“That’s fuckin’ rich since you were threatening to snitch on me to make sure I kept doing it.” Tom laughed bitterly.
“For fuck’s sake. I know.” Junior’s hands were shaking as he continued to rake his hair back. “Just, just fucking shut up!”
Tom noticed Junior was starting to sweat. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I need you to do it one more time,” Junior said, ignoring the question. “One more fucking time.”
“No fuckin’ way.” Tom’s blood began to race. “I told you I was done, and I meant it. You need to seriously get some fuckin’ help.”
Junior snatched the collar of Tom’s scrubs and pushed him roughly against the wall as he snarled, “Come on, Tommy. Come on—”
“Let go of me!” Tom shoved Junior away as hard as he could.
Junior stumbled, falling to one knee and bracing himself against someone’s car. “Oh, you’re gonna fuckin’ regret that.”
“Not as much as you will if you fuckin’ touch me again,” Tom snapped back. “I am a fuckin’tiger, and I will fuck you up!” Okay, that sounded totally crazy, but he went with it. “I don’t care what happens to me, I will go to the fuckin’ police right now.”
“No, no, no!” Junior pleaded, his anger gone and suddenly replaced with anguish. “No, please don’t do that, Tommy! Please! Come on, please. I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to.”
“You’re so full of shit.” Tom could hear the back door opening, hoping it was Bosco or some other large employee coming their way. He stood as tall as he could as he said firmly, “Sober up and leave me the hell alone.”
“Yeah, well, you keep your mouth shut.” Junior was apparently determined to get the last word in, backing away with a sneer.
Tom remained frozen where he was, his hands curling into fists. His pulse was thumping in his ears, and if Junior touched him again, he was going to punch him right in the damn face. He didn’t move a muscle, waiting for Junior to get in his car and leave.
“Hey, you’re still here?” Aaron greeted Tom as he walked around the corner, just in time to see Junior’s car kicking up rocks as he sped out of the parking lot.
“I’m leaving now.”
“Was that Junior?” Aaron blinked. “What the hell was he doing here?”
“Being a giant pain in the ass.”
“Everything okay?” Aaron nudged Tom’s arm.
“It’s fine,” Tom lied. “He’s just fucked up.”
Aaron put his finger next to his nose and made a dramatic snorting sound. “Yeah?”
“Probably.” Tom started walking quickly to his car. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Uh, no, you won’t.”
“Huh?”
“Tomorrow is Tuesday.” Aaron laughed. “Dude, you’re off, right?”
“Shit, yeah. Sorry, kinda in my head today.”
“No worries. Enjoy your day off and don’t show up to work.” Aaron waved. “Night.”
“Good night.”
Tom cranked his music up on the drive home, waiting for the adrenaline rushing through his body to settle. He couldn’t believe he’d done that. He’d pushed Junior—twice—and had been ready to knock his block off.
“I am beautiful,” he found himself mumbling. “I am fuckin’ worthy. I am a motherfuckin’ tiger.”
Junior had never been so physical before, even at his worst. There was definitely something going on, and Tom was sure Gerald was covering for him.
