Page 55 of Justus
“Upto you, Sweets. Why don’t you call her?”
Theancient woman slaps our food on the counter and yells, “Come get it! This ain’tDenny’s. Ain’t no waitresses here.”
Charming.
Sadielaughs on the phone with her mom while I take a tentative bite of chicken.“Holy shit!” I mumble through the next mouthful. It’s the best fried chickenI’ve ever had.
“Toldyou,” Sadie gloats, hanging up the phone.
“You’reright. It’s awesome. Totally worth the E.coli. How is she?”
“Shesounds strong and insisted we don’t show our faces there today.” She gets upand walks to the counter and back to grab a handful of napkins. My eyes mayhave stayed glued to her ass the whole way.
“So,are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
Swallowing,she grins. “Remember you and the guys were all bitching about the Fun Centerclosing?”
“Hellyeah, they had go-carts and paintball. Those are basic American rights.”
“Well,I know a go-cart place, and since I know I can race circles around you, we’reheaded there next.”
I’venever had a woman put any thought into something for me like she just did. Allthey’re ever interested in is fucking me, then telling their friends theybagged the hot stripper. She remembered something I said, what? Like, a yearago? And then hunted for a place? I’m not sure what I’m feeling, but Ithink…I’m touched. Fuck, she’s turning me into a chick.
“Oh,Sweets, I almost feel guilty for how badly I’m going to smoke you.”
* * * *
Shebeat me. What can I say? The woman is brutal. In fact, after she rammed me intothe wall to win the third race, we were politely asked to leave.
“Afterthat little display, I’m driving,” I laugh, snatching her keys.
“Iwasn’t reckless! What a bunch of pussies!” She huffs and flops into thepassenger seat.
Fuck,she’s adorable. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.
“Whereto next, Sadist?”
Shegives me directions until I pull up at a park. “I thought we could just take alittle walk. There’s a path that leads back to a bridge I used to like when Iwas a kid.” Her glance is unsure. “You said you wanted to talk, and geteverything out in the open. I thought this would be a good place.”
Somewhereshe can’t run away from me in horror when she knows everything? Yep. Goodplace.
“Soundsgood. Show me the way.”
Alarge shelter house with picnic tables separates the children’s playground fromthe rest of the park. Sadie grabs my hand and leads me away from theplayground. We’re silent until we reach the tree line and get swallowed up bythe thin forest.
“Ineed to know why you ditched me, Justus. And I need to know that it won’thappen again. If you’re done, don’t be a bitch about it. Tell me to my face.I’m not the type to lose it or make a scene.”
She’sthe type to kick me in the balls. She’s also right.
“I’msorry, sweetheart. I really am. I wasn’t lying when I told you I had to work,but that’s not the main reason I didn’t get in touch.”
WhenI pause, she says, “Ayda told me your sister isn’t missing anymore.”
“No,she’s in a rehab center. She’s not a junkie.” I rub my palm over my face.“Well, she’s an addict, but I don’t want people to think of her that way. Itwasn’t her fault.”
Sighing,I pull her down on a bench. She doesn’t rush me when I get quiet, just squeezesmy hand and stares into the purple and pink streaked sky with me until Icontinue. “She was taken by human traffickers over eight years ago. They rentedher out to men and kept her drugged on opiates.”
“OhJustus, I’m so sorry,” she sighs, laying her head on my shoulder.
