Page 94 of Vicious Saint
“Years of taking classes have been doing just fine.”
With a skillful eye roll, Mom says over her shoulder, “Carlo, dear. Can you please go and see if you can fetch Hendrix’s things from her school?”
“I don’t need anyone tofetchmy things.”
Looking a bit puzzled, Carlo nods and takes off.
“Theory will be home from church with Vic any minute,” she continues. “You two can spend the day together. Go shopping after Carlo gets back, he’d be more than willing to take you.”
Yeah, as would anyone getting paid a fortune to follow two teenagers around a mall.
“What the heck is wrong with you?”
My mother never talks to me like this. Ever.
Even on my worst attitude days, she prefers deep cleansing breaths and matching sass.
In fact, it’s Auntie Pop who’s been harder on me.
Using loud voices and empty threats.
Speaking of…
“Where’s Auntie?”
“At the store. Shopping for the beautiful room upstairs she’shappyto be living in.”
Oh, please. Those two have been inseparable evenbeforebirth. Auntie Pop would follow her to Hell without question—and vice versa. Happiness be damned along with them.
Mom’s phone rings again, and I’m tempted to rip it out of her pocket to find out who the fuck it is changing yet another facet of my life.
In an attempt to avoid saying something I’ll regret, I ixnay any further questions, stomp past my mother, and head for the kitchen exit. Then curse when I get cut off at the pass by Vic and Theory.
Vic senses the hostility immediately and presses a hand on my shoulder. “Hey…you okay, kiddo?”
I recoil from his touch, even though months of getting to know him proves he doesn’t deserve it. “I’m fine. But maybe you should ask your wife.” With a sidestep to both him and a sympathetic Theory, I continue my escape through the gigantic house, passing the formal living room with loud taps of my chunky heels.
I find Carlo in the foyer, walking toward the door until he notices me and stops. “Signorina—”
“In case it hasn’t been made clear,Carlo, I’m not a fan of you. So I suggest you stick to calling me by my actual name. Not a pet one.” I pass him, but not before he offers another quizzical look, then rushes to open the door.
“Do you,eh,need-ehme totake-ehyou to a place?”
“No fucking thank you.”
“Hendrix!” Theory beckons from down the hall, her breaths ragged as if she’s jogging.
When I turn I find her doing just that.
In stiletto heels.
I’d be impressed if I wasn’t so pissed off.
She lets out a whoosh when she reaches me. “That was totally as hard as it looked.”
“I would’ve been on my ass before even reaching the living room so…”
She waves me off. “You’re walking in yours just fine.”
