“Have you ever considered what it would’ve been like if you and I got together?” she asked without warning.
Before he answered, Mort lit a cigarette and enjoyed the nicotine rush. “Got together? As in a hook-up?”
“A hook-up or a relationship.”
Smiling, Mort slid his fingers through her hair, went for another hit of nicotine, then nodded. “When I first met you, I thought you was so fucking gorgeous, Kendall. I wanted you. I often tell myself I stepped out of the way for Johnnie, but I’d already met Bailey. Maybe, if she hadn’t stolen my heart almost from the moment I laid eyes on her, I would’ve challenged that motherfucker for you. But I don’t know. Back then, Johnnie was so different, and I just wanted him happy. He was so fucking miserable.”
“Because of Meggie.”
Mort wouldn’t answer.
“Do you think he truly loves her?”
“I think he thought he loved her. I think he wanted her because she spurned him.”
“Didyouwant Meggie?”
“Who didn’t, Red? But she was young and alone. Once I stopped wanting to kill her, I saw she needed a friend, someone to rely on when shit got bad. I love Meggie like a little sister.”
“Is that how you love me?”
“I count you, Prez, and Meggie as my best friends. You and Meggie are still so fucking different. She got more in common with Ophelia and you got more in common with Zoann.”
“I take umbrage on Meggie’s behalf,” Kendall snapped. “Explain yourself now!”
Mortician squeezed the cherry of his cigarette to extinguish it. “Ophelia the homemaker and Zoann the career woman. That’s what I mean.”
“Then you should’ve said that in the first place,” Kendall said with a sniff. “I wouldn’t want a spineless moron like Ophelia as my friend.”
Mort refrained from reminding her she’d claimed differently once. Tucking hair behind her ear, he said, “Say there was no Bailey and I’d murdered Johnnie and buried that motherfucker in a salted tar pit?”
Her eyes widened.
“You wouldn’t feel fucking strange if you and me suddenly jumped naked in front of each other?”
“Have you ever heard of friends to lovers?”
Cocking his head to the side, Mortician studied her. “Are you asking to be my lover?”
Flushing, Kendall dropped her gaze and then sighed. “The idea has merit, but I would be nothing but a hypocritical bitch after the Symphony Incident.” Tears rushed to her eyes again. “It’s just that it’s been so long since Johnnie has been kind to me. Even when we went away, it was tense and miserable.You dropped everything Sundayandtoday. For me. I just wish Johnnie…” Her voice trailed off. “It doesn’t matter. Wishes are for children.”
“You love Johnnie.”
“No, I actually hate that motherfucker,” she said crossly.
“Why don’t we go explore the town? We can eat dinner and have a few drinks. Talk a little more before we head back to Hortensia.”
“I like that idea. I’ll call Mattie in four hours when she’s home from school.”
Mort nodded, got to his feet, and held out his hand to help Kendall to hers. A little time away wouldn’t hurt anyone and it might help him to decide exactly how he wanted to fuck up Dead and Dead, Jr.
Borrowing Mortician’s idea to steal Kendall away and take her mind off everything, Christopher made a stop at the jeweler before returning home and asking Megan to spend the day with him. Her hesitation disappointed him, considering what yesterday was. Even after she told him she was hoping they’d visit Jo after they made love and then take Gunner to some type of kid’s museum, Christopher was still upset.
But Megan did her usual: loved, understood, and took care of him. She made him promise that he wouldn’t interfere with her visiting Jo tomorrow and then spending time with Gunner. Christopher shut the fuck up while she checked on Rebel and asked if she’d be okay with Bunny.
Megan’s stalling tactics concerned Christopher. Though he was both annoyed and worried, hestilldidn’t say anything. He almost told her neverfuckinmind, until she walked into his mancave, where he’d gone to stew, dressed in black leather and wearing red lipstick, her eyes sparkling.
Unfortunately, she’d wasted too much time for him to take her to Tillamook. She’d want to be home in time for dinner, so he adjusted the itinerary and headed to Astoria via the Pacific Coast Byway.
