Page 29 of Fox
THIRTEEN
fox
Iinwardly wince as Liza continues to sob into her hands as we sit at a table atNuts About Dough. Staring at my cup of coffee, I wish like hell I was at my house right now. Fuck, I wish I was getting a root canal right now. Anything would be less painful than the last thirty minutes. My head is throbbing, which I find to be absolute bullshit since I was the responsible, sober one last night. But with the loud noises, the stress of that fucking bastard touching Janie and then carrying her ass up to my house with Atlas, Ash, and Ren being as helpful as you would expect three drunk idiots to be, I didn’t get any sleep. Especially, once two am rolled around and Ash commandeered my guest bathroom, leaving Janie and Atlas to bond over the toilet in my main bathroom, taking turns puking and missing.
I got no sleep last night, having spent it cleaning up their vomit and hydrating the fuckers, and then my alarm when off this morning to remind me of this meeting, something I’d completely forgotten about and wished to god I would’ve just called and canceled. Not that she would’ve accepted that. She would’ve just shown up at Hel’s screaming if I hadn’t come here to meet her.
“I just,” Liza blows her nose into her tissue. “I don’t understand! How long is the normal amount of time to wait? My boys aren’t working at the shop, they haven’t heard from you to come in, and now the insurance company refuses to release his life insurance to me! I was basically his wife!”
I can’t help but snort as I sip the coffee. I don’t know who she’s trying to fool here, but she should know this won’t work on me. Liza and I go way back. Like decades. She was the shop girl where I worked in my hometown in Washington. I know all her tricks, so I don’t understand why she’s putting on this show.
“Liza, I don’t know what to tell you,” I state, looking into her red-rimmed yet bone-dry eyes. “I’m sure the beneficiary is Janie. That would make the most sense, considering she’s his daughter. She hasn’t mentioned anything, and it’s none of anyone’s business about his life insurance. My legal matters with Tony’s death don’t go any further than Hel’s.”
“Well, what about my boys? They were promised places at that shop after their apprenticeships.” Liza’s hands shake so hard that her cup hits her plate, causing my thoughts to go to Janie. God, she was so bad last night when we got to my place. At one point, I found her trying to clean up after she’d puked, and she was crying and apologizing. It was a mess.
I wonder what I can get her for her hangover? I know she can’t have caffeine, but I could still get her the usual iced decaf. Maybe a donut?
I look up from my coffee and am greeted by Liza’s expectant gaze.Right, I guess she actually expects an answer.“Your sons had their shot at Hel’s before Tony passed. Those two were high the entire time they were there. Which, need I remind you, was only about a quarter of the time they were scheduled. I absolutely will not have them at my shop.” Liza scoffs, rolling her eyes while I flag down a familiar server.
“Fox, right?” The turquoise-haired woman gives me a kind smile as she stands next to our table.
“Good memory. Stevie, was it?” I give her a polite smile as she nods.
“You got it! What can I do for you guys?” Liza waves her hand dismissively, but I hold Stevie’s attention.
“Can you get me two large black iced coffees and then an iced decaf latte with a pump of vanilla, oat milk… Oh! And a pump of cinnamon, please?” Both Liza and Stevie stare at me with skeptical looks. I shift uncomfortably, trying to act like it’s no big deal. “What? Is there something wrong with me getting something a little sweet?”
“No,” Stevie chuckles softly, shaking her head. “But that’s Janie’s order. Would you like any food?” I think for a minute.
“So, yesterday was her birthday, and it was kind of a crappy day. She’s probably not feeling the best this morning. She’s big on sweets, but the weirdo isn’t into chocolate.” Stevie taps her chin with her pen as she thinks.
“I’ll box you up something,” she smiles. “You feeding the guys too? Or just Janie?” Her suggestive grin and playful wink cause me to look away and rub the back of my neck.
I clear my throat and give her a crooked half-smile. “Uh… the guys too.”
Liza coughs, and I look back toward her, annoyance filling me once more.
“So, Liza, you sent the text stating you have some things of Tony’s?” That’s why I agreed to this meeting, and I have yet to see anything, minus her sobs. Liza shakes her head, looking away.
“No,” she admits softly. “I just… I wanted to see you, Fox. You remind me so much of Tony, and I’ve been so lonely.”
“Stop,” I state firmly while reaching into my wallet and pulling out a couple of bills to tip Stevie. “I’m not going to evenentertain this. Now, if there’s nothing else, I need to grab my order and head out.”
Liza grabs my forearm as I go to leave, and a cold chill runs through me when her icy eyes meet mine. “That wretched girl is going to destroy that shop.” She spits out in a harsh whisper. I instantly stiffen and look down at her, my eyes narrowing.
“You know absolutely nothing about Janie or that shop. And it’s in your best interest to keep both out of your mouth.” I snap, ripping my arm from her hand before taking my leave.
I stare downat the two idiots in front of me. Both are hugging their coffees and lying on the cool granite countertop. Ren has already left, saying she got called into work. She slept in my bed with Janie when Janie wasn’t in the bathroom with Atlas. Ash alternated between the guest room and the bathroom while I slept on my couch. It was a cramped night in my small house.
I remember bringing a woman back here once and her calling the housecozy. I know she meant it as an insult. It wasn’t hard to tell what she was looking for, considering how she looked at my truck like she was embarrassed to get into it. It’s just me here; I rarely have visitors unless it’s the guys. I work a lot, and the outside is far more important to me than the space inside. The backyard opens to a large, lush, heavily wooded area, which is hard to get around the city, and I’m happy here even if some find my bungalow too cozy.
Besides the updated kitchen and bathrooms, the house has a very eclectic feel. The walls are covered in different sketches,paintings, flash art prints, awards, and photos from the last two decades of my career. I’ve been given different things by fans, customers, or Tony and the guys line bookcases and shelves. Most wouldn’t think so, but I’m a bit sentimental. I enjoy saving items that have meaning to me and displaying them.
“I am dying,” Atlas says slowly as he raises his head, only to find it to be too much effort and laying back on the counter.
“Yeah, well, you two are fucking idiots. You both know better than to drink as much as you did.” I shake my head at both of them.
“Listen,Papa Fox,” Atlas tries to add some authoritative tone to his voice, but it seems only to hurt his head more as he winces and continues speaking in a more hushed tone. “My manhood was on the table. I couldn’t let Ren and Janie beat me at those shots. What would you do?”
