Page 16 of Hunter
“Both?”No, don’t refer to him and me as a “both.” I don’t wanna be grouped together with him in any way,” she uses quotation marks around the word and gives Alv one of her murder stares. He doesn’t seem bothered at all and rolls his eyes. I’m not surprised, considering Serafina Rossi is his cousin.
“Look, it’s late and I’m tired. You good here?” He pauses to yawn, and it’s one of those loud-open-mouthed fuckers, that let you know that you’re about to pass out.
It’s enough to have her give him a tiny little nod to let him know that she’ll stay. She rolls her eyes when he holds his hand up like he’s asking her to hold on as he yawns a third time. “Blanket’s clean and there’s water and shit in the mini fridge over there. Help yourself. It’s not the Plaza, but you’ll be comfortable and safe here.”
“I’ll be gone early to take the heat off your back.”
“It’s been hot, long before you, and will be long after. Just leave a number where I can find you and be back here by nine tomorrow.”
He opens the door, forcing me to step into her space as she moves back to make room for him to leave.
“Why are you still here? Fucking go!” she says while throwing her hands up. “Wait…” I watch her brain work in real time while she goes over it all in her head. Then her nose twitches when she comes up with the next question she’s going to use to interrogate me. “Why are you here at all?”Because seeing you today for the first time since that night made me feel fucking insane, and having a needle repeatedly shoved into my chest seemed like the only reasonable way to deal with it.
“It’s a tattoo shop, Ed, I was getting one.”Of your spirit animal.
She stares at me, her eyes squinted like she doesn’t believe me, even though the proof is on my chest. “Well, you can go now.”
“I’ll be right outside if you need —“
“I don’t need anything from you,” she turns away, giving me her back, before adjusting her long black braided ponytail so that it lies over her shoulder. Speaking of tattoos, she’s got an inkedXat the base of her neck.What’s that about?
“Go home, Hunter,” she snaps while unzipping an outside pocket on her bag. She takes out a bottle of soda and those fake-ass cheddar orange peanut butter crackers. She stuffs two into her mouth while unscrewing the cap of the bottle.
Even her doing this is fucking something I wanna see. It’s why I’m still watching her when she tips her head back and swallows it all down.
She sneaks a look at me from over her shoulder and scowls as her kitty-cat claws come out, “Carajo wey,¿que nunca escuchas? ¡Dije vete! (Fuck, dude, don’t you ever listen? I said Go!)”
“Come on, Hunt, give the lady some privacy,” Alvi says from the doorway while clapping me on the back, “Let’s go, before she hurts you.”
She shouts something in Spanish while taking a few steps forward and kicks the door shut behind us. I can’t help but shake my fucking head. Of course, this little lunatic had to have the last word.
“Aren’t you gonna lock it?” I ask Alv before he falls asleep, right where he stands.
“Are you fucking dumb? You take a puck to the head again?”
“What? It’s an honest fucking question, man.”
“She’s not a prisoner, Hunt.”
“No, but she is a flight risk.” I’m not taking any chances and slide down the front door until my ass hits the black and white checkered floor. I’m staying right here then.
“It unlocks from the inside anyway,” he laughs, and I feel like a fucking idiot. “You’re taking that guard dog comment seriously,” Alv chirps as he cleans up his station from my half-finished tattoo. A fucking hour ago, I was lying there, getting a tattoo of an angry black cat. Coincidentally, that same fucking cat showed up with her claws out.
“I’m good here.” I’m not, but I am. I take my hat off and run my fingers through my hair before rolling my shoulders back. I don’t like anything about this whole fucked up situation, but knowing that she’s safe for the time being has me feeling like I can at least sit for a minute.
“When did that happen?” He chin points toward the office door as he balls up my white t-shirt before chucking it at me. “You're always neck deep in sorority sisters.”
“They mean nothing. Just fuck holes.”
“And her?”
“She’s—,”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR FUCKING VOICE ANYMORE,PENDEJO.”
“Those other girls might just’ve been for you to get your dick wet, but this one’s got you by the balls.”
“¡CÁLLATE, CARAJO!”She yells just as I feel and hear her throw something at the back of the door.
