailed. Don’t come near me ever again. If you do, I’ll go to Lo and have you arrested.”
“If I go down, I take your sister with me,” she spits out.
“The way I feel, Melody, you can both rot in hell.”
22
COME INSIDE
FAITH
The air’s turned soft again.
It’s late spring, and the cold has no bite; it’s just a breeze, lingering.
Cain waits for me outside Nectar, leaning against his truck, hands in his pockets, eyes catching mine.
This is a thing now—him driving me to work and home.
Ever since I moved into the little apartment above Let’s Read, he insists. Says it’s no trouble. Says he doesn’t like me walking alone at night.
I don’t argue.
I like it.
Too much.
He opens the passenger door for me. I slide in. His truck smells like cedar and coffee. Like him.
We don’t say much during the ride. But when we pull up in front of the bookstore, he cuts the engine and turns toward me. I ask, “What’s wrong?”—because I can feel something is.
He runs a hand over his face. “It’s been a day. Paula came by, and then Melody accosted me. I’m just so fucking tired of them.”
I nod. Wait. He needs to get something off his chest..
