“Depends on where you get it,” he said, talking through a yawn. “I’m not going to lie, around the elbow hurt like a bitch.”
He held up his arm, showing me a starburst pattern at his elbow.
“I was thinking that I should get something significant to me. Like the word perseverance along my wrist maybe. Some kind of reminder of what I’ve been through and that I’m stronger for it.”
I did feel that way, even though I’d had a moment of weakness last night. The fact was that I wasn’t the same woman that stuck around for years in that shitty situation.
“You just have to make sure you’ll be happy with it. They’re forever, ya know.”
We got out of bed. I was supposed to pick Dominic up at Elaine’s house at ten, so I had an hour until I had to leave. Trainer and I both needed a shower, so we got in together, but it was a while before any proper cleaning was done. I couldn’t believe how much I wanted this man after we’d had sex twice last night. I’d never experienced that before. My only other sexual partner had been Jeff, but even before I realized what a scumbag he was, I didn’t want him like this. And the sex was incomparable. Jeff was selfish, and Trainer was…earth-shattering.
The word love crossed my mind again, and I tried to ignore it. I had to find a way to get Jeff to leave me alone before I could allow myself to go there.
When we went downstairs, I picked up the broken pieces of my phone. I hoped with all my heart that Dominic didn’t try to call me to pick him up last night. I hadn’t been thinking about that when I broke the damn thing. In fact, I hadn’t had a rational thought at all until Trainer showed up. It was amazing what effect fear could have on the mind.
I threw the cell phone away and took Gizmo outside to use the bathroom. While Trainer got the coffee pot going. The back porch was much like the front in that it was one big porch divided in half. I was standing on my half when Talia came outside, choosing to grab a cigarette on the back porch this time.
“You got a dog, huh?” she asked. She looked like hell, with dark circles under her eyes, and her clothes looked dirty.
“Yeah, for my son.”
“Ugly little thing.” She was eyeing his scars with distaste.
I frowned, but I didn’t want to get pulled into an argument with her, so I didn’t respond. I just wanted Gizmo to hurry up and pick a spot to poop so I could go inside and grab a cup of coffee before leaving to pick up Dominic.
“I saw that bike out front. So, your fucking one of those Outlaw Souls, huh?”
“I’m dating one of them, yes.”
“They think they’re so great, busting up in my house like they have a right to be here. They don’t. They think they can act like the damn police in La Playa.”
I had no idea what she was talking about. Swole had told me about the meth lab and that their rivals were responsible, but that was it.
“I’m just saying,” she went on, “I didn’t have problems like this before you moved in.”
“I didn’t rat you out. if that’s what you’re thinking,” I said tiredly. I had bigger things to worry about right now. “I didn’t even know you were doing that stuff over there.”
“Iwasn’t doing anything. It was Rage. The basement was his man cave.”
“Rage? Is that your boyfriend’s nickname or something?”
“He’s not my boyfriend anymore,” she spat bitterly. “He was pissed when I told him that his stash was gone.”
“So, you’re not mad that he did this?” I asked incredulously. I was furious that my child was put in danger, and I didn’t even have a personal relationship with the man. She should be pissed and feel betrayed.
“You know what? I think you’re a nosy bitch. Tell your damn friends to leave me alone.”
Talia took a last drag off her cigarette before flicking it into the grass.Lovely.
I watched as she turned her back on me and strutted into her half of the house. A nudge against my calf brought my attention to Gizmo, who was sitting on the porch beside me, wagging his tail.
“That was weird. Huh, boy?” I bent down and patted his head. “I guess some people just need someone to blame when their life implodes.”
“Talking to yourself?” Trainer asked from the doorway of the backdoor. He was shirtless and looking at me with a little half-smile.
“Talking to my good friend, Gizmo,” I replied. “Now, I need to go get Dominic.”
“And I need to meet a buyer for the Triumph Bonneville I just finished restoring.”
