“Dunno. He’s still blocked.”
“Oh, right. So what now?”
“Nothing.” Honestly, I’m almost grateful for his stupid behavior tonight. I was worried about backsliding. Now I hate him all over again.
Chapter Nine
Dice
River dancing?
Icouldn’t sleep.
So much for impulse control. My mouth—too quick, too reckless—hurt Lot.
Now I’m standing on Rayne’s front porch, holding a bag of jelly beans and a Spider-Man plushie. I went to three stores in town and crossed into the next two counties looking for a spider but came up short. Hopefully, it’s the gesture that counts.
Lot opens the door, looking good enough to eat. Locs piled on top of her head like a pineapple. Sweats riding low on her waist, strings untied. Fitted T-shirt with her graffiti-style art of an angel wearing a gold halo, hand on her cocked hip, holding a red chili pepper between her lips.The caption readsSugar ’n Spice, and not always nice.
I lift my eyes to hers, getting the spice. Hazel and pissed, burning right through me.
“I would have called first,” I say, “but you still have me blocked.”
“With good reason.”
“I don’t know what that reason is, but I’m here to talk about last night. To apologize. Can I come in?”
“I’m busy.”
“It won’t take long.”
“Then it can’t be much of an apology.”
I blow out a breath and hold up the gift bag. “Don’t you want to at least see what I got you?”
She cuts her eyes at me but steps back. I enter, taking it as a mini win. Rayne’s place is an older home like mine, but the inside’s been renovated. It’s modern with pale grays, clean whites, and pastel accents.
“Where’s Rayne?” I ask.
“Grocery shopping.”
I hear Queenie’s bell before she appears. One look at me and she hisses, then bolts down the hall.
“They say animals are a good judge of character.”
“Are you going to let me apologize, Lot?”
“Who’s stopping you?”
Before I can answer, a loud thudding vibrates through the house, accompanied by metallic groans. “What’s that?” I ask.
“The washing machine.”
“You might want to check on that.”
“It’s fine.” She grabs the store bag and peeks inside. Her gaze raises back to mine, not at all moved. “You think candy and a stuffy are going to fix the shit you said?”
“No. But I figured a reminder of how we met might.”
