I roll my eyes, but I don’t ask what that has to do with her theory about who Dax H is.
“And I saw him talking to Rip yesterday behind that abandoned convenience store. They went inside and never came out. I sat there for two hours, and nothing.”
That makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I worry about her following a strange man around, but I don’t want her dragging my man into this.
“Leave my man out of this,” I hiss.
“Oh, calm down. I’m just saying, I was right.”
“You don’t know shit,” I whisper. “Where are you now?”
“I’m in a field that gives me a clear view of his house. He’s been gone all day. By the way, where’s Rip? Isn’t he gone, too?”
“Girl, my man’s whereabouts are no one’s business but his.” And mine, but I don’t know where he is. All he said was that he would be home around dinnertime, and since I don’t have to work overtime anymore, I’m going to cook us dinner for a change. And I only have a small window to do it.
“Uh-huh. I guess that means you don’t know either.”
“He’s going to notice you,” I warn. “You’re following him in the same car every day.”
“Not every day. I used my dad’s car yesterday. We switched because he had to take my car to the shop.”
“What’s wrong with your car?”
“The doors weren’t locking. It happened a couple of weeks ago, and Dad fixed it, but it did it again.”
“Hm. That’s odd, but get out of there. Now.”
“I’m leaving. He’s not here, and my dad has summoned me to dinner tonight. We’re going out, so I have to go help my mom get ready.”
“Tell your mom I said hi, and I’ll stop by and see her soon.”
We end the call, and I finish my grocery shopping. There are no new texts from Ripley, but I have about two hours to cook, shower, and change into something sexy.
The checkout line is long for a Friday afternoon, and by the time I finish shopping and check out, I only have an hour and a half to get everything done.
I rush out of the store and nearly collide with my sister in the parking lot. I haven’t seen her for a couple of weeks. We were at home for Sunday dinner. Rip had work and wasn’t with me, and Sylvie was on my back the entire two hours until I snapped and told her to worry about her own relationship.
Then
“You don’t think what you have with that goon is a relationship, do you?” she taunts. “Oh, please.”
“What do you care what it is?” I roll my eyes and walk away, but she follows me.
“Because you’re an embarrassment.”
“How? How am I embarrassing you? I don’t even talk to you, Sylvie .”
“And you’re setting a bad example for my kids.”
“You don’t let me see your kids, and setting an example for them is your responsibility, not mine. But you know who is setting a bad example for them? Your husband.”
She gasps and takes a step back. “Don’t speak about my marriage.”
“I’m not. I’m speaking on the shitty man you married who treats your kids like a nuisance. You chose him, they didn’t.”
“Do you know Mom and Dad are humiliated? You’re all they talk about in the church, but you love that, don’t you? You crave attention.”
“First of all, our parents go to church about three times a year. They don’t give two shits about what some church gossips have to say. Second, I don’t give a fuck either.”
