Page 10 of Healed
“Yeah, and mine,” Remi said. “I don’t think she meant it like in love.”
“Are you correcting me in public?”
Remi’s head wobbled as he swiveled back and forth looking for anybody else that might have heard him. “No. There’s nobody else here to be public.”
Olivia’s forced smile morphed into a flat line of pursed lips. “You will not correct me like I’m a child. I will not stand for that.”
“I’m not correcting you. We’re having a conversation,” Remi said.
“In which you are treating me like a child!”
“I didn’t treat you like a child.”
“Yes, you did,” she said, jumping to her feet as she glared at Remi. “I will not take this disrespect!”
Remi sat back in his chair and simply looked at her for several moments.
“Well?”
“Well, what?” Remi asked.
“Aren’t you going to say something?”
“Not really. I mean, I was wondering what your hangup is about respect, but I figure I’m not sure I really want to know after all.”
“How dare you?!” Olivia shrieked. “I demand respect at all times! But most especially from the men in my life!”
“Didn’t disrespect you, Olivia. All I did was point out facts that happen to be different than what you thought. If you think that’s disrespect, then maybe you should look it up and see what it really means. Because that ain’t it,” Remi said.
“I’m leaving! I will not sit here and take this!”
Remi didn’t say a word. He reached for the bottle of gin on the table — the fourth of the day — and poured himself a shot. He threw the shot back, swallowed, clenched his jaw as the burn went down his throat and slammed the shot glass on the table.
Olivia cleared her throat to get his attention.
Remi drunkenly gazed at her. “Thought you were leaving?”
“I am. Just as soon as you pay me for the outfit and the bills you promised to pay.”
Remi looked at her for several more seconds before he shrugged and shoved his hand into the pocket of his jeans. He brought out a wad of cash and looked at it, trying to determine how much he had with him. “Fuck it, take it all,” he said, tossing it in her direction.
Olivia quickly snatched up the money that fell to the floor and tucked it in her purse before she focused on Remi again. “So that’s it, you’re just going to let me leave.”
“You want to leave, leave. If you want to stay, sit. I really don’t care, Livi.”
Olivia yanked the chair back from the table then shoved it into the table to try to get a response out of Remi. In the process, she managed to cause the bottle of gin — or what was left of it — to fall, spilling all over Remi, and then to break when it rolled off the table and hit the floor.
“Hey!” Remi said irritatedly.
“Is there a problem?” Vince asked, as he approached.
“We didn’t ask for anything. You can go back to the bar,” Olivia snapped.
Vince laughed. His hand shot out so quickly it was a blur as he curled his fingers around her bicep, and started for the door.
Olivia started screaming, trying unsuccessfully to pry his hand off her. “Let me go!” she screamed over and over again. “Help! Help me, Remi!”
Vince opened the door and yanked her up to face him in the open doorway. “I’m Vince. This is my place. Daisy and Remi are my niece and nephew. Stay away from both of them, and stay away from my place of business. You’re not welcome here.” He shoved her through the open door and slammed it closed.
