The officer heaved out a sigh. “Girl, listen to me, I usually don’t give a shit about what people ask for, but come on, everyone in here wants to maul you. You need a weapon.”
“If I don’t wear sunscreen, I will get sunburnt. Sunburn gives you cancer and wrinkles and spots. I do not want those.”
“You need to protect yourself.”
“Iamprotecting myself. I am protecting myself from UV damage. Do you know that all people should be wearing sunscreen? Everyday. Even if you work inside, the UV can still get through. Skin cancer is the highest cancer in the country and very easily avoidable if—”
“Girl— ”
“Don’t interrupt her!” Dig yelled at him. “If she wants the sunscreen, give her the sunscreen! Skin cancer is a big fucking deal!”
I got my sunscreen.
We were ushered down a corridor and one by one set into a windowless van. I held my sunscreen securely so that no one would steal it and waited in line to be seated and handcuffed. I searched the seating arrangements trying to devise a plan that would not put me next to Dig Graves.
“Excuse me.” I summoned an officer. “I must urinate.”
He ultimately decided I did not need to and ignored me.
Across the way, Tommy stood in his own line going into a different van.
“Tommy!” I whispered loudly to him, trying to get his attention. “Tommy!”
Finally, he heard me, offering only a sneer.
I waved my sunscreen. “You should put some on. It will be hot today.”
He gave me the middle finger and turned away.
From behind me, Dig Graves blew on my ear. “How’s your pussy?”
I swatted at his face no longer there and did not turn around. “I do not answer rude questions.”
“I was asking about your cat.”
“Ah.” My shoulders fell and sadness skulked into the corners of my heart. “My dearest Cauliflower now has arthritis.”
“Fuck! You got her on meds?”
“Yes.” I sniffed. “But I think she’s still in pain.”
“You have to do those hot baths.”
“I do the hot baths.”
“Obviously not good enough if she’s still in pain.”
I spun around, ready to bash him with my sunscreen. “You awful person!”
“There she is.” His lips cracked into a grin.
The world fell away as I came face to face with Dig Graves.
In the cave of his black Grim Reaper hood the darkness arched over his skin as he if dwelled in permanent midnight. A sturdy jaw, high cheek bones, a fine sloped nose and a perfect pink mouth that pulled into a haughty grin. Freshly shaved. I inhaled a little deeper. A soft tangle of black hair swept across his forehead.
Those fucking, heart-shaped, fucking, red, fucking, sunglasses glinted, showing me where his full attentions were directed.
There was a horrible handsome stuck to him, like a wild wolf or lightning strike that split trees in half. A majestic, primal, predatory thing. He licked his lower lip, savouring the bloody cut from where the officers had beaten him.
