My jaw clenches.
“One sibling hooked up with her daughter’s teacher.”
I’m trying so hard to keep my cool.
“And Ronnie? Ronnie has slept with everything that has a pulse.”
“She hasn’t slept with you,” I spit.
He takes a step toward me, and I realize we’ve drawn a crowd.
“And little Jo. She comes back to town, and the one friend she used to have wants nothing to do with her anymore. And that’s just sad because Beau is still the same nerdy pussy loser he’s always been.”
That’s it.
Without warning, I grab an empty beer bottle. Holding it by the neck, I crack it on a table, leaving a sharp, jagged half the bottle, and I hold it to Russ’ throat.
“Listen here, you limp dick motherfucker. If you ever talk about Beau or my family again, I’ll cut your fucking heart out.”
He gives a scared little nod, and I throw the bottle down.
As I turn away, he says, “Jo. Just as fucked in the head as ever.”
Swinging back around, I pull my fist back and lunge forward, connecting with his jaw. I’m about to get a second hit in, when someone grabs my wrist.
Looking back, I see none other than Sheriff Swift.
Fuck.
***
“Joanna, come on. You can make your phone call,” the sheriff says to me from outside my cell.
I get up to follow him out. I consider making a snide comment about how ridiculous it is that I'm in here, but I fear if I do that, he will revoke my phone call in the blink of an eye. So, I keep my lips tightly sealed.
I step in front of the ancient telephone, and it suddenly occurs to me that I don’t have anyone’s phone numbers memorized.
Not a fucking one.
All the numbers I had memorized when I was a kid were all landline numbers, and all of my family has upgraded to cell phones only. The only number that seems to be in my brain box is the one to the shop. I remember it from reciting it on so many people’s voicemails.
I dial the number and pray to God someone answers. Surely, someone in my family is still there. But as the line gets to about the fifth ring, I start to lose hope.
Fuck.
Just when I’m about to hang up, someone picks up.
“Jack’s Auto Shop. This is Beau.”
“Beau!” I cry.
“Jo?”
“Yeah. Are any of my brothers still there?”
“No, everyone already left. I’m the only one here.”
“Okay, I know you hate me, but I need you to do me a huge favor. I need you to go find one of them or someone–anyone–from my family. Tell them I need them to come get me.”
