Page 39 of Freak Show

He chuckled as he said, “There’s not a wrong answer here. You can say ‘yes, I did’ or ‘you weren’t around to hand me one, so I got my own.’” He paused for dramatic effect. “It was me who should’ve been here to get it for you. I’m sorry I left you alone for so long.”

He’d promised he wouldn’t.

And in reality, it was only five minutes.

I could see him the entire time.

“It’s okay,” I lied.

It wasn’t okay.

I didn’t know any of these people.

But I also wasn’t in the business of making people feel like crap on purpose.

“Being known by everyone is exhausting,” he admitted. “Plus, had I known that this was a club party day, I definitely would’ve waited until tomorrow. But what’s done is done. I’ll try my best not to seem too down.”

“You don’t like parties?” I asked in surprise.

He was so personable.

I’d yet to see him be around someone that he couldn’t hold a conversation with—people who knew him and didn’t know him. All of them liked him, it was obvious.

“Hey, Slone.”

We both looked over, surprised to see someone right next to us when neither one of us had witnessed this person move closer.

The blonde. Viddy. Trance’s wife.

“Hey, Viddy.” Slone smiled, looking relieved to see her standing there and not some random person.

“I’m gonna take the kids back home with me.” She smiled. “And don’t worry, I have a driver.”

She pointed at a man who was casually flipping his keys around on his keyring.

“Tell Pace hi for me,” Slone nodded. “Briley shouldn’t give you any trouble, but if she does, give me a call and I’ll take care of it.”

Viddy rolled her eyes. “Your child has never given me any trouble and we know it. Bye, baby.”

Then she was gone, heading over to the man with just as many prosthetics as real limbs.

He’d make a good circus act.

Not saying that he was a freak or anything, but kids loved all things different. They’d definitely get a kick out of the stoic looking man.

“Who’s that driving Viddy home?” I asked curiously.

“That’s her son-in-law, Pace,” Slone answered as he turned to wedge himself in between the bar stools, which also ended up getting him closer to me, as a couple of women sidled up to the bar. “He’s married to Viddy and Trance’s daughter, Oakley.”

“Oh,” I said simply, mostly because the closeness of his body to my own was making me feel weird. Tingly weird. All over.

The women behind him started to crowd Slone, and he cursed.

I got up out of my stool and patted it, pushing as far into the wall as I could without actually becoming one with it.

Slone took the seat and I realized my mistake immediately.

By putting myself where I did, I’d effectively blocked my exits. I’d also underestimated his size.

---