We both knew there wasn’t much they would do without any concrete proof. What else was I supposed to do? Get Auryn to deal with him again? Too late for that. After today, I doubted I would see Auryn again.
“About what?” Jamie laughed. He motioned to the bruises on his face. “I’m the one with evidence. Maybe I should go to the police. I’m sure they would find several reasons to nail your so-called boyfriend.”
Perhaps it was the way he grinned at me, like he really had me there. Maybe I was simply sick of everybody’s shit.
With the anger driving me, I picked up his almost full glass of beer, pouring it over his head. His shocked expression empowered me to keep going. Next I snatched up the hot bowl of chili and smiled while I dumped the contents into his lap.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Jamie’s shout rang out through the restaurant. Several people turned to stare.
I didn’t care. I was beyond that now.
Needing to really drive my point home, I snarled, “Come near me again and I’ll have you killed.”
As much as I would have loved to enjoy the moment while Jamie flailed and freaked out, I had to get out of there. My boss caught up to me on my way out.
“Have you lost your ever-loving mind?” he shouted, his face red, a vein popping out in his forehead. “You’re done, Ripley. There are no second chances after assaulting a customer.”
“Fine with me.” I may panic later. Right then I gave no fucks. “I’ll come back to get my final paycheck.”
I wasn’t about to stand there and argue my case or plead for my job. Screw it. I was done.
CHAPTER TWENTY
RIPLEY
A strange kind of calm settled over me as I got into my car to leave. Deep inside I still burned with an unshakeable fury. On the surface I was cool and composed. Capable of calmly driving to my mother’s house.
Now was probably not the best time to go pay her a visit. Since I’d decided that I didn’t give a shit anymore, I didn’t see any reason to wait. She wanted more money, so I would give her more money and tell her there was no more where that came from. She was on her own now as was I.
There were lights on in the house when I arrived. Hopefully she didn’t have any of her friends over. This conversation didn’t need any witnesses.
I picked my way along the crumbling front walk to the front door. Knocking hard, I waited, listening for some kind of movement inside. I didn’t bother with the doorbell. It hadn’t worked in years.
I was about to open the door and let myself in when my mother appeared. She jerked open the door, staring out at me with bloodshot, tired eyes. Her hair was still in that same messy bun. I wondered if she’d even washed it since the last time I saw her. She now wore a pair of baggy PJ pants and a tank top.
Looking me up and down, she said, “I wasn’t expecting to see you. You usually call first.”
“I was on my way home and figured I would stop by.” Not waiting for her to let me in, I pushed my way into the house.
She closed the door, following me into the living room. Snatching up a pack of cigarettes from the coffee table and tucking one between her lips. “I need some money for the laundromat. And a few groceries.”
I nodded, knowing damn well that’s not what she was going to use the money for. Reaching into my purse, I pulled out the tips I’d made earlier tonight. Tossing the cash down onto the coffee table.
“That’s all I have. There probably won’t be any more for a while. I got fired tonight.” Even though I knew I needed to get another job, I felt a sense of freedom as I spoke those words.
Mom stared at me, like she wasn’t sure if she’d heard me correctly. “You got fired? Why? What could a goody two shoes like you possibly do to get fired?”
She’d always been nasty toward me when it came to my preference to stay out of trouble and follow the rules. I never could figure out why that pissed her off so much. Probably because we were so different that way.
“I poured a bowl of chili in some asshole’s lap. I also poured his beer over his head.” I shrugged. “He deserved worse.”
Mom puffed away on her cigarette, blowing a cloud of smoke at me. “Well, isn’t that just great? What are we going to do now, Ripley? I have bills to pay.”
She’d been a selfish person for as long as I’d known her. Still, hearing her talk like that did something to me. Digging deep. I lost it.
“Then get a fucking job,” I screamed at her. “Just like the rest of us. Maybe if you didn’t spend all of your money on drugs and alcohol, you would have more for bills and food. None ofthat is my problem. I moved out of here to get away from you and your bullshit. I have my own problems. It’s not my job to clean up your mess.”
She moved surprisingly fast. Slapping me hard across the face. Her voice shaking with anger. “How dare you speak to me like that? I am your mother. You will respect me.”
